Volfogg
2011-06-29, 07:15 PM
Hi All,
Like so many others I thought I would try my hand at creating a "stealthy warrior guy" base class. In an effort to iron out all the kinks and finalize the class I thought that I would post it here for critique as well as possible suggestions. This is a WIP so any and all comments are very much welcome.
DRAFT VERSION OF SHADOWBLADE
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9550/shadowbladeiii.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/198/shadowbladeiii.jpg/)
Shadowblades are a martial practitioner which seeks to enhance their combat prowess by mastering their ability to use stealth, and shadows, to their advantage. Unlike normal warriors shadowblades will seek to find the advantage against an opponent. Whether it be striking from the shadows or launching a deadly volley of arrows from cover a shadowblade seeks to first weaken his target before closing in for the kill. Through intense study and the ability to harness the darkness of the world around him, as well as that which dwells within him, the shadowblade is able to move about in the heaviest armour and still remain silent and hidden. This mastery of darkness also allows the shadowblade to cloak his weapon in an obscuring sheen of pitch black night which both enhances his weapon and his combat prowess.
Adventures: Most shadowblades travel and adventure in order to hone their martial skills as well as their mastery of stealth and darkness. Many shadowblades will find themselves acting as an enforcer, or operative, for a local crime lord. Others still are the shadowy protector of some nobleman who wishes his guard to remain hidden until needed most. While others skulk about using stealth to waylay those they deem as prey. Lastly, there are a great many shadowblades that work as hired killers. Using their abilities to hunt down and kill those that have been marked for eradication.
Characteristics: Shadowblades are warriors of darkness. They are capable martial combatants, however, before engaging an enemy they will seek to gain an advantage. Oftentimes the advantage is as simple as catching their mark unawares by sneaking up on them. They also wield their shadowed blades to great affect. The beshadowed weapons are well known for leaving their opponents confounded as to where the shadowblade will strike next.
Alignment: Any. Although there is a noticable inclination towards chaotic or evil alignments. Most individuals that become shadowblades are prone to becoming assassins or hitmen.
Religion: Self reliance and determination is usually the only faith a shadowblade has time for, however. It is not unknown for some to actively worship dieties associated with darkness, thievery or assassination. There has been at least one account of a shadowblade that thought himself a specially blessed servant of a god of darkness. He believed that all of his abilities were a boon granted to him by his diety.
Background: WIP.
Races: WIP.
Other Classes: Shadowblades are usually found amongst others with a natural inclination towards subtlety. This includes, but is not limited to, rogues, monks, shadowcasters and fellow shadowblades.
Role: The shadowblade is primarily a warrior. Even though their abilities allow them to be incredibly stealthy, even while heavely armoured, they are still front line fighters. The ability to wear heavy armour as well as their other more defensive abilities allow them to enter and remain in melee combat without fear.
Game Rule Information
Abilities: Dexterity is one of the shadowblade's most important stats as it greatly enhances his stealth, however. Constitution and Strength are equally important as well being that the character is a warrior and will find himself in the frontlines often.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: ( 4+ Int Modifier) x 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4+ Int Modifier
{table=head]Level|BaB|Fort|Ref|Will |Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+0|Armoured Stealth (-2), Sudden Strike +1d6
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+3|
+0|Beshadowed Blade (+2 feint checks)
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+1|Shadowsight
4th|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+1|Shrouded Armour (unhindered movement)
5th|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+1|Steel Shadows (+1)
6th|
+6|
+5|
+5|
+2|Beshadowed Blade (move action feint)
7th|
+7|
+5|
+5|
+2|Sudden Strike +2d6
8th|
+8|
+6|
+6|
+2|Shrouded Armour (preternatural grace)
9th|
+9|
+6|
+6|
+3|Armoured Stealth (-4)
10th|
+10|
+7|
+7|
+3|Beshadowed blade (swift action feint)
11th|
+11|
+7|
+7|
+3|Steel Shadows (+2)
12th|
+12|
+8|
+8|
+4|Slip Between the Shadows
13th|
+13|
+8|
+8|
+4|Shrouded Armour (concealment)
14th|
+14|
+9|
+9|
+4|Sudden Strike +3d6
15th|
+15|
+9|
+9|
+5|Beshadowed Blade (frost)
16th|
+16|
+10|
+10|
+5|Steel Shadows (+4)
17th|
+17|
+10|
+10|
+5|Armoured Stealth (-6)
18th|
+18|
+11|
+11|
+6|Shrouded Armour (hide in plain sight)
19th|
+19|
+11|
+11|
+6|Sudden Strike +4d6
20th|
+20|
+12|
+12|
+6|Beshadowed Blade (shadowstriking)[/table]
Class Features: All of the following are class features of the Shadowblade class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shadowblades are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light).
Armored Stealth (Ex): You learn to adapt your movements to the restrictive nature of armor. Beginning at 1st level, you reduce the armour check penalty of any armor with which you are proficient with by 2 (to a minimum of 0). At 9th level, this reduction increases to 4 points (to a minimum of 0). At 17th level, this reduction increases to 6 points (to a minimum of 0).
