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Hey all, I'm working on a new character and the concept is that they are sort of a free-runner, and I was having difficulty coming up with things that assisted in this.
Basically, I know to take things like skill focus in acrobatics and climb, and am taking the "roof runner" rogue archetype, so that they can get from place to place, but I'm not sure if there are more specific feats and abilities that cater more closely to this.
The other question I had relates to combat. While most of their combat will be pretty standard rogue stuff (move to sneak attack, flank, augmented acrobatics make this even easier), I am looking for a way to make them more affective from above. For instance, I expect them to be in a lot of areas where they can sneak UP something (like a tree or a building), and was wondering if there was a way to sort of jump-attack onto them. I know of the feat "death from above" which would be useful, but I can't find anything else that helps with this. Do you guys have any suggestions on feats, equipment, or skills that would let me do this sort of thing?
If 3pp material is available to you, the Elocater psionic prestige might be something to look into. It's pretty much the ultimate free runner (and has some nice flanking benefits). If you don't want a prestige class (especially because Elocater is a bit of a headache to get into), there are some fun Psionic acrobatic feats you could take while staying full rogue, though you would need the Wild Talent feat to qualify for them. Mental Leap and Up the Walls (especially up the walls :D) would benefit a free runner.
If Psionics are a no go, you might want to consider going Ninja instead of Rogue; Ninjas can use their Ki pool to buff their acrobatics and get the ability to run on water. I don't know what Roof Runner does, but if you have a permissive DM, you might be able to talk him into letting you lose the Ninja equivalents of whatever the Rogue loses and use the archetype with Ninja.
Does it have to be a rogue?
If yes, at the very least take Ninja Trick: Wall Climber as one of your rogue talents. It costs no ki points to use and has no requirements at all, and just flat out gives you a climb speed (which includes a +8 climb bonus and ability to always take 10 on climb checks).
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Ninja was actually the first thing I asked my GM about, but he ruled that, because of setting (we are doing an adventure path), ninja is not allowed, because of "Specialized training" ninjas would receive vs. rogues. We're sticking pretty close to core, APG, and including some classes from UC/UM. I may have to ask about psionic classes, though... but I doubt he'd go for it. It doesn't necessarily have to be rogue, though, I just thought that fit the best out of the options I had available.
I also suggest making a ninja instead of a rogue. They have a number of abilities that will make your freerunning idea work better, like Light Steps, High Jumper, and Acrobatic Master.
Be a Synthesist Summoner. Half-Elf, with the favored class option. Synthesist will allow you to not only have a climb speed, but directly dump evolution points into Climb to boost the speed, by 20 ft per point. Or you could boost land speed, which would still boost climb speed but at half rate.
Acrobatic step , nimble moves, elf, light step.
take a level of urban barbarian... can boost dex with a little rage. call it adrenaline surge. nd you get to move through a crowd unimpeded.
Ledge walker rogue talent
all I can think of without browsing books.
If the dm were to use an urban campaign with lots of varying terrain, this could a very rewarding build.
Scout archetype with the spring attack feat chain for combat. U will only get 1 attack but as long as u move +10ft then u do sneak attack damage so u dont have to flank. U will b able to move all over the battle field and still get an effective attack in with little to no risk.
this, but go for throwing daggers, bouncing around the dude, constantly moving and throwing. BALLS of Fun!
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Scout archetype with the spring attack feat chain for combat. U will only get 1 attack but as long as u move +10ft then u do sneak attack damage so u dont have to flank. U will b able to move all over the battle field and still get an effective attack in with little to no risk.this, but go for throwing daggers, bouncing around the dude, constantly moving and throwing. BALLS of Fun!
this, but also get the knife master archetype so the daggers do d8 sneak attack.
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I actually like the spring attack idea. Plus it synergies with the roof runner archetype (which has very useful climb/acrobatic buffs). Though does throwing daggers work with the feat? I feel like melee would be more fun, for sure, though taking the ranged tree might be worth it, they overlap quite a bit. I think I'd like to avoid the knife master because while it's excellent, I still want some of the abilities to still move around outside of combat more easily.
this, but also get the knife master archetype so the daggers do d8 sneak attack.Scout archetype with the spring attack feat chain for combat. U will only get 1 attack but as long as u move +10ft then u do sneak attack damage so u dont have to flank. U will b able to move all over the battle field and still get an effective attack in with little to no risk.this, but go for throwing daggers, bouncing around the dude, constantly moving and throwing. BALLS of Fun!
This, but also get Shot on the Run, as well as Ledge Walker, Fast Tumble, Nimble Climber, and Peerless Maneuver.
I actually like the spring attack idea. Plus it synergies with the roof runner archetype (which has very useful climb/acrobatic buffs). Though does throwing daggers work with the feat? I feel like melee would be more fun, for sure, though taking the ranged tree might be worth it, they overlap quite a bit. I think I'd like to avoid the knife master because while it's excellent, I still want some of the abilities to still move around outside of combat more easily.
Shot on the Run is the feat that works when you're throwing the daggers, and Spring Attack works with melee attacks.
well shot on the run lets you move before and after the attack, but i'm not sure how useful it would be, unless you moved into the 30ft distance to make the sneak attack, and then moved farther away?
That could be interesting, especially with difficult terrain, you would always be sneak attacking the guy who could never actually reach you to pound on you. Would be an extra fun way to tick off giants/ogres
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If you are using traits, the Cliff Jumper trait from the Cheliax companion booklet can help out a bit. It gives you a +1 trait bonus on Acrobatics/Climb, and +1 Reflex against falling.
Roof Racer from the Varisia companion booklet, which is when you use Acrobatics to make a long jump, the DC is considered 5 feet shorter than it normally is.
Carpenden Roof Runner from the Andoran companion booklet gives you a +2 trait bonus on Acrobatics checks made when above 20 feet from the ground.
Stormrunner from the Inner Sea Primer gives a +2 trait bonus Acrobatics for uneven ground or unsteady surfaces.
Just to give out some ideas.
On www.d20pfsrd.com you can find some skill tricks for acrobatics (5ft step as a move action if you are prone, start climb with a large leap..).
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OK, so here is my current rogue talent and feat selection plan. Stats and race are unchangeable, as it was predetermined randomly by our DM (I could reroll but I think I got pretty much the best possible result).
Parkouring J. Drawbridges
Elvish Rogue (Roof Runner/Scout)
STR: 14
DEX: 16
CON: 11
INT: 12
WIS: 10
CHA: 12
1st Level: Dodge, Roof Running
2nd Level: Ninja trick: Wall Climber, Tumbling descent
3rd Level: Mobility
4th Level: Ledge Walker, Scout’s Charge (+1 to con)
5th Level: Acrobatic
6th Level: Powerful Sneak
7th Level: Spring Attack
8th Level: Expert Leaper, Skirmisher (+1 to Dex)
9th Level: Shingle Runner
10th Level: Fast Tumble
11th Level: Vital Strike
12th Level: Deadly Sneak (+1 to Dex)
13th Level: Jaguar Pounce
14th Level: Hide in Plain Sight (Urban)
15th Level: Death from Above
Let me know what you think! This is just base stuff, and I haven't even really thought about equipment much.