[PF] The Deadly Shuriken ability

[Myou]

Can someone explain the benefit of this ability and the several others like it? This seems weaker than a full attack.

Deadly Shuriken (Ex): As a full-round action, a ninja with this master trick can take careful aim and pool all of her attack potential into a single, deadly shuriken throw. When she does this, she throws a single shuriken at a single target, but makes as many attack rolls as she can, based on her base attack bonus. She makes the attack rolls in order from highest bonus to lowest, as if she were making a full attack. If any of the attack rolls hit the target, the attack hits. For each additional successful attack roll beyond the first, the ninja increases the damage by 1d6. Precision damage and extra damage from weapon special abilities (such as flaming) are added with damage modifiers and are not increased by this advanced talent. If one or more rolls are critical threats, she confirms the critical once using her highest base attack bonus –5. For each critical threat beyond the first, she reduces this penalty by 1 (to a maximum of 0).

[Crasical]

Shuriken deal 1d2 damage. With this ability, every hit after the first does 1d6 damage.
The damage is applied in a burst, which is good for penetrating DR.
You use only a single shuriken instead of multiple shuriken.
You don't need to have quick-draw to get your full allotment of attacks with this ability

[Myou]

Shuriken deal 1d2 damage. With this ability, every hit after the first does 1d6 damage.
The damage is applied in a burst, which is good for penetrating DR.
You use only a single shuriken instead of multiple shuriken.
You don't need to have quick-draw to get your full allotment of attacks with this ability


I see...
In that case why not just full attack with a weapon that isn't awful? :smallconfused:

[Crasical]

Why play a ninja when you can be breaking the game over your knee as a wizard?

[Myou]

Why play a ninja when you can be breaking the game over your knee as a wizard?

Well, yeah, but what about just using a bow? Ninjas can use bows too. :smalltongue:

This option does so little, not even allowing sneak attack with each hit - unlike a normal full attack - that it seems like a terrible waste of a high level ability slot.

[Benly]

Drawing shuriken for a full attack doesn't require Quick Draw as Crasical implies. According to the entry for "Draw or Sheathe a Weapon", "Drawing ammunition for use with a ranged weapon (such as arrows, bolts, sling bullets, or shuriken) is a free action." The description of shuriken also indicates that they are treated as ammunition for drawing purposes (among others).

The intended use of Deadly Shuriken seems to be for penetrating DR, but the ability's pretty much a clunker regardless. If it was a free ability I can think of some times it would be worth using, but it's completely not worth blowing a Master Trick on. Ignore it and move along; something's got to be the worst choice on the list and this ability won the booby prize.

However, there is a perfectly good reason for ninja to use shuriken, and that reason is Flurry Of Stars. For a sneak attacker, two extra attacks is well worth using a low-damage weapon.

[Cieyrin]

Don't forget shuriken are enchanted as ammo, so you can buy a super shuriken for Deadly Shuriken attacks for less than you would enchanting a bow.

[Mystify]

Don't forget shuriken are enchanted as ammo, so you can buy a super shuriken for Deadly Shuriken attacks for less than you would enchanting a bow.
For instance, a brilliant energy shuriken. Expensive to full round with, but a single attack can be affordable.

[Myou]

For instance, a brilliant energy shuriken. Expensive to full round with, but a single attack can be affordable.


Don't forget shuriken are enchanted as ammo, so you can buy a super shuriken for Deadly Shuriken attacks for less than you would enchanting a bow.


Drawing shuriken for a full attack doesn't require Quick Draw as Crasical implies. According to the entry for "Draw or Sheathe a Weapon", "Drawing ammunition for use with a ranged weapon (such as arrows, bolts, sling bullets, or shuriken) is a free action." The description of shuriken also indicates that they are treated as ammunition for drawing purposes (among others).

The intended use of Deadly Shuriken seems to be for penetrating DR, but the ability's pretty much a clunker regardless. If it was a free ability I can think of some times it would be worth using, but it's completely not worth blowing a Master Trick on. Ignore it and move along; something's got to be the worst choice on the list and this ability won the booby prize.

However, there is a perfectly good reason for ninja to use shuriken, and that reason is Flurry Of Stars. For a sneak attacker, two extra attacks is well worth using a low-damage weapon.

Ah, I see! well, that all makes sense then. :smallsmile:

It seems to me that pathfinder withholds a lot of class features like this, that should really come free at the right level. :smalltongue:

[Benly]

Don't forget shuriken are enchanted as ammo, so you can buy a super shuriken for Deadly Shuriken attacks for less than you would enchanting a bow.


For instance, a brilliant energy shuriken. Expensive to full round with, but a single attack can be affordable.

This is one of the situations where it would be worth using, yeah. Unfortunately, there aren't enough to make it worth taking, given that you'd be giving up a generally better Master Trick to take it.

[Particle_Man]

Also a shuriken is easier to hide up your ass than a bow, according to the sleight of hand skill rules. :)

[D@rK-SePHiRoTH-]

Also a shuriken is easier to hide up your ass than a bow, according to the sleight of hand skill rules. :)
It is also more painful, according to how they're shaped

[jaybird]

It is also more painful, according to how they're shaped

Cylindrical container :smallwink: hiding a bow up your ass might make you more like Mr. Hands then anything...:smalleek:

[Particle_Man]

Cylindrical container :smallwink: hiding a bow up your ass might make you more like Mr. Hands then anything...:smalleek:

Mr. Hands = ? (the bad guy from the Mr. Bill sketches?)

[CTrees]

Mr. Hands = ? (the bad guy from the Mr. Bill sketches?)

Yes, exactly. Never, ever think about what else that might be referencing, and definitely don't search it out. SAN damage in real life isn't worth it

[jaybird]

I don't suppose a FATAL joke would be in good taste here?

[The Glyphstone]

FATAL and good taste do not belong in the same thread, let alone the same post.

[deuxhero]

FATAL doesn't belong in this world.

[Crasical]

Die, Monster! You don't belong in this world!

[CTrees]

Strangely enough, FATAL could make Mr. Hands reasonable.