Midnighter's page

Combat Reflexes allows Opportune Riposte and Parry multiple times a round.

Multiple Parry but you can only Riposte once per round.

If he didn't get the +3 to hit then he wouldn't get the +1d6/lvl damage either.

Pick up a Cape of Feinting and use it along with the Superior Feint deed (7th level) and trivialize any single opponent.

It may be worth waiting for Pathfinder Unchained. It comes out next month and will have some new (and hopefully improved) options for the Rogue.

Honestly, I would have the Cleric use his last wish to return you all to the point you were before drawing from the deck and continue your adventures as if it all never happened.

AC isn't really much of an issue when you have access to Mirror Image, Blur, Displacement, etc. Look at picking up Blade Lash and keep your opponent prone, or pick up Flamboyant Arcana at 3rd and use Opportune Parry/Riposte and Dodging Deed to avoid melee attacks altogether. I did a Swashbuckler dip on my Magus and once I got Combat Reflexes (or Line in the Sand for a low DEX build) my AC became a non factor for melee.

Two words: Mad Monkeys

A 'continuous use' magic item with the abundant ammunition spell should have a base value of 1 (spell level) x 1 (caster level) x 2 (minutes/level usual duration) x 2,000gp = 4,000gp. With the Craft Wonderous Item Feat you can knock one out at level 3 for a mere 2,000gp.

To be honest, considering the limits of the spell (non-magical ammo only, and you can't just keep emptying it out into a big pile of infinite ammo - it vanishes after 6 seconds) I'd say that's actually a balanced cost too. In essence, it's mostly a way to cut down on boring ammo bookkeeping, and a way to make the poor repeating crossbow into a viable weapon - both good things IMHO! :)

I did this for my archer a while back. It was not in the least bit overpowered. The DM and I decided that on a natural 1 attack roll the arrow was lost. Basically for a moderate cost the record keeping required for an archer was kept to a minimum. Prior to this solution, I carried several hundred arrows in a bag of holding and simply replenished my quivers at the end of an encounter. The Efficient Quiver with continuous Abundant Ammunition was simply a more elegant solution

Why are you so worried about AC when you have the ability to avoid melee attacks altogether? Take Combat Reflexes over Combat Expertise (and take it at level 3 in place of Arcane Exploit). For extra AoO capability, use the spell Line in the Sand to add your Intelligence bonus to your AoOs per round. At the earliest opportunity enhance your Rapier with Keen (+1) and Answering (+1). Use the Long Arm spell, Lunge feat, and/or Swashbuckler's Flair (Blue Scarf) to increase your reach.

When in melee you can declare a Parry when you are attacked and roll an opposed attack check (at your highest BAB with all your attack bonuses). If your roll is greater than your opponent's roll the attack misses. If you have a Panache point left over you can Riposte as an Immediate action. If you crit on the Riposte you get a Panache point back (Keen/Imp Critical is vital for Panache recovery). If your Panache pool is small you can augment it with the Extra Panache feat but crit fishing is your best bet for maintaining Panache throughout the day.

Now say you are fighting something with multiple attacks. You will need to maintain your spacing from the attacker for this to work. Use your reach (you bought a Blue Scarf right?) and 5' step to stay outside your opponent's reach whenever possible to force your opponent to use a 5' step to engage you. On the first attack use Dodging Panache to take an Immediate 5' step away (1 Panache). You still take the first attack (which you can attempt to Parry but not Riposte) but all iterative attacks are negated because you are now out of range. Of course if the attacker has Step Up (or the whole Step Up chain) this will not work.

Work to your strengths (Magic and Deeds) instead of focusing on tactics that diminish your class abilities.

As an Inspired Blade your best melee defense comes from the deeds Opportune Parry & Riposte and Dodging Panache. I would focus on increasing your crit range, AoOs, and +attack. I would steer clear of things that give you a penalty to attack. Also grab a wand of Mirror Image/Blur/Displacement so you can conserve your spells for other uses.

