The Adopted trait does not allow you to select a racial trait from the race descriptions. Instead, it gives you access to a trait (in the sense that Adopted is a trait) which could only be selected by a certain race.
This renders your strategy for getting proficiency with the kukri invalid.
The guide also lacks advice on feats and strategy advice.
Have you considered the Thug Rogue Enforcer -> Dazzling Display -> Shatter Defences + Sap Adept + Sap Master combination? Quite nicely ups your damage and ability to get a sneak attack.
Doesn't require thug, but fair point.
You mentioned: 'Varisian Tattoo' gives you proficiency in the star knife.
I think you do refer towards 'Tattooed Mystic', which is also good against charms and compulsions.
I'm unsure if this entirely correct, but if I remember reading right, you only get proficiency with that specific Kukri using the Heirloom weapon trait. So, you would have proficiency with the one kukri but not the other, meaning if somehow you lose your kukri and pick up another, you are not efficient with it.. If this is true, one may need to pick up the proficiency feat for a kukri at early levels or even dip into fighter. Hopefully someone can chime in on if this correct though.
I'm not sure if scout is actually you're best bet as a Knife Master. If focusing on a single hit it makes a lot of sense but as a TWF build it seems sort of subpar. You should also look into the bandit Archetype. The ability to pull of a SA full attack in the surprise round is pretty vicious, with a spring loaded sheath and the watching Taldor trait you can actually pull this off without investing in Quickdraw.
On the Intimidator you want the Unnatural Presence trait so you can intimidate more creatures.
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I've enjoyed your knife master scout guide, but I have a question. For the Intimidator build, you suggest using the bonus human feat to acquire kukri. But since the kukri is a light martial weapon, wouldn't that be a waste of a feat? I used the bonus human feat in my version of the build to gain Double Slice instead, as my rogue has a Strength of 14. Incidentally, that level of fighter also nabs proficiency with the starknife as it too is a light martial weapon.
Edit: I see Third Mind has already suggested this. Apparently I have an earlier version of the pdf.
I think there's a problem with your Shanker build. You're taking Improved TWF at 6th level, but you need BAB +6 for Improved TWF. Also, I believe you can't take feats with Rogue Talents, only Advanced Rogue Talents.
I'd suggest reserving your Combat Trick for 8th level so you can pick up ITWF as soon as you get BAB +6. Then you can take Improved TW Feint with your feat at 9th.
The focus on getting critical doesn't make much sense to me. Especially if you're not a 2hd weapon build. Let's say your strength is at most a 14 -- that means with a Kukri or you're looking at 4.5 extra damage on a crit. With say a 4d8 sneak attack you've got 20% bonus damage on a critical. Not worth it at all when you're burning feats and traits to get Kukri proficiency and improved critical. And that's on your main hand - on your off hand you're doing one less damage, if your str is only 12 (very possible) you've lost another point of damage.
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Why do you love the Kukri so much? You're reccomending a DEX build so from a purely damage perspective you are better of using Daggers and taking the regional trait: River Rat.
The +1 damage from River Rat puts the Dagger ahead of the Kukri in damage until your static bonus (I.e. Not Sneak Attack) that are multiplied on a critical hit get to like +15 or so; which is a number the DEX based Rogue will likely never see.
Daggers can also be thrown, making them a far better choice than the Kukri for this particular type of build. Obviously a STR based Ranger w/Power Attack or Pirhana Strike should choose a Kukri, but not the DEX based Rogue.
P.s.: in the event you address thus later in the guide I apologize - I haven't finished it!
But so far I like it.
Kukuris have better scaling with enchatments (agile and keen on a pair of weapons is expensive but it's a very potent combination), open up crit-fishing builds (Outflank and Butterfly Sting is a scary combo) and at least half-elves can gain proficiency without a cross-class dip (and access to the Moonlight Stalker line). It's the build I used on my most recent rogue and it performed well. I still kept a brace of daggers on hand for throwing attacks.
River Rat is good but it doesn't scale and I'd rather use my traits to patch up will saves. It's certainly very viable to take River Rat, ignore critical abilities altogether and just focus on delivery sneak attacks through movement and concealment. The raw advantage of the straight-dagger build is it arrives sooner due to not having to buy keen enchants or critical feats (although Outflank is great even for non-crit builds). Both are going to invest in largerly the same collection of feats and both aren't really going to come online until you hit level 10 and gain Skill Mastery (any rogue's single best ability).