Sudden Strike (Ex): If you can catch an opponent when she is unable to defend herself effectively from your attack, you can strike a vital spot for extra damage. Whenever your target is denied her Dexterity bonus to AC against your attack (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus to Armor Class or not), you deal an extra 1d6 points of damage with your attack. The extra damage increases to 2d6 at 8th level and to 3d6 at 14th level and 4d6 at 19th level.
Ranged attacks count as sudden strikes only if the target is within 30 feet; you can’t strike with deadly accuracyfrom beyond this range. You can only use sudden strike against living creatures with discernible anatomies — undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack.
Any creature that is immune to extra damage from critical hits is not vulnerable to sudden strike damage. You must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. You cannot make a sudden strike while striking a creature with concealment
or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are out of reach.
You can’t use sudden strike to deliver nonlethal damage. Weapons capable of dealing only nonlethal damage don’t deal extra damage when used as part of a sudden strike
Shadowsight (Ex): At 3rd level, you can see perfectly in darkness of any kind, even that created by a deeper darkness spell.
Beshadowed Blade (Su): At 1st level you are able to command the shadows to envelope your weapon in a sheath of pitch black darkness. This shroud of shadow grants a +2 on feint checks because it is difficult for enemies to perceive the motion of your weapon while attacking. You can only have one such weapon imbued with this ability, however. You may change the weapon to which this ability is applied to after resting for 8 hours. Using this ability requires the character to perform a short 1 min ritual. The beshadowed blade grants additional benefits as the character progresses.
At 6th level the obfuscating effects of the shrouded weapon allow the character to feint as a move action.
At 10th level the character's blade is a shadowy blur which makes it almost impossible for enemies to react to the shadowblade's attacks. This allows a shadowblade to feint as a swift action.
At 15th level the shadows that grip your weapon instill within the blade the chill of the darkest night. From this point forward the weapon gains the frost weapon special ability. This is in addition to any special properties the weapon already has.
At 20th level the umbral power of the character's beshadowed blade now strikes true against most creatures. By relying on the reflective nature of shadows the blade is now capable of overcoming most types of damage reduction. This ability imbues the character's shrouded blade with the shadow striking weapon special ability. This is in addition to any special properties the weapon already has.
Shrouded Armour (Su): This ability allows you to imbue shadows into a suit of armour with which you are proficient with. The imbued item grants several benefits to the character. At 4th level the shadows laced into the suit of armour lessens the impact armour normally has on movement. While wearing their shrouded armour the character does not suffer from a reduction in speed. You can only have one such suit of armour imbued with this ability, however. You may change the armour which this ability is applied to after resting for 8 hours. Using this ability requires the character to perform a short 1 min ritual.
At 7th level the shrouded armour is instilled with the preternatural grace and fluidity of shadow. From this point forward you take no penalty on Hide or Move Silently checks while moving at up to your normal speed, and you take only a –10 penalty on Hide and Move Silently checks when running or charging (instead of the usual –20).
At 13th level your shrouded armour is now so steeped in shadows and darkness that the armour grants you 20% concealment.
At 18th level your shrouded armour continually leaks streamers of shadows. This effect grants the shadowblade the ability to hide in plain sight — that is, you can use the Hide skill even while being observed.
Steel Shadows (Su): At 5th level the shadows at your command seek to prevent harm to you by intercepting attacks that would otherwise strike you. This grants the character the listed bonus as a shield bonus to AC.
Slip Between the Shadows (Ex): The character gains the evasion special ability as per the rogue special ability, however. The character is able to use evasion even while wearing medium or heavy armour so long as the armour being worn has been imbued with the character's shrouded armour ability.
FINAL VERSION OF SHADOWBLADE
Cool Shadowblade PIC#1
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9550/shadowbladeiii.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/198/shadowbladeiii.jpg/)
Cool Shadowblade PIC#2
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/3803/shadowbladeii.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/shadowbladeii.jpg/)
Shadowblades are a martial practitioner which seeks to enhance their combat prowess by mastering their ability to use stealth, and shadows, to their advantage. Unlike normal warriors shadowblades will seek to find the advantage against an opponent. Whether it be striking from the shadows or launching a deadly volley of arrows from cover a shadowblade seeks to first weaken his target before closing in for the kill. Through intense study and the ability to harness the darkness of the world around him, as well as that which dwells within him, the shadowblade is able to move about in the heaviest armour and still remain silent and hidden. This mastery of darkness also allows the shadowblade to cloak his weapon in an obscuring sheen of pitch black night which both enhances his weapon and his combat prowess.
Adventures: Most shadowblades travel and adventure in order to hone their martial skills as well as their mastery of stealth and darkness. Many shadowblades will find themselves acting as an enforcer, or operative, for a local crime lord. Others still are the shadowy protector of some nobleman who wishes his guard to remain hidden until needed most. While others skulk about using stealth to waylay those they deem as prey. Lastly, there are a great many shadowblades that work as hired killers. Using their abilities to hunt down and kill those that have been marked for eradication.
