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I have a PFS character that just hit level 6 and got into the Halfling Opportunist prestige class. The defining ability of the opportunist relies on CMB, and I'm trying to figure out how to maximize my chances.
Since this is a non-weapon maneuver, the usual trick of adding the weapon's enhancement bonus doesn't help, and there are no "improved" and "greater" feats for this like with standard combat maneuvers.
It's a high dex character, and I've already got the Agile Maneuvers feat to use dex in place of str for CMB. And I know about putting a dusty rose ioun stone in a wayfinder for +2 on CMB and CMD, though it'll take me one more adventure to save up the cash for that one.
But that still only gets me to +10 CMB at level 6, which doesn't give me very good chances against CMDs that will almost always be over 20, and occasionally close to 30, even at this level.
So what else could I use to boost my CMB for this?
my wife posted a similar thread awhile back and did not get much in the way of responses
Would True Strike spell apply to this and if so, any way to get it?
Gauntlets of the Skill Maneuver?
Dip Lore Warden?
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I'm sad to say it sounds like a misbuild-up at this point; you have most of the major components. Cracked ioun stone (green) you may have missed,and popping 3 levels in Lore warden may help you some, but not a terrible amount. If you really want CMB into high levels, you should already be in the 20 range; and there just isn't enough to get you there.
My best advice would be to ignore the defining ability and just make the most of the character, try to increase damage for charging and such. You're not really going to improve your chances by a significant enough amount to make the CMBs of the mid-highs, given that character's current position :(.
Lesson learned is to plan out the level 10 version of your character and ask yourself if it does what you want it to before you invest that much time in it.
CMB is... harder, especially when no weapon is involved. I would suggest also looking towards anything that may help bump your Dex. Also remember that things that bump your attack roll in general should also help here. Equality for All from the halflings of Golarion book may also help (+2 to cmb when opponent is 2+ size categories above you). Gauntlets of the Skilled Maneuver may also work. Spells like Heroism are your friend in this case, I believe.
Indrajit mentioned it too, but yeah, what jumped out at me is just pumping your dex in any way that you can
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I believe Thalin is referring to the Pale Green Prism Ioun Stone. It gives a +1 bonus to attack rolls, though I forget which type it is. The full priced one is morale, the cracked one is something else.
Anything that increases attack rolls will help you. Flanking, Bless, Haste, prone target, higher ground, catching them flat-footed, striking from Invis, and others.
Can you post the whole character? That would be very helpful.
I suspect that the best advice available will be to simply make the character as good as possible on its own, without spending too many resources to maximize CMB. You can still use Exploitive Maneuver every round, and will benefit from it.
I'm making a mystic theurge guide - it has been taking forever because it is so complicated.
(spells to add to wondrous items as continuous/use activated // existing magical items):
Spells:
Aspect of the Bear (+2 CMB, can perform bullrush, grapple, and overrun without aoo)
Animal Aspect (Gorilla) (+4 Grapple/Reposition)
Aspect of the Wolf (+2 trip as a swift action without provoking aoo)
Items:
Belt of thunderous charging (+2 bullrush and overrun)
Form-fixing gauntlets (+2 CMB when fighting shapeshifters)
Grappler's mask (no aoo bullrush/grapple)
Armbands of the brawler (+1 grapple/break grapple)
Boots of the mastodon (+2 overrun, can trample targets)
Magnetist's gloves (ranged disarm)
Are you asking for spells/items that increase your strength/size/base attack bonus (yes, there are spells and items that increase your BAB) that would in turn increase your CMB?
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Some pretty good thoughts so far, though they don't all work for me. I asked about Gauntlets of the Skilled Maneuver in another thread a while ago, and that idea got pretty much shot down.
David Higaki... ummm... huh??? That's pretty cheesy, even if it does work by RAW (which I'm not sure I believe without looking it up for myself).
Thalin, how are you thinking of getting a +20 CMB at level 6??? If I'd gone Lore Warden, I'd have +14 instead of +10, but that's the best I can imagine for ANY build. (+5 BAB, +6 str or dex bonus, +2 Lore Warden, +2 from the ioun stone, -1 size penalty) I really don't see how any Halfling Opportunist could ever have better than that at level 6, unless you're playing a campaign with insanely high attributes and WBL.
