Ignatius Flamel
2016-06-01, 09:36 AM
In my quest to reach 10 posts on this forum (and with it, the fabled ability to include LINKS and IMAGES in my posts) while simultaneously avoiding mindless drivel (aka "****posting"), I have come upon the lovely Cloak and Dagger Style in Blood of Shadows.
While it has many prerequisites, these pose no unsurmountable challenge for a prepared...avenger vigilante!
It provides interesting benefits, namely:
Cloak and Dagger Style
1) Free Dirty trick if you attack someone in a surprise round
2) If someone uses an action to remove the penalty imposed by Dirty trick, they provoke an AoO from you
Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge
3) If you AoO someone, you also get a free action Dirty trick against them
4) If you successfully perform a Dirty trick against someone, you also get a free action steal maneuver against them; if that succeeds, the enemy is UNAWARE that you stole something
Cloak and Dagger Tactics
5) If you:
*hit someone you are flanking
*hit someone who is denied his Dex to AC
*hit someone with (Greater/Improved) Vital Strike
you can make a free dirty trick maneuver as free action;
if this Dirty trick succeeds, your opponent gets an additional penalty that lasts 1 round, can be removed as standard action independent from the dirty trick penalty(Fort DC 10+1/2 BAB+Int negates):
*anchored in place and unable to move from that square
*confused
*exhausted
*staggered
I like this combat style, and want to use it. To achieve this, I present...
Alfred, the Avenger
Human Vigilante(Avenger specialization)
Stats(Elite Array):
STR 17, DEX 14, CON 12, INT 08, WIS 10, CHA 13
Traits: Indomitable Faith(+1 Will), Valknar Alumnus(+1 CMB for Dirty Trick)
Progression:
1st lvl Dual Identity, Seamless Guise, Social Talent(Social Grace: Profession(Gladiator)),
Vigilante Specialization(Avenger); Dodge, Weapon Trick(One-Handed)
2nd lvl Vigilante Talent(Favored Maneuver: Dirty Trick); (Improved Dirty Trick)
3rd lvl Social Talent(Double Time), Unshakable; Combat Reflexes
4th lvl Vigilante Talent(Signature Weapon: Gladius); (Weapon Focus(Gladius)), +1 STR
5th lvl Social Talent(Many Guises, Social Grace: Bluff), Startling Appearance; Dirty Fighting
6th lvl Vigilante Talent(Vital Punishment); (Vital Strike)
7th lvl Social Talent(Quick Change); Cloak and Dagger Style
=============================
Alright, this is the first big "breakpoint" of Alfred: He has Cloak and Dagger Style at level 7.
Just a few of his abilities:
*He can use an immediate action to gain +4 Dodge bonus to AC vs a single attack; if he does, he is staggered on his next turn. [Weapon Trick(One-Handed Weapon) - (requires Dodge)]
*If someone misses him by 5 or more, he can take an AoO against that opponent
(once per opponent per day) [Weapon Trick(One-Handed Weapon) - (requires +4 BAB and Combat Reflexes)]
*He can use Vital Strike on AoOs (once per turn) [ Vital Punishment ]
*He can attack and perform a [Dirty Trick, Disarm, Drag, Reposition, or Steal ] maneuver as full-round action: the attack at Full BAB and the maneuver at full CMB [Weapon Trick(One-Handed Weapon) - (requires +6 BAB)]
*If someone adjacent attempts to remove a dirty trick penalty Alfred inflicted, he provokes an AoO from Alfred [Cloak and Dagger Style]
*He can change identities as a full-round action (Quick change)
=============================
8th lvl Vigilante Talent(Combat Skill: Greater Dirty Trick); (Greater Dirty Trick, Weapon Specialization(Gladius)), +1 STR
9th lvl Social Talent(Mockingbird); Quick Dirty Trick
10th lvl Vigilante Talent(Combat Skill: Combat Stamina), Social Talent(Social Grace: Intimidate); (Combat Stamina)
11th lvl Social Talent(Everyman), Frightening Appearance; Dirty Trick Master
12th lvl Vigilante Talent(Mad Rush); +1 STR
13th lvl Social Talent(Immediate Change); Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge
=============================
We have another important "breakpoint" for Alfred at level 13; in addition to the abilities already listed above, he can:
*Replace 1 melee attack on his turn(with the highest attack bonus) with a Dirty Trick maneuver [Quick Dirty Trick]