You can bullrush in place of a melee attack as a Barbarian with the Knockback rage power.

I had a 2 level Monk dip with my Swashbuckler in our Skull & Shackles game recently. The DM basically ignored the new version of Crane Wing as the character had already been playing with the old version and frankly as it was originally changed it totally sucked. In the end tho I found combat to be extremely boring. I felt like Connor Macleod on the battlefield before falling to the Kurgan.

If you have Arcane Accuracy with your high INT bonus it pretty much takes care of any -atk you may incur. Also Accurate Strikes are good for ignoring AC and DR (Touch attacks bypass DR). Arcane Edge would give you an 8 point Bleed without relying on a crit. I guess you could go with Intensified Spell to get a 10d6 Shocking Grasp.

Extra Arcana
Extra Arcane Pool
Power Attack

These tiles look really nice. I like how the flip side can be used as dirt/outdoors terrain.

Only 9 days left on the kickstarter!

Add in Outflank with a partner and crit often for even more fun.

So could one use Spell Combat + Bladed Dash + Whirlwind Attack?

This is basically a melee version of the Pinpoint Targeting feat except that it has the added bonus of bypassing DR.

Pinpoint Targeting (Combat)
You can target the weak points in your opponent's armor.

Prerequisites: Dex 19, Improved Precise Shot, Point-Blank Shot, Precise Shot, base attack bonus +16.

Benefit: As a standard action, make a single ranged attack. The target does not gain any armor, natural armor, or shield bonuses to its Armor Class. You do not gain the benefit of this feat if you move this round.

If you want a more melee focused character you could also switch to a Swashbuckler Inspired Blade from the Advanced Class Guide.

Piranha Strike is for Light Weapons only. A Rapier is a One-Handed Weapon and does not qualify for Piranha Strike.

Maybe the Arcanist simply used Silence and didn't make the Wizard mute?

And still, with Precise Strike at full power, they will pale in comparison to a full caster or archer

Why is Perfect Strike considered too powerful for a Magus but it is deemed ok for a Swashbuckler. The Magus has to burn 2 Arcana and wait until level 6 at the earliest to qualify for the deed whereas the Swashbuckler gets it automatically at level 3. I just don't see what the problem is with a Magus getting this deed and having it work off of his Magus level.

Oh nice ability. Does it show I have never played a Kensai? :)

How are you able to take Bleeding, Staggering, and Stunning Critical at those levels? The critical feats work off of your BAB not your character level.

If you want to use a two-hander with no CHA why even play a Swashbuckler? When not using a light or one-handed piercing weapon you basically lose half of your deeds (all of them if you don't take Extra Panache), you have no Panache and no way to regain Panache (if you take Extra Panache), and you lose most of your class abilities (all except Nimble and Bonus Feats).

If you want a STR based, dumped CHA, 2-Handed Weapon using character, play a Fighter or even a Rogue

I think you are also underestimating the value of Targeted Strike. One of the main problems with combat maneuvers is that CMD scales up faster than your CMB which makes it harder to pull off a maneuver at higher levels. With Targeted Strike you get a choice of 4 effects (Disarm, Confuse, Trip, Stagger) with a successful hit, no combat maneuver check required. Perfect option for stopping an opponent from doing any damage or taking any action. It also can generate a few AoOs.

One other thing, lose the profanity in your write up. It is unnecessary and some will find it offensive.

Vital Strike is a Standard Action
Cleave/Great Cleave is a Standard Action
Backswing applies only during a Full Attack Action

When doing a move (not a charge) followed by a standard action (single attack) he can pick either Vital Strike or Cleave but not both. Backswing will not apply as he is not doing a full attack action

We had a player who fudged his rolls all the time but he was playing a Rogue so nobody noticed.

Oh yes, I've read the FAQ. Have you?

Do you notice a specific lacking of the words "When you use Greater trip.."

Or for that matter Read the question? The question wasn't "Does all your allies get an Attack of Opportunity" But rather a specific question of If greater trip happens, and you have vicious stomp, do you get two AoOs or just one.