Characteristics: Shadowblades are warriors of darkness. They are capable martial combatants, however, before engaging an enemy they will seek to gain an advantage. Oftentimes the advantage is as simple as catching their mark unawares by sneaking up on them. They also wield their shadowed blades to great affect. The beshadowed weapons are well known for leaving their opponents confounded as to where the shadowblade will strike next.
Alignment: Any. Although there is a noticable inclination towards chaotic or evil alignments. Most individuals that become shadowblades are prone to becoming assassins or hitmen.
Religion: Self reliance and determination is usually the only faith a shadowblade has time for, however. It is not unknown for some to actively worship dieties associated with darkness, thievery or assassination. There has been at least one account of a shadowblade that thought himself a specially blessed servant of a god of darkness. He believed that all of his abilities were a boon granted to him by his diety.
Races: Any. There are a multitude of races which would find this class attractive. Humans make some of the best shadowblades as the bonus feat as well as skill points help a great deal to fill any possible gaps the character might have. Elves also make excellent shadowblades given their high Dexterity scores. Gnomes and halfings also make for an interesting shadowblade as their size and grace help to bolster the classes natural tendency towards stealth.
Other Classes: Shadowblades are usually found amongst others with a natural inclination towards subtlety. This includes, but is not limited to, rogues, monks, shadowcasters and fellow shadowblades.
Role: The shadowblade is primarily a warrior. Even though their abilities allow them to be incredibly stealthy, even while heavely armoured, they are still front line fighters. The ability to wear heavy armour as well as their other more defensive abilities allow them to enter and remain in melee combat without fear.
Game Rule Information
Abilities: Dexterity is one of the shadowblade's most important stats as it greatly enhances his stealth, however. Constitution and Strength are equally important as well being that the character is a warrior and will find himself in the frontlines often.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: ( 4+ Int Modifier) x 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4+ Int Modifier
{table=head]Level|BaB|Fort|Ref|Will |Special|
Steel Shadows|
Slip Between the Shadows
1st|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+0|Improved Feint, Sudden Strike +1d6|
--|
--
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+3|
+0|Armoured Ease (-2, +1), Steel Shadows|
+1|
--
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+1|Beshadowed Blade (wrap in shadow), Shadowsight|
+1|
--
4th|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+1|Shrouded Armour (unbridled grace), Graceful Strike|
+1|
--
5th|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+1|Sudden Strike +2d6, Slip Between the Shadows |
+1|
20 ft
6th|
+6|
+5|
+5|
+2|Armored Ease (-4, +2)|
+2|
20 ft
7th|
+7|
+5|
+5|
+2|Beshadowed Blade (shadow feint)|
+2|
40 ft
8th|
+8|
+6|
+6|
+2|Shrouded Armour (Unrivaled Stealth)|
+2|
40 ft
9th|
+9|
+6|
+6|
+3|Sudden Strike +3d6|
+2|
60 ft
10th|
+10|
+7|
+7|
+3|Armored Ease (-6, +3)|
+3|
60 ft
11th|
+11|
+7|
+7|
+3|Beshadowed Blade (ephemeral blade)|
+3|
80 ft
12th|
+12|
+8|
+8|
+4|Shrouded Armor (Concealment)|
+3|
80 ft
13th|
+13|
+8|
+8|
+4|Sudden Strike +4d6|
+3|
100 ft
14th|
+14|
+9|
+9|
+4|Armored Ease (-8, +4)|
+4|
100 ft
15th|
+15|
+9|
+9|
+5|Beshadowed Blade (endless feint)|
+4|
120 ft
16th|
+16|
+10|
+10|
+5|Shrouded Armor (Hide in Plain Sight)|
+4|
120 ft
17th|
+17|
+10|
+10|
+5|Sudden Strike +5d6|
+4|
140 ft
18th|
+18|
+11|
+11|
+6|Armored Ease (perfected)|
+5|
140 ft
19th|
+19|
+11|
+11|
+6|Beshadowed Blade (shadowstriking)|
+5|
160 ft
20th|
+20|
+12|
+12|
+6|Shrouded Armor (Shadow Step)|
+5|
160 ft[/table]
Class Features: All of the following are class features of the Shadowblade class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shadowblades are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light).
Improved Feint: You are a master at disguising your own movements, attacking where others least expect it. At 1st level, you gain improved feint as a bonus feat.
Sudden Strike (Ex): If you can catch an opponent when she is unable to defend herself effectively from your attack, you can strike a vital spot for extra damage. Whenever your target is denied her Dexterity bonus to AC against your attack (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus to Armor Class or not), you deal an extra 1d6 points of damage with your attack. The extra damage increases to 2d6 at 5th level and to 3d6 at 9th level and 4d6 at 13th level and to 5d6 at 17th level.
Ranged attacks count as sudden strikes only if the target is within 30 feet; you can’t strike with deadly accuracy from beyond this range. You can only use sudden strike against living creatures with discernible anatomies — undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack.