*Replace a second melee attack on his turn with a Dirty Trick maneuver [Combat Trick: Quick Dirty Trick; costs 2 Stamina]
*Use Dirty Trick Master to escalate Dirty Trick penalties:
Dazzled => Dazed
Shaken => Frightened
Entangled => Pinned
Sickened => Nauseated
*get a free Dirty Trick with every AoO [Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge]
*get a free steal with every successful Dirty Trick; unfortunately, this steal maneuver still provokes an AoO unless Alfred is flanking [Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge; Dirty Fighting]
*Charge with an additional -4 penalty to AC, full-attack at the end of the charge [Mad rush]
*change identities as a move action
=============================
14th lvl Vigilante Talent(Shadow's Speed)
15th lvl Social Talent(Gossip Collector, Social Grace: Diplomacy); Iron Will
16th lvl Vigilante Talent(Strike the Unseen); (Blind Fight, Improved Blind Fight, Greater Blind Fight), +1 STR
17th lvl Social Talent(Any Guise), Stunning Appearance; Cloak and Dagger Tactics
=============================
Another breakpoint for Alfred! Now he can:
*Adapt any number of personas; he can also impersonate dead people [Any Guise]
*get a free dirty trick with every vital strike + a possible extra debuff 1/turn; => if he uses Vital punishment (Vital strike as AoO), he gets TWO free dirty tricks (one from C & D Subterfuge(because it is an AoO), one from C & D Tactics(because it is a vital strike)) [Cloak and Dagger Tactics, Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge]
=============================
18th lvl Vigilante Talent(Unkillable); (Diehard)
19th lvl Social Talent(Safe House); Toughness
20th lvl Vigilante Talent(Shield of Blades), Vengeance Strike; (Power Attack), +1 STR
=============================
Finally, we get some defensive options and a small bonus to damage and AC via [i]Shield of Blades.
While it has many prerequisites, these pose no unsurmountable challenge for a prepared...avenger vigilante!
It provides interesting benefits, namely:
Cloak and Dagger Style
1) Free Dirty trick if you attack someone in a surprise round
2) If someone uses an action to remove the penalty imposed by Dirty trick, they provoke an AoO from you
Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge
3) If you AoO someone, you also get a free action Dirty trick against them
4) If you successfully perform a Dirty trick against someone, you also get a free action steal maneuver against them; if that succeeds, the enemy is UNAWARE that you stole something
Cloak and Dagger Tactics
5) If you:
*hit someone you are flanking
*hit someone who is denied his Dex to AC
*hit someone with (Greater/Improved) Vital Strike
you can make a free dirty trick maneuver as free action;
if this Dirty trick succeeds, your opponent gets an additional penalty that lasts 1 round, can be removed as standard action independent from the dirty trick penalty(Fort DC 10+1/2 BAB+Int negates):
*anchored in place and unable to move from that square
*confused
*exhausted
*staggered
I like this combat style, and want to use it. To achieve this, I present...
Alfred, the Avenger
Human Vigilante(Avenger specialization)
Stats(Elite Array):
STR 17, DEX 14, CON 12, INT 08, WIS 10, CHA 13
Traits: Indomitable Faith(+1 Will), Valknar Alumnus(+1 CMB for Dirty Trick)
Progression:
1st lvl Dual Identity, Seamless Guise, Social Talent(Social Grace: Profession(Gladiator)),
Vigilante Specialization(Avenger); Dodge, Weapon Trick(One-Handed)
2nd lvl Vigilante Talent(Favored Maneuver: Dirty Trick); (Improved Dirty Trick)
3rd lvl Social Talent(Double Time), Unshakable; Combat Reflexes
4th lvl Vigilante Talent(Signature Weapon: Gladius); (Weapon Focus(Gladius)), +1 STR
5th lvl Social Talent(Many Guises, Social Grace: Bluff), Startling Appearance; Dirty Fighting
6th lvl Vigilante Talent(Vital Punishment); (Vital Strike)
7th lvl Social Talent(Quick Change); Cloak and Dagger Style
=============================
Alright, this is the first big "breakpoint" of Alfred: He has Cloak and Dagger Style at level 7.