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Kukuris have better scaling with enchatments (agile and keen on a pair of weapons is expensive but it's a very potent combination), open up crit-fishing builds (Outflank and Butterfly Sting is a scary combo) and at least half-elves can gain proficiency without a cross-class dip (and access to the Moonlight Stalker line). It's the build I used on my most recent rogue and it performed well. I still kept a brace of daggers on hand for throwing attacks.
River Rat is good but it doesn't scale and I'd rather use my traits to patch up will saves. It's certainly very viable to take River Rat, ignore critical abilities altogether and just focus on delivery sneak attacks through movement and concealment. The raw advantage of the straight-dagger build is it arrives sooner due to not having to buy keen enchants or critical feats (although Outflank is great even for non-crit builds). Both are going to invest in largerly the same collection of feats and both aren't really going to come online until you hit level 10 and gain Skill Mastery (any rogue's single best ability).
Agile & Keen are perfectly good abilities to put on a Dagger. But you're still going to have trouble hitting a static damage of +15, especially with your off-hand. Crit fishing for damage is just way better on a STR build with Full BAB (a TWF Rogue is probably better off not using Power Attack or Piranha Strike; two great ways to boost your static damage).
Crit fishing for debuffing with conditions is arguably better left for the full BAB classes as well, especially in PFS, where the Rogue will never qualify for any of the Critical feats.
I like the idea of Butterfly Sting, but if I was building around that I think a Kukri & Pick would be a sweet combo (but probably no point in going Knifemaster at that point, or Rogue for that matter).
Outflank is a great feat for Rogues in general; especially if you can convince the BFS to take it as well.
The truth is the allure of the expanded threat range weapons is mostly lost on the Rogue; whose primary source of additional damage does not get multiplied on a critical hit. If you're going for flavour, fine. But if you're going for added benefit it offers diminishing returns right out of the gate - especially if you have to spend a limited resource (like a feat, talent, or trait/alt. racial trait) to get it.
If the point of the guide is to offer good advice it's at least worth taking a good long look at River Rat... A flat +1 to damage that applies equally to your off-hand weapon and stacks with everything else (except other trait damage sources, obviously) is golden. Especially at low levels when things like Agile (x2) are levels away.
Agile & Keen are perfectly good abilities to put on a Dagger. But you're still going to have trouble hitting a static damage of +15, especially with your off-hand. Crit fishing for damage is just way better on a STR build with Full BAB (a TWF Rogue is probably better off not using Power Attack or Piranha Strike; two great ways to boost your static damage).
Fair points, well explained. I agree, for a generalist guide it's likely beter to drill down on daggers.
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Although this is a Knife Master build, consider that a catfolk with claw blades gets the d8 sneak attack dice as well. This can open up a number of options for a rogue who doesn't want to have to invest his archetype choice in knife master.
Surprised not to see the Twirler using Perfect Style - Unfolding Wind to charge and shoot a full round worth of starknives.
@fmflyingmonkey
When I said:
a catfolk with claw blades gets the d8 sneak attack dice as well
I was talking about sneak attack dice, not weapon damage dice. Taking the vicious claws talent lets you roll with d8s on sneak attacks made with claws or claw blades. While this does indeed take up your starting racial trait and a talent, it frees up your archetype, which can be used to pick up a number of other bonuses. It's also quite convenient if paired with a ring of rat fangs, letting you make 3 natural attacks at full BAB (although only the claws will roll with d8s). Then you can skip the TWF feats entirely, opening up 2 feats.
Typo detected in your document:
Starknives
From a central metal ring, four tapering metal blades extend like points on a compass rose. A wielder can stab with the Star knife or throw it. It has a thrown range of 20ft, whereas a dagger has 10 ft. Combined with the trait strong arm subtle wrist you can be throwing them for 30ft and getting SA damage at level 4 when you are a Scout.
Should be:
Strong Arm, Supple WristReference here
How much better did this style of rogue become with Unchained? Can it now compete with the big boys?
edit: and is it now better or atleast equal to a beastmorph vivicionst alchemist?
I don't know how good a beastmorph vivisectionist is, but it did get quite a power boost. Knife Master was already great, and one of my PCs has switched to it from Alchemist which he was originally going to do.