Any creature that is immune to extra damage from critical hits is not vulnerable to sudden strike damage. You must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. You cannot make a sudden strike while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are out of reach.
You can’t use sudden strike to deliver nonlethal damage. Weapons capable of dealing only nonlethal damage don’t deal extra damage when used as part of a sudden strike.
Armored Ease (Ex): You learn to adapt your movements to the restrictive nature of armor. Starting at 2nd level, you reduce the armour check penalty of any armor with which you are proficient with by 2 and increase its maximum dexterity bonus by +1. At 6th, 10th, and 14th levels, you reduce the armour check penalty of such armor by an additional 2 and increase the maximum dexterity bonus by +1. This ability may not reduce the armour check penalties you take from armor to below 0. At 18th level, you've perfected the integration of your armour with your natural fluid movements. From this point forward you never suffer armour check penalties from armor and may always use your full Dexterity bonus.
Steel Shadows (Su): At 2nd level the shadows at your command seek to prevent harm to you by intercepting attacks that would otherwise strike you. This grants the character the listed bonus as a shield bonus to AC.
Beshadowed Blade (Su): At 3rd level you are able to command the shadows to instantly envelope your weapon(s) in a sheath of pitch black darkness. This shroud of shadow grants a bonus to Bluff (feint) skill checks equal to half of your class level (rounded up) because it is difficult for enemies to perceive the motion of your weapon while attacking (note that no matter how many weapons the character wields he only recieves this benefit once). This effect applies to any held/wielded weapon including weapons which are thrown, however. The effect ends at the end of your turn after making a ranged attack with a thrown weapon(s). The beshadowed blade grants additional benefits as the character progresses.
At 7th level, the obfuscating effects of the shrouded weapon allow the character to feint as a swift action.
At 11th level, your blade becomes a weapon of shadows, allowing it to harm incorporeal and ethereal creatures as though it were a force weapon. Furthermore, the weapon may not be sundered.
At 15th level the shadows that grip your weapon become far trickier, bending at nearly impossible angles. When using your beshadowed blade, you may feint as a free action in combat a number of times per round equal to the shadowblades Dexterity modifier.
At 19th level the umbral power of the character's beshadowed blade now strikes true against most creatures. By relying on the reflective nature of shadows the blade is now capable of overcoming most types of damage reduction. This ability imbues the character's shrouded blade with the shadow striking weapon special ability. This is in addition to any special properties the weapon already has.
Shadowsight (Ex): At 3rd level, you can see perfectly in darkness of any kind, even that created by a deeper darkness spell.
Shrouded Armour (Su): This ability allows you to imbue shadows into a suit of armour with which you are proficient with. The imbued item grants several benefits to the character. At 4th level the shadows laced into the suit of armour grant you a certain degree of grace. While wearing your shrouded armour, you do not suffer from a reduction in speed. Furthermore, you gain evasion, as the rogue class feature except that it applies no matter what armor you wear. You can only have one such suit of armour imbued with this ability, however. You may change the armour which this ability is applied to by performing a 1 minute ritual after resting for 8 hours.
At 8th level the shrouded armour is instilled with the preternatural grace and fluidity of shadow. From this point forward you take no penalty on Hide or Move Silently checks while moving at up to your normal speed, and you take only a –10 penalty on Hide and Move Silently checks when running or charging (instead of the usual –20).
At 12th level your shrouded armour is now so steeped in shadows and darkness that the armour grants you concealment against all attacks.
At 16th level your shrouded armour continually leaks streamers of shadows. This effect grants the shadowblade the ability to hide in plain sight — that is, you can use the Hide skill even while being observed.
At 20th level your shrouded armour can pull you fully into the shadows. This allows you to use shadow walk as a spell-like ability once per day.
Graceful Strike (Ex): At 4th level, a shadowblade becomes able to make attacks which take advantage of the shadowblade's grace and fluidity during combat. He applies his Dexterity bonus (if any) as a bonus on damage rolls (in addition to any Strength bonus she may have) with any weapon which has been imbued with the beshadowed blade ability. Targets immune to sneak attacks or critical hits are immune to the shadowblade's graceful strike.
Slip Between the Shadows (Su): At 5th level, a shadowblade gains the ability to travel between shadows similar in effect to a dimension door spell. The limitation is that the magical transport must begin and end in an area with at least some shadow. A shadowblade can jump up to a total of 20 feet each day in this way; this may be a single jump of 20 feet or two jumps of 10 feet each. Every two levels higher than 5th, the distance a shadowblade can jump each day increases by 20 feeet(40 feet at 7th, 60 feet at 9th, etc). This amount can be split among many jumps, but each one, no matter how small, counts as a 10-foot increment. Activating this ability is a standard action, at 10th level activating this ability becomes a swift action and at 15th activating this ability becomes a free action.
I would also like to add an ability that increases the maximum Dexterity modifier of armour worn. But I am unsure where it should go. Any insight into this issue would be welcomed.
Thanks for any and all input!
Cheers
Volf
EDIT: Please see above for finalized version of the shadowblade class.
