A player of mine started to play a rogue in pathfinder 2e, he was already playing a rogue in DnD 5e. He feels a bit frustrated that it was impossible to profit from the flanking rule to sneak attack.
My question is how the rogue can sneak attack with a ranged weapon?
I know that he can use the hide action and then attack but what are the other opportunities?
Best Answer
You do have a few options in the early game. (I will avoid discussing options at level 10 or higher)
First, all Rogues have the Surprise Attack ability, which makes their foes flat-footed for the first round of combat (though you do need to beat their initiative).
Assuming you have some melee combatants in your party, consider strategizing with them to impose the grabbed condition -- in addition to immobilization, it also leaves whomever is grabbed flat-footed.
Likewise, a prone combatant is considered flat-footed -- and unlike 5e, prone enemies are not inherently harder to hit from range (though they can take-cover to net +2 AC, they're still flat-footed and still have to spend the action to do so).
At level 8, you get a strong feat option to guarantee some sneak attack bonus damage through Slystriker, though that obviously requires an open feat. Unbalancing Blow is another option that makes opponents flat-footed after you score a critical hit.
Dread Striker rounds out the feat options, making enemies flat-footed when they are Frightened. (Works well with Intimidate->Demoralize, and your party members can help out too)
Finally, there are a couple of ways to throw money at the problem -- if you have an alchemist party member (or someone else who doesn't mind lobbing bombs), Bottled Lightning inflicts flat-footed on a hit. Perhaps a more "rogue-ly" solution involves poison - Giant Centipede and Hunting Spider venoms can both apply Flat-Footed if your target fails their saving throws. (Make sure to pre-apply so that you don't spend extra actions on your first turn!)