This maneuver is an immediate action, so I'll be doing it just about every round, even if it fails a lot. Since I can do it that often, even if it only works 40-50% of the time, it'll still be totally worth it. I'm just worried that it might only work 20-30% of the time with only a +10, so anything I can do to boost that is a good idea. But I'm certainly not giving up on the whole build just because this won't succeed 75% or more of the time.
My PC is 1 level of Dawnflower Dervish Bard, 4 levels of Rogue, and going Halfling Opportunist for the next 5 levels, before switching back to Rogue (his favored class). Already at 22 dex (19 starting, boosted at level 4, +2 belt). I have Extra Performance, so I can use Inspire Courage with my Battle Dance 11 rounds per day (only 12 charisma) for +2 on hit and damage rolls, which will help the CMB. So I'll be at +12 for probably half the combat rounds of any given day, once I get the dusty rose ioun stone.
But I can't cast any of the other buff spells on myself, so that rules out a lot of stuff. Being PFS, I don't know who I'll be adventuring with on any given day, so I may get some buffs some of the time, but I don't want to count on it. Potions of some of them might be worth considering. I just checked, and that cracked pale green stone is the same type of bonus as Inspire Courage, so not worth it for me.
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Are you asking for spells/items that increase your strength/size/base attack bonus (yes, there are spells and items that increase your BAB) that would in turn increase your CMB?
If there's anything PFS legal that would help with those, then yes.
Edited: I mentioned the Cat's Grace spell, then remembered that it won't stack with my dex belt.
+2 from the ioun stone
No Ioun stone gives a direct bonus to CMB.
Pale Blue Rhomboid = +2 str = +1 CMB (at 8kg)Belt of Giant Strength +2 would do the same thing as the ioun stone, but at half the price (4kg).
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+2 from the ioun stoneNo Ioun stone gives a direct bonus to CMB.
Pale Blue Rhomboid = +2 str = +1 CMB (at 8kg)
Belt of Giant Strength +2 would do the same thing as the ioun stone, but at half the price (4kg).
Dusty Rose Ioun Stone has a resonant power of +2 to CMB and CMD when it's in a Wayfinder. And the +1 AC base power is worth having, too. Well worth the 5000 gp, though that's expensive at level 6, which is why it'll take me one more adventure to save up for it.
CMB = Strength + Size + BAB
Spells:
Non-Specific Bonus to Strength:
Alter Self
Aspect of the Wolf
Enhancement bonus to Strength:
Bull's Strength (+4)
Mighty Strength (+8) (best in game)
Transformation (character level = BAB)
Luck bonus to Strength:
Deadly Juggernaut (most broken spell to make continous in PF)
Divine Power
Morale bonus to Strength:
Rage
Vengeful Outrage
Size bonus to Strength:
Beast Shape I
Beast Shape 2
Beast Shape 3
Beast Shape 4
Elemental Body (Earth)
Elemental Body 2 (Earth)
Elemental Body 3 (Earth)
Enlarge Person
Form of the Dragon 1
Monsterous Physique 1
Monsterous Physique 2
Monsterous Physique 3
Monsterous Physique 4
Plant Shape 1
Plant Shape 2
Righteous Might
Undead Anatomy I
Undead Anatomy II
Undead Anatomy III
Vermin Shape I
Vermin Shape II
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Note for buff spells - you might consider picking up a cracked vibrant purple sphere ioun stone. It acts as a spellstoring ioun stone that can hold one spell level. You can then pay the 10 gold to get someone to cast divine favor into it to get divine favor for a combat. (For that one time a scenario when you know you're getting into combat.)
But yeah, you've already hit a lot of the tricks my CMB monkey uses. It's why she specializes in weapon maneuvers.
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I guess +20 is a bit unrealistic without the standard "tricks" of Improved/Greater feats, magic weapons, and other such.
Let's see, by 6 (Lore Warden 4 / Urban Barbarian 1 / Opportunist 1) :
+5 CMB -1 Size +6 Dex = +10 to start (Halfling Opportunist is not straight-BAB)
+2 Red Ioun stone slotted = +12
+1 Cracked Green Ioun Stone = +13
+2 Lore Warden 3 = +15
+2 Urban Barbarian (increasing Dex) = +17 for most rounds
That's sadly what I have; you're right, it is tough to get untyped bonuses up.
