Forum: Public Forum

Laurent's interpretation looks the same as mine, I think. I've done a bit of searching, and all I can find online is a discussion on the paizo site without any 'official' input.

As I see it, there are two main uses for sneak attack.

1. The 'Final Fantasy' attack - move in, strike once, move out, without provoking attack of opportunity from the target.

2. The 'dart round the back'. When a target has been attacked by an ally from the front, using spring attack to move around the target through squares threatened by the target to get to a flanking position at the back for a sneak attack. This uses the "no AoO for target" not just to avoid AoO from reach (if any) and AoO from moving away, but AoO from moving *within* through the target's threatened squares. Sometimes, depending on starting position and space, it's possible to get round the back without entering a threatened square, but Spring Attack makes a short cut through threatened squares possible - or at least it might.

Restrictions:
No moving more than move allowance
Must move at least 10ft
Can't use it on a target that's adjacent at the start of turn

Not restricted (in Pathfinder):
No requirement to move in a straight line (as in charging)
No requirement to move after the attack
Nothing explicit prohibiting moving from one threatened square to another around the target.

As for reality, well, I don't think Spring Attack is intended to be a lunge. It's dancing, weaving, and feinting, followed by a sudden spring. Straight line attacks (based on my fencing experience) are easiest to defend - opponents messing around with distance and angles are much trickier opponents.