Like so many others I thought I would try my hand at creating a "stealthy warrior guy" base class. In an effort to iron out all the kinks and finalize the class I thought that I would post it here for critique as well as possible suggestions. This is a WIP so any and all comments are very much welcome.
DRAFT VERSION OF SHADOWBLADE
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9550/shadowbladeiii.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/198/shadowbladeiii.jpg/)
Shadowblades are a martial practitioner which seeks to enhance their combat prowess by mastering their ability to use stealth, and shadows, to their advantage. Unlike normal warriors shadowblades will seek to find the advantage against an opponent. Whether it be striking from the shadows or launching a deadly volley of arrows from cover a shadowblade seeks to first weaken his target before closing in for the kill. Through intense study and the ability to harness the darkness of the world around him, as well as that which dwells within him, the shadowblade is able to move about in the heaviest armour and still remain silent and hidden. This mastery of darkness also allows the shadowblade to cloak his weapon in an obscuring sheen of pitch black night which both enhances his weapon and his combat prowess.
Adventures: Most shadowblades travel and adventure in order to hone their martial skills as well as their mastery of stealth and darkness. Many shadowblades will find themselves acting as an enforcer, or operative, for a local crime lord. Others still are the shadowy protector of some nobleman who wishes his guard to remain hidden until needed most. While others skulk about using stealth to waylay those they deem as prey. Lastly, there are a great many shadowblades that work as hired killers. Using their abilities to hunt down and kill those that have been marked for eradication.
Characteristics: Shadowblades are warriors of darkness. They are capable martial combatants, however, before engaging an enemy they will seek to gain an advantage. Oftentimes the advantage is as simple as catching their mark unawares by sneaking up on them. They also wield their shadowed blades to great affect. The beshadowed weapons are well known for leaving their opponents confounded as to where the shadowblade will strike next.
Alignment: Any. Although there is a noticable inclination towards chaotic or evil alignments. Most individuals that become shadowblades are prone to becoming assassins or hitmen.
Religion: Self reliance and determination is usually the only faith a shadowblade has time for, however. It is not unknown for some to actively worship dieties associated with darkness, thievery or assassination. There has been at least one account of a shadowblade that thought himself a specially blessed servant of a god of darkness. He believed that all of his abilities were a boon granted to him by his diety.
Background: WIP.
Races: WIP.
Other Classes: Shadowblades are usually found amongst others with a natural inclination towards subtlety. This includes, but is not limited to, rogues, monks, shadowcasters and fellow shadowblades.
Role: The shadowblade is primarily a warrior. Even though their abilities allow them to be incredibly stealthy, even while heavely armoured, they are still front line fighters. The ability to wear heavy armour as well as their other more defensive abilities allow them to enter and remain in melee combat without fear.
Game Rule Information
Abilities: Dexterity is one of the shadowblade's most important stats as it greatly enhances his stealth, however. Constitution and Strength are equally important as well being that the character is a warrior and will find himself in the frontlines often.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: ( 4+ Int Modifier) x 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4+ Int Modifier
{table=head]Level|BaB|Fort|Ref|Will |Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+0|Armoured Stealth (-2), Sudden Strike +1d6
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+3|
+0|Beshadowed Blade (+2 feint checks)
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+1|Shadowsight
4th|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+1|Shrouded Armour (unhindered movement)
5th|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+1|Steel Shadows (+1)
6th|
+6|
+5|
+5|
+2|Beshadowed Blade (move action feint)
7th|
+7|
+5|
+5|
+2|Sudden Strike +2d6
8th|
+8|
+6|
+6|
+2|Shrouded Armour (preternatural grace)
9th|
+9|
+6|
+6|
+3|Armoured Stealth (-4)
10th|
+10|
+7|
+7|
+3|Beshadowed blade (swift action feint)
11th|
+11|
+7|
+7|
+3|Steel Shadows (+2)
12th|
+12|
+8|
+8|
+4|Slip Between the Shadows
13th|
+13|
+8|
+8|
+4|Shrouded Armour (concealment)
14th|
+14|
+9|
+9|
+4|Sudden Strike +3d6
15th|
+15|
+9|
+9|
+5|Beshadowed Blade (frost)
16th|
+16|
+10|
+10|
+5|Steel Shadows (+4)
17th|
+17|
+10|
+10|
+5|Armoured Stealth (-6)
18th|
+18|
+11|
+11|
+6|Shrouded Armour (hide in plain sight)
19th|
+19|
+11|
+11|
+6|Sudden Strike +4d6
20th|
+20|
+12|
+12|
+6|Beshadowed Blade (shadowstriking)[/table]
Class Features: All of the following are class features of the Shadowblade class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shadowblades are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light).
Armored Stealth (Ex): You learn to adapt your movements to the restrictive nature of armor. Beginning at 1st level, you reduce the armour check penalty of any armor with which you are proficient with by 2 (to a minimum of 0). At 9th level, this reduction increases to 4 points (to a minimum of 0). At 17th level, this reduction increases to 6 points (to a minimum of 0).