Just a few of his abilities:
*He can use an immediate action to gain +4 Dodge bonus to AC vs a single attack; if he does, he is staggered on his next turn. [Weapon Trick(One-Handed Weapon) - (requires Dodge)]
*If someone misses him by 5 or more, he can take an AoO against that opponent
(once per opponent per day) [Weapon Trick(One-Handed Weapon) - (requires +4 BAB and Combat Reflexes)]
*He can use Vital Strike on AoOs (once per turn) [ Vital Punishment ]
*He can attack and perform a [Dirty Trick, Disarm, Drag, Reposition, or Steal ] maneuver as full-round action: the attack at Full BAB and the maneuver at full CMB [Weapon Trick(One-Handed Weapon) - (requires +6 BAB)]
*If someone adjacent attempts to remove a dirty trick penalty Alfred inflicted, he provokes an AoO from Alfred [Cloak and Dagger Style]
*He can change identities as a full-round action (Quick change)
=============================
8th lvl Vigilante Talent(Combat Skill: Greater Dirty Trick); (Greater Dirty Trick, Weapon Specialization(Gladius)), +1 STR
9th lvl Social Talent(Mockingbird); Quick Dirty Trick
10th lvl Vigilante Talent(Combat Skill: Combat Stamina), Social Talent(Social Grace: Intimidate); (Combat Stamina)
11th lvl Social Talent(Everyman), Frightening Appearance; Dirty Trick Master
12th lvl Vigilante Talent(Mad Rush); +1 STR
13th lvl Social Talent(Immediate Change); Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge
=============================
We have another important "breakpoint" for Alfred at level 13; in addition to the abilities already listed above, he can:
*Replace 1 melee attack on his turn(with the highest attack bonus) with a Dirty Trick maneuver [Quick Dirty Trick]
*Replace a second melee attack on his turn with a Dirty Trick maneuver [Combat Trick: Quick Dirty Trick; costs 2 Stamina]
*Use Dirty Trick Master to escalate Dirty Trick penalties:
Dazzled => Dazed
Shaken => Frightened
Entangled => Pinned
Sickened => Nauseated
*get a free Dirty Trick with every AoO [Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge]
*get a free steal with every successful Dirty Trick; unfortunately, this steal maneuver still provokes an AoO unless Alfred is flanking [Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge; Dirty Fighting]
*Charge with an additional -4 penalty to AC, full-attack at the end of the charge [Mad rush]
*change identities as a move action
=============================
14th lvl Vigilante Talent(Shadow's Speed)
15th lvl Social Talent(Gossip Collector, Social Grace: Diplomacy); Iron Will
16th lvl Vigilante Talent(Strike the Unseen); (Blind Fight, Improved Blind Fight, Greater Blind Fight), +1 STR
17th lvl Social Talent(Any Guise), Stunning Appearance; Cloak and Dagger Tactics
=============================
Another breakpoint for Alfred! Now he can:
*Adapt any number of personas; he can also impersonate dead people [Any Guise]
*get a free dirty trick with every vital strike + a possible extra debuff 1/turn; => if he uses Vital punishment (Vital strike as AoO), he gets TWO free dirty tricks (one from C & D Subterfuge(because it is an AoO), one from C & D Tactics(because it is a vital strike)) [Cloak and Dagger Tactics, Cloak and Dagger Subterfuge]
=============================
18th lvl Vigilante Talent(Unkillable); (Diehard)
19th lvl Social Talent(Safe House); Toughness
20th lvl Vigilante Talent(Shield of Blades), Vengeance Strike; (Power Attack), +1 STR
=============================
Finally, we get some defensive options and a small bonus to damage and AC via [i]Shield of Blades.