Huh what?

The FAQ states specifically "Greater Trip gives you an AOO when you trip a foe." I do not know how much more clearly it can be written. At this point Espy I think you are just trolling.

So in answer to your question/challenge

Actually its more than just reading into it Midnighter.

Show me one feat/ability/spell where someone takes a penalty and it is not expressly stated that it only applies to you, but it does.

Penalties are universal unless otherwise stated.
Penalties stack unless otherwise stated.

The rules for Greater Trip do not expressly state that the AoO applies only to the tripper but according to the FAQ it does apply only to the tripper.

Have you read the FAQ?

Greater Trip: How does this interact with Vicious Stomp (APG)? Do you get two AOOs or just one?
Using these feats together provokes two AOOs, because the two AOO-triggering acts are similar, but different.
Greater Trip gives you an AOO when you trip a foe. Vicious Stomp gives you an AOO occurs when a foe falls prone.

Bolded for clarity.

Are you saying that Greater Trip allows everyone who threatens to take an AoO from the trip?

Demoralize causes the Shaken condition. Refer to the Shaken rules. How does this apply to more than one person?

Greater Trip causes the Prone condition. Refer to the Prone rules for how it specifically applies.

Startling Shot causes the Flat-Footed condition. Refer to the Flat-Footed rules for how it specifically applies.

Satire specifically states in the text that "A court bard can use performance to undermine the confidence of enemies who hear it" The text expressly states it applies to multiple targets.

Slow Reactions states and opponent cannot make AoOs for 1 round. Sounds specific to me.

Power Attack? What is your point with Power Attack?

Show me one feat/ability/spell where someone takes a penalty and it is not expressly stated that it applies to everyone, but it does.

And this is exactly my argument Elbedor. If I had written:

"The benefit (and point) of Greater Feint is that you deny the target it's Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) not only for your next attack but for any other attacks anyone makes until the start of your next turn."

You would have no problem with this wording. But you are also reading in to the wording to suit your interpretation. Those words (in bold) are nowhere to be found in the Feat description, the Feat rules, the PRD or the CRB. So where are you finding these words? Why is your assumption any more valid than mine or someone else's who reads in yet some other meaning?

I stated in a previous post the common assumptions for the Greater Feint feat. Because of the vagueness of the feat text each assumption is as valid as the other. Until we get a FAQ, neither are right or wrong.

To which point are you referring to Tangent?

Hopefully the FAQ request will get answered and we can all put this to rest. Until then, have a Happy New Year all, and remember it is just a game :)

Just to be clear, denying Dexterity bonus and denying Dexterity bonus to AC are not the same thing. Feinting only denies Dexterity bonus to AC (if any).

I do not think anyone here thinks that Feint is a Combat Maneuver using CMB/CMD to resolve. Feint is a Special Attack, listed after the Combat Maneuver entries and that is all.

These are 2 exclusive effects. You can still Feint in Round 1 and make your Attack in Round 2 on your next Turn if you really wanted to since the "on...your next Turn" timetable is still there. Or you could Feint as a Move and then Attack. But this is no different than what Improved Feint offers you. So what would be the point of taking Greater then?

The benefit (and point) of Greater Feint is that you deny the target it's Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) not only for your next attack but for any other attacks you can make until the start of your next turn.

My comment has nothing to do with what JJ posted. It has everything to do with how the rules and feats are written. Each one directly references the Feint maneuver action.

I think the point that some people do not understand is that Feint is a specific maneuver detailed in the Combat Maneuver section of the Core Rulebook (page 201). Improved Feint, Greater Feint, Two-Weapon Feint, Improved Two-Weapon Feint, Moonlight Stalker Feint, and Wave Strike ALL directly reference, use, state unequivocally that they apply to this rule for the Feint maneuver (again, listed on page 201 of the CRB). When you feint, however you feint, you are doing a feint according to the rules for the Feint maneuver/action in the CRB.