Sudden Strike (Ex): If you can catch an opponent when she is unable to defend herself effectively from your attack, you can strike a vital spot for extra damage. Whenever your target is denied her Dexterity bonus to AC against your attack (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus to Armor Class or not), you deal an extra 1d6 points of damage with your attack. The extra damage increases to 2d6 at 8th level and to 3d6 at 14th level and 4d6 at 19th level.
Ranged attacks count as sudden strikes only if the target is within 30 feet; you can’t strike with deadly accuracyfrom beyond this range. You can only use sudden strike against living creatures with discernible anatomies — undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack.
Any creature that is immune to extra damage from critical hits is not vulnerable to sudden strike damage. You must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. You cannot make a sudden strike while striking a creature with concealment
or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are out of reach.
You can’t use sudden strike to deliver nonlethal damage. Weapons capable of dealing only nonlethal damage don’t deal extra damage when used as part of a sudden strike
Shadowsight (Ex): At 3rd level, you can see perfectly in darkness of any kind, even that created by a deeper darkness spell.
Beshadowed Blade (Su): At 1st level you are able to command the shadows to envelope your weapon in a sheath of pitch black darkness. This shroud of shadow grants a +2 on feint checks because it is difficult for enemies to perceive the motion of your weapon while attacking. You can only have one such weapon imbued with this ability, however. You may change the weapon to which this ability is applied to after resting for 8 hours. Using this ability requires the character to perform a short 1 min ritual. The beshadowed blade grants additional benefits as the character progresses.
At 6th level the obfuscating effects of the shrouded weapon allow the character to feint as a move action.
At 10th level the character's blade is a shadowy blur which makes it almost impossible for enemies to react to the shadowblade's attacks. This allows a shadowblade to feint as a swift action.
At 15th level the shadows that grip your weapon instill within the blade the chill of the darkest night. From this point forward the weapon gains the frost weapon special ability. This is in addition to any special properties the weapon already has.
At 20th level the umbral power of the character's beshadowed blade now strikes true against most creatures. By relying on the reflective nature of shadows the blade is now capable of overcoming most types of damage reduction. This ability imbues the character's shrouded blade with the shadow striking weapon special ability. This is in addition to any special properties the weapon already has.
Shrouded Armour (Su): This ability allows you to imbue shadows into a suit of armour with which you are proficient with. The imbued item grants several benefits to the character. At 4th level the shadows laced into the suit of armour lessens the impact armour normally has on movement. While wearing their shrouded armour the character does not suffer from a reduction in speed. You can only have one such suit of armour imbued with this ability, however. You may change the armour which this ability is applied to after resting for 8 hours. Using this ability requires the character to perform a short 1 min ritual.
At 7th level the shrouded armour is instilled with the preternatural grace and fluidity of shadow. From this point forward you take no penalty on Hide or Move Silently checks while moving at up to your normal speed, and you take only a –10 penalty on Hide and Move Silently checks when running or charging (instead of the usual –20).
At 13th level your shrouded armour is now so steeped in shadows and darkness that the armour grants you 20% concealment.
At 18th level your shrouded armour continually leaks streamers of shadows. This effect grants the shadowblade the ability to hide in plain sight — that is, you can use the Hide skill even while being observed.
Steel Shadows (Su): At 5th level the shadows at your command seek to prevent harm to you by intercepting attacks that would otherwise strike you. This grants the character the listed bonus as a shield bonus to AC.
Slip Between the Shadows (Ex): The character gains the evasion special ability as per the rogue special ability, however. The character is able to use evasion even while wearing medium or heavy armour so long as the armour being worn has been imbued with the character's shrouded armour ability.
FINAL VERSION OF SHADOWBLADE
Cool Shadowblade PIC#1
http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/9550/shadowbladeiii.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/198/shadowbladeiii.jpg/)
Cool Shadowblade PIC#2
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/3803/shadowbladeii.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/shadowbladeii.jpg/)
Shadowblades are a martial practitioner which seeks to enhance their combat prowess by mastering their ability to use stealth, and shadows, to their advantage. Unlike normal warriors shadowblades will seek to find the advantage against an opponent. Whether it be striking from the shadows or launching a deadly volley of arrows from cover a shadowblade seeks to first weaken his target before closing in for the kill. Through intense study and the ability to harness the darkness of the world around him, as well as that which dwells within him, the shadowblade is able to move about in the heaviest armour and still remain silent and hidden. This mastery of darkness also allows the shadowblade to cloak his weapon in an obscuring sheen of pitch black night which both enhances his weapon and his combat prowess.
Adventures: Most shadowblades travel and adventure in order to hone their martial skills as well as their mastery of stealth and darkness. Many shadowblades will find themselves acting as an enforcer, or operative, for a local crime lord. Others still are the shadowy protector of some nobleman who wishes his guard to remain hidden until needed most. While others skulk about using stealth to waylay those they deem as prey. Lastly, there are a great many shadowblades that work as hired killers. Using their abilities to hunt down and kill those that have been marked for eradication.
