Deeper darkness, Tremor Boots and a Heartseeker Greatsword. What happens?

[Veldrin Shadowbane]

Hello all. Just wondering what would happen when all three of the above were combined.

I built a character for a campaign where I previously died. The new character is a level 7 Drow Noble Slayer and has Tremor Boots and a +1 Heartseeker Greatsword. Along with the ability to cast Deeper Darkness at will.

If I were so inclined, could I cast deeper darkness and with the tremor boots be able to pinpoint everything within 20' thats touching the ground then, due to the heartseeker quality on my sword, basically "see" normally while everyone else is fumbling around in the dark?

[Veldrin Shadowbane]

Anyone? Anyone at all?

[Drakkiel]

does heartseeking in the book say "any concealment" or just "concealment"?

Usually with something like that its very specific as to what it overcomes...i do not have the book its out of and do not use pfsrd when i comes to exact wording

[Gwen Smith]

Heartseeker in the PRD says "A heartseeker weapon ignores the miss chance for concealment against most living targets, though the attack must still target the proper square. This special ability does not apply against aberrations, oozes, plants, outsiders with the elemental subtype, or any creature specifically noted to lack a heart."

You wouldn't be able to "see", but you would be able to attack most living creatures without the 50% miss chance. It's up to your GM whether you'd be flat-footed to any attacks, take the -2 to AC, have to move half speed, etc. (Temorsense only says it "pinpoints the location", not that you take no penalties for not being able to see. Comparing the wording in tremorsense to both blindsense and blindsight, I would say tremorsense functions more like blindsense, where you only know where things are but still take the penalties for being blind.)

And if something is flying, you're out of luck...of course, the flying creature probably can't see in deeper darkness either, so it would be pretty even.

[Doomed Hero]

Good combination. Looks like it would work.

You'll run into problems with any enemy that isn't in contact with the ground, or doesn't need eyes to see, but other than that it's a great strategy.

This build is best for a villain, or group of villains who fight with the same methods. In a normal party you'll absolutely wreck the rest of your group's effectiveness unless they have ways of seeing through your darkness.

[Secane]

Heartseeker is slightly weaker then its ranged equivalent Seeking.

If you use the above combo with a bow and pointblank master, you will be able to hit anything, not just what Heartseeker can target.

[Veldrin Shadowbane]

Thanks for the replies. Another question; since its complete darkness, would they be flat footed and get a -2 to ac? Also, would I get my sneak attack damage when attacking them as well?

[Matthew Downie]

I think most GMs rule that if you can't see your opponent you get all the penalties of blindness, no matter the reason (fog, smoke, darkness, etc.) even if RAW doesn't say this.

However, "ignore the miss chance for concealment" doesn't mean you can get sneak damage ("The rogue must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot... A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment"). There's a Headband of the Ninjitsu for that.

[Doomed Hero]

Secane wrote:

Heartseeker is slightly weaker then its ranged equivalent Seeking.

If you use the above combo with a bow and pointblank master, you will be able to hit anything, not just what Heartseeker can target.

This is good stuff. Firing at them from range would make it a whole lot harder for them to guess which square you were in, especially if you were flying or moved away from the space you fired from after you took your shots.