Items:
Belt of Giant Strength/physical might/physical perfection(+2/+4/+6)
Minotaur belt (+2)
Gorgon belt (+2)
Belt of thunderous charging (+2)
(*my items are not super organized yet - just finished that section yesterday)
I'm currently double-checking Bodywrap of mighty strikes and a few other items.
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I guess +20 is a bit unrealistic without the standard "tricks" of Improved/Greater feats, magic weapons, and other such.
Let's see, by 6 (Lore Warden 4 / Urban Barbarian 1 / Opportunist 1) :
+5 CMB -1 Size +6 Dex = +10 to start (Halfling Opportunist is not straight-BAB)
+2 Red Ioun stone slotted = +12
+1 Cracked Green Ioun Stone = +13
+2 Lore Warden 3 = +15
+2 Urban Barbarian (increasing Dex) = +17 for most roundsThat's sadly what I have; you're right, it is tough to get untyped bonuses up.
You are forgetting the +3 bonus the Halfling opportunist has from the Exploitive Maneuver. When they use the trick, they get an Aid Another bonus from the enemy they are using the trick on, and they get a and additional bonus from aid another attempt.
That brings the total to +20
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I guess +20 is a bit unrealistic without the standard "tricks" of Improved/Greater feats, magic weapons, and other such.
Let's see, by 6 (Lore Warden 4 / Urban Barbarian 1 / Opportunist 1) :
+5 CMB -1 Size +6 Dex = +10 to start (Halfling Opportunist is not straight-BAB)
+2 Red Ioun stone slotted = +12
+1 Cracked Green Ioun Stone = +13
+2 Lore Warden 3 = +15
+2 Urban Barbarian (increasing Dex) = +17 for most roundsThat's sadly what I have; you're right, it is tough to get untyped bonuses up.
You are forgetting the +3 bonus the Halfling opportunist has from the Exploitive Maneuver. When they use the trick, they get an Aid Another bonus from the enemy they are using the trick on, and they get a and additional bonus from aid another attempt.
That brings the total to +20
That's not how it works. When the opportunist uses Exploitive Maneuver, they have to roll a CMB check against the enemy's CMD. If that check succeeds, then they get aid on a future action (or AC vs the current attack) as if the enemy had used an Aid Another action. The aid doesn't apply to the CMB check for Exploitive Maneuver, which is what we're trying to find ways to improve in this thread.
Anaconda's coils (+2 strength, +2 grapple)
Bodywrap of mighty strikes (Valiant – Cavalier only - +2 disarm / sunder, Impact – Bullrush = enhancement bonus, Repositioning - +2 reposition, Dueling - +2 disarm)
Shield Cloak (Ramming: +2 + enhancement bonus to bull rush and bull rush as a swift action)
- ask me again in a week or so and I can get a more complete list -
Ohhh Dex, instead of strength lol.
Dexterity Spells:
Enhancement Bonus to Dexterity
Aspect of the Wolf (+4)
Cat's Grace (+4)
Threefold Aspect (+2)
Transformation (+4)
Size Bonus
Alter Self (+2)
Beast Shape I
Beast Shape 2
Beast Shape 3
Beast Shape 4
Elemental Body (Air)
Elemental Body (Fire)
Elemental Body 2 (Air)
Elemental Body 2 (Fire)
Elemental Body 3 (Air)
Elemental Body 3 (Fire)
Monsterous Physique 1
Monsterous Physique 2
Monsterous Physique 3
Monsterous Physique 4
Reduce Person (1.1.2) (+2)
Undead Anatomy I
Undead Anatomy II
Undead Anatomy III
Vermin Shape I
Vermin Shape II
Items:
Belt of dex/physical might/physical perfection (+2/+4/+6)
Belt of the weasel (+2)
Monkey Belt (+2)
Plague rat belt, greater (+2)
Where does the rulebook say that?
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The combat chapter of the Core Rulebook:
When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus. Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver. The DC of this maneuver is your target's Combat Maneuver Defense. Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
So as mentioned above, stuff like Bless or other buffs do help with this. But my character can't cast them, and in PFS, I don't know if there will be a buffer at the table each time I play him. So I'm trying to find stuff (mostly magic items) to buff my own CMB.
Without an actual weapon to boost does make this tough. Hmmm....if you are using unarmed for the maneuver then can't you use gloves, gauntlets, or an amulet to magically boost your attack bonus, which in turn ups your CMB? weapon focus (unarmed), may need to move into monk maneuver master for awhile....this IS tough...