Characteristics: Shadowblades are warriors of darkness. They are capable martial combatants, however, before engaging an enemy they will seek to gain an advantage. Oftentimes the advantage is as simple as catching their mark unawares by sneaking up on them. They also wield their shadowed blades to great affect. The beshadowed weapons are well known for leaving their opponents confounded as to where the shadowblade will strike next.
Alignment: Any. Although there is a noticable inclination towards chaotic or evil alignments. Most individuals that become shadowblades are prone to becoming assassins or hitmen.
Religion: Self reliance and determination is usually the only faith a shadowblade has time for, however. It is not unknown for some to actively worship dieties associated with darkness, thievery or assassination. There has been at least one account of a shadowblade that thought himself a specially blessed servant of a god of darkness. He believed that all of his abilities were a boon granted to him by his diety.
Races: Any. There are a multitude of races which would find this class attractive. Humans make some of the best shadowblades as the bonus feat as well as skill points help a great deal to fill any possible gaps the character might have. Elves also make excellent shadowblades given their high Dexterity scores. Gnomes and halfings also make for an interesting shadowblade as their size and grace help to bolster the classes natural tendency towards stealth.
Other Classes: Shadowblades are usually found amongst others with a natural inclination towards subtlety. This includes, but is not limited to, rogues, monks, shadowcasters and fellow shadowblades.
Role: The shadowblade is primarily a warrior. Even though their abilities allow them to be incredibly stealthy, even while heavely armoured, they are still front line fighters. The ability to wear heavy armour as well as their other more defensive abilities allow them to enter and remain in melee combat without fear.
Game Rule Information
Abilities: Dexterity is one of the shadowblade's most important stats as it greatly enhances his stealth, however. Constitution and Strength are equally important as well being that the character is a warrior and will find himself in the frontlines often.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: ( 4+ Int Modifier) x 4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4+ Int Modifier
{table=head]Level|BaB|Fort|Ref|Will |Special|
Steel Shadows|
Slip Between the Shadows
1st|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+0|Improved Feint, Sudden Strike +1d6|
--|
--
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+3|
+0|Armoured Ease (-2, +1), Steel Shadows|
+1|
--
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+1|Beshadowed Blade (wrap in shadow), Shadowsight|
+1|
--
4th|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+1|Shrouded Armour (unbridled grace), Graceful Strike|
+1|
--
5th|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+1|Sudden Strike +2d6, Slip Between the Shadows |
+1|
20 ft
6th|
+6|
+5|
+5|
+2|Armored Ease (-4, +2)|
+2|
20 ft
7th|
+7|
+5|
+5|
+2|Beshadowed Blade (shadow feint)|
+2|
40 ft
8th|
+8|
+6|
+6|
+2|Shrouded Armour (Unrivaled Stealth)|
+2|
40 ft
9th|
+9|
+6|
+6|
+3|Sudden Strike +3d6|
+2|
60 ft
10th|
+10|
+7|
+7|
+3|Armored Ease (-6, +3)|
+3|
60 ft
11th|
+11|
+7|
+7|
+3|Beshadowed Blade (ephemeral blade)|
+3|
80 ft
12th|
+12|
+8|
+8|
+4|Shrouded Armor (Concealment)|
+3|
80 ft
13th|
+13|
+8|
+8|
+4|Sudden Strike +4d6|
+3|
100 ft
14th|
+14|
+9|
+9|
+4|Armored Ease (-8, +4)|
+4|
100 ft
15th|
+15|
+9|
+9|
+5|Beshadowed Blade (endless feint)|
+4|
120 ft
16th|
+16|
+10|
+10|
+5|Shrouded Armor (Hide in Plain Sight)|
+4|
120 ft
17th|
+17|
+10|
+10|
+5|Sudden Strike +5d6|
+4|
140 ft
18th|
+18|
+11|
+11|
+6|Armored Ease (perfected)|
+5|
140 ft
19th|
+19|
+11|
+11|
+6|Beshadowed Blade (shadowstriking)|
+5|
160 ft
20th|
+20|
+12|
+12|
+6|Shrouded Armor (Shadow Step)|
+5|
160 ft[/table]
Class Features: All of the following are class features of the Shadowblade class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Shadowblades are proficient with all simple and martial weapons and with all armor (heavy, medium, and light).
Improved Feint: You are a master at disguising your own movements, attacking where others least expect it. At 1st level, you gain improved feint as a bonus feat.
Sudden Strike (Ex): If you can catch an opponent when she is unable to defend herself effectively from your attack, you can strike a vital spot for extra damage. Whenever your target is denied her Dexterity bonus to AC against your attack (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus to Armor Class or not), you deal an extra 1d6 points of damage with your attack. The extra damage increases to 2d6 at 5th level and to 3d6 at 9th level and 4d6 at 13th level and to 5d6 at 17th level.
Ranged attacks count as sudden strikes only if the target is within 30 feet; you can’t strike with deadly accuracy from beyond this range. You can only use sudden strike against living creatures with discernible anatomies — undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack.
