As the title suggests, I'm looking for the easiest ways to blind an opponent. The Dirty Trick line of maneuvers comes to mind, but that maneuvers takes a standard action to perform and can be removed with a standard action even with Greater Dirty Trick. Besides using wands or depending on allies (thus changing their playstyles), is there a better way for a Rogue to get a Blind effect on an opponent?
Be a tiefling.
Take the Blinding Sneak Attack feat.
It requires a +5 BAB, but it is easy.
So you're looking for a way to perform a dirty trick, but quickly? Let me google that for you...
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/combat-feats/quick-dirty-trick-combat
smoke stick?
Huh, okay. Improved/Greater Dirty Trick + Quick Dirty Trick would be effective, then. I've seen that tiefling feat before, but since it's limited to tieflings it's pretty narrow, and you have to use your daily use of Darkness; and tossing Darkness down can lower your allies' chances to hit if they lack Darkvision...
Smokesticks... Hm, okay. That could be good at the early levels in indoor combat situations. I wouldn't depend on them outdoors (a decent wind could screw you over).
Is there anything else I should be considering?
Concerning Dirty Trick, a 1-level dip into Maneuver Master Monk gets you the Improved Dirty Trick feat, plus you can toss in a free maneuver (at a -2, though) during a full attack.
I don't recommend this route, though, unless you're open to some serious min/maxing. Keeping up with monster CMDs is pretty challenging, and don't forget that you have to be able to justify/explain how you're blinding the creature. The GM isn't going to let you throw sand in a giant's face over and over again.
When it comes to darkness, smoke, or similar methods, keep in mind that you'll probably be getting sneak damage from flanking if you're near your allies. If you're away from them and can't flank, you probably have less to worry about when it comes to laying down area effects.
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Skulking Slayer lets you replace any attack with a dirty trick or steal combat maneuver in place of SA damage. Then you only have to deal with getting that original SA set up and the rest of your attacks are good once he's blind.
Net Trickery is a little more feat intensive but is easier to pull off and can be done more consistently. And you can pair that with Net and Trident for a bit more damage.
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Possibly a wand of blindness/deafness, as that is permanent and can be done at range, but you wouldn't be able to also attack in the same round compared to the quick dirty trick feat.
There is also a smoke pellet, but it also only lasts 1 round and does no other ill effect. It at least has a ranged touch attack to it, and only encompasses the square the target is in, so it will not affect your allies. It's 5g more than a smokestick, incomprehensibly.
There is also this:
Flash Powder
Price 50 gp; Weight —
This coarse gray powder ignites and burns almost instantly if exposed to flame, significant friction, or even simple force such as throwing it against a floor (a standard action). Creatures within a 10-foot-radius burst are blinded for 1 round (Fortitude DC 13 negates). Crafting this item is a DC 20 Craft (alchemy) check.
If you take up some alchemy, that's pretty cheap per use, and you can target a square instead of a person. But the save DC is very low and it only lasts 1 round :(
So far this sounds like great fun. I'm going to toy with these ideas. Thanks!
Super late to the party, but depending on the foe, throwing sand or glass into the eyes could work.
That is a dirty trick combat maneuver