Startling Shot and Superior Feint, both Extraordinary Abilities and not Feats, never once reference the Feint maneuver/action and neither behave in accordance with the rules for Feint listed in the CRB.

And if you get an AoO you also attack do a single attack at your full BAB (no TWF penalty)

Personally I would say both abilities (Startling Shot and Superior Feint would allow all allies to enjoy the effect. I think they turned away from flat-footed because it makes any character with Uncanny Dodge immune where the "deny Dex to AC" is not subject to Uncanny Dodge.

It is also important to note that both Startling Shot and Superior Feint are not feats, they are Extraordinary Abilities and thus behave differently.

Midnighter wrote:

The Fighter Archer archetype introduces all kinds of combat maneuver anomalies. That archetype pretty much breaks every combat maneuver rule there is. Bringing it in to a discussion on Greater Feint is kind of pointless.

Hardly pointless.

We're all referring back to the same thing, which is Greater Feint and the clause of "If not expressly stated that it causes X to happen, then X is limited to Y"

It is stated that Greater Feint does NOT cause the enemy to become denied his dex bonus to AC for all allies because it does not expressly mention that the enemy is in fact denied his dex for all allies.

Which due to the fact that the Ranged Feint does not expressly state the enemy is denied his dexterity for the next ranged attack, but continues under the assumption of melee, that the Archer Archetype must make a melee attack against the enemy with in this or next turn.

Quote:

Startling Shot (Ex): At 7th level, a gunslinger with least 1 grit point can spend a standard action to purposely miss a creature that she could normally hit with a firearm attack. When she does, that creature becomes flat-footed until the start of its next turn.

How odd, the Swashbuckler says deny Dex and Startling shot is flat-footed. Even so, As its YOU tricking the enemy, then is not the enemy only denied his Dex Mod to you?

No where in the wording for Startling Shot does it reference either feint or that the target is weakened to only your attacks. Feint specifically calls out the target is denied it's Dex bonus to AC against your melee attack. Greater Feint specifically calls out and builds upon Feint by extending the duration of the debuff.

After further review of the Swashbuckler's Superior Feint it is apparent that it is a feint in name only. That is, it is a special ability and does not follow the Feint rules in the CRB. There is no Bluff check, there is no check at all. You purposefully miss and the target is denied it's Dex bonus to AC. There is no reference or link to the Feint action at all (other than the ability name which is basically fluff). Is the effect self only or open to all allies? I am not sure but I would lean towards all allies as there is nothing linking it to feint, loss of AC to melee or ranged, or your attacks only.

Superior was something in the Swashbuckler Playtest, that was pretty much startling shot but when you were in melee. Attack as standard, purposefully miss, Target is Flat-footed.

I just checked the playtest document (#2) concerning Superior Feint. Unless they changed the text again after the second document Superior Feint makes causes the target to lose his Dex to AC. It does not make him flat-footed (there is a difference). Either way, it is generally considered a bad idea for a martial class to give up a full attack in favor of a standard action, especially if that standard action intentionally misses the target. As it is written I would agree that Superior Feint is junk. If it were a swift or free action it would be worthwhile, but a standard? No way. There is nothing "superior" about that ability.

Sorry Xaratherus, I was responding to Espy. I type slow :P

The Fighter Archer archetype introduces all kinds of combat maneuver anomalies. That archetype pretty much breaks every combat maneuver rule there is. Bringing it in to a discussion on Greater Feint is kind of pointless.

Greater Feint specifically states "Whenever you use feint" so it works with any type of feint action. Feint is a type of maneuver (but not an actual Combat Maneuver). Moonlight Stalker Feint, Wave Strike, Two Weapon Feint, Improved Feint all use the same feint maneuver rules. They all refer to Feint (page 201 in the CRB). They are separate feats because they change the action required (Standard/Move/Swift) or the circumstances required (Concealment/Weapon sheathed/First attack) to perform the feint. Once successful (they all follow the same rules for Bluff check) they all have the same effect (target loses Dex to AC). Greater Feint and Improved Two Weapon Feint simply extend the duration.