Any creature that is immune to extra damage from critical hits is not vulnerable to sudden strike damage. You must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. You cannot make a sudden strike while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are out of reach.
You can’t use sudden strike to deliver nonlethal damage. Weapons capable of dealing only nonlethal damage don’t deal extra damage when used as part of a sudden strike.
Armored Ease (Ex): You learn to adapt your movements to the restrictive nature of armor. Starting at 2nd level, you reduce the armour check penalty of any armor with which you are proficient with by 2 and increase its maximum dexterity bonus by +1. At 6th, 10th, and 14th levels, you reduce the armour check penalty of such armor by an additional 2 and increase the maximum dexterity bonus by +1. This ability may not reduce the armour check penalties you take from armor to below 0. At 18th level, you've perfected the integration of your armour with your natural fluid movements. From this point forward you never suffer armour check penalties from armor and may always use your full Dexterity bonus.
Steel Shadows (Su): At 2nd level the shadows at your command seek to prevent harm to you by intercepting attacks that would otherwise strike you. This grants the character the listed bonus as a shield bonus to AC.
Beshadowed Blade (Su): At 3rd level you are able to command the shadows to instantly envelope your weapon(s) in a sheath of pitch black darkness. This shroud of shadow grants a bonus to Bluff (feint) skill checks equal to half of your class level (rounded up) because it is difficult for enemies to perceive the motion of your weapon while attacking (note that no matter how many weapons the character wields he only recieves this benefit once). This effect applies to any held/wielded weapon including weapons which are thrown, however. The effect ends at the end of your turn after making a ranged attack with a thrown weapon(s). The beshadowed blade grants additional benefits as the character progresses.
At 7th level, the obfuscating effects of the shrouded weapon allow the character to feint as a swift action.
At 11th level, your blade becomes a weapon of shadows, allowing it to harm incorporeal and ethereal creatures as though it were a force weapon. Furthermore, the weapon may not be sundered.
At 15th level the shadows that grip your weapon become far trickier, bending at nearly impossible angles. When using your beshadowed blade, you may feint as a free action in combat a number of times per round equal to the shadowblades Dexterity modifier.
At 19th level the umbral power of the character's beshadowed blade now strikes true against most creatures. By relying on the reflective nature of shadows the blade is now capable of overcoming most types of damage reduction. This ability imbues the character's shrouded blade with the shadow striking weapon special ability. This is in addition to any special properties the weapon already has.
Shadowsight (Ex): At 3rd level, you can see perfectly in darkness of any kind, even that created by a deeper darkness spell.
Shrouded Armour (Su): This ability allows you to imbue shadows into a suit of armour with which you are proficient with. The imbued item grants several benefits to the character. At 4th level the shadows laced into the suit of armour grant you a certain degree of grace. While wearing your shrouded armour, you do not suffer from a reduction in speed. Furthermore, you gain evasion, as the rogue class feature except that it applies no matter what armor you wear. You can only have one such suit of armour imbued with this ability, however. You may change the armour which this ability is applied to by performing a 1 minute ritual after resting for 8 hours.
At 8th level the shrouded armour is instilled with the preternatural grace and fluidity of shadow. From this point forward you take no penalty on Hide or Move Silently checks while moving at up to your normal speed, and you take only a –10 penalty on Hide and Move Silently checks when running or charging (instead of the usual –20).
At 12th level your shrouded armour is now so steeped in shadows and darkness that the armour grants you concealment against all attacks.
At 16th level your shrouded armour continually leaks streamers of shadows. This effect grants the shadowblade the ability to hide in plain sight — that is, you can use the Hide skill even while being observed.
At 20th level your shrouded armour can pull you fully into the shadows. This allows you to use shadow walk as a spell-like ability once per day.
Graceful Strike (Ex): At 4th level, a shadowblade becomes able to make attacks which take advantage of the shadowblade's grace and fluidity during combat. He applies his Dexterity bonus (if any) as a bonus on damage rolls (in addition to any Strength bonus she may have) with any weapon which has been imbued with the beshadowed blade ability. Targets immune to sneak attacks or critical hits are immune to the shadowblade's graceful strike.
Slip Between the Shadows (Su): At 5th level, a shadowblade gains the ability to travel between shadows similar in effect to a dimension door spell. The limitation is that the magical transport must begin and end in an area with at least some shadow. A shadowblade can jump up to a total of 20 feet each day in this way; this may be a single jump of 20 feet or two jumps of 10 feet each. Every two levels higher than 5th, the distance a shadowblade can jump each day increases by 20 feeet(40 feet at 7th, 60 feet at 9th, etc). This amount can be split among many jumps, but each one, no matter how small, counts as a 10-foot increment. Activating this ability is a standard action, at 10th level activating this ability becomes a swift action and at 15th activating this ability becomes a free action.
I would also like to add an ability that increases the maximum Dexterity modifier of armour worn. But I am unsure where it should go. Any insight into this issue would be welcomed.
Thanks for any and all input!
Cheers
Volf
EDIT: Please see above for finalized version of the shadowblade class.