Is there a feat/magic item that lets me use a dazzling display effect as a swift or faster?
I'm aware of:
-hero's display: but it requires performing combatant, and a difficult check to use
-dreadful carnage: but I do nonlethal damage most of the time so it wouldn't trigger
-gory finish: same problem as dreadful carnage but strictly worse than dreadful carnage
-violent display: but that would require the sneak attack class feature and shatter defenses
Any ideas? Looking like I will either have to use dazzling display as a full-round action, or take two feats for hero's display, and accept that I will usually fail the check.
I don't think you've read Violent Display correctly. It requires a successful sneak attack or a critical, shatter defences isn't required. Sneak attack is one of the ways of triggering it but it's not a prereq.
Alternately Intimidating Performance works if you're a bard, skald, or have other access to a bardic performance.
What have you got already? I assume you're some sort of melee character with dazzling display & no sneak attack but that leaves many possibilities open.
Set on paladin or antipaladin. No performance I'm afraid. Thanks for the suggestion. I see that violent display triggers on a crit but its not worth a feat to me if I only get a free mass demoralize every 1 in 8 attacks or so. I meant that shatter defenses and sneak attack would be required to use it consistently.
Haven't started the campaign yet. Currently planning a demoralize build. I will probably incorporate some of the following: enforcer, cornugon smash, soulless gaze, signature skill (intimidate), hurtful, the fiery glare ifrit racial trait (via adopted). All I'm really missing is some way to mass demoralize without giving up a full attack.
Maybe I should just have plain old dazzling display as a backup in case the party gets swarmed. That would save me some feats. Would swift action dazzling display be worth the feat investment? Would a regular dazzling display be worth the feat investment? Bear in mind at the later levels the mass demoralize would frighten enemies because of signature skill, or worse, unless they save. Then with soulless gaze I could make them frightened the next turn.
I was planning on a non-casting archetype so unsanctioned knowledge or wands are out. Maybe a wand at the later levels with umd.
Enforcer + Hurtful + Cleave + Cleaving Finish + Cruel Weapon
(Non lethal cleave damage into a Intimidate on both targets.. into a swift action hurtful attack for a -4 to one target and -2 to the other target...if one dies then another (Free) attack with cleaving finish.)
C. Smash + Hurtful + Cleave + Cleaving Finish + Cruel Weapon
(Just like above but not non lethal but just as brutal)
There is no way to Mass Demoralize without giving up a Standard action or full Round.
To me I prefer to just worry about who is on top of me at the moment. Since the full effects can also be translated into roughly +4 AC and -2 damage per attack. Makes you more survivable in situations of wading through mooks or taking a BBEG while his lackey tries to flank you.
But that is the best I can come up with to hit multiple targets while not stopping your damage output.
You can also Leave the cleave stuff off since once you get multiple attacks you wont need it. I tend to only like cleave for low level campaigns. But others do not mind it as much. Its not the best but does get better with a potion of enlarge person.
Here is a recent guide on the art of intimidating people.
That makes sense. There doesn't seem to be a way to mass demoralize without screwing up action economy or investing a lot of feats. Seems my build would be stronger if I did as you suggested and just focused on the guy in front of me. That said, looks like hurtful removes the fear from demoralize if you miss, so it wouldn't work as well with builds that focus on fear stacking(frightened, panicked). Hmm. Damage or debuffs?
I'm not sure if Intimidating Glance allows for AoE fear when paired with the Wide Stare class feature of the Autohypnotist.
I do know that the Mesmersist can get single targets to multiple levels of fear thanks to Intimidating Glance, Demoralizing Stare, and some other standard fear mechanics. Works nicely with their stares designed to screw with fear too.
That makes sense. There doesn't seem to be a way to mass demoralize without screwing up action economy or investing a lot of feats. Seems my build would be stronger if I did as you suggested and just focused on the guy in front of me. That said, looks like hurtful removes the fear from demoralize if you miss, so it wouldn't work as well with builds that focus on fear stacking(frightened, panicked). Hmm. Damage or debuffs?
Yes if you miss on your highest BaB attack. But you can just reapply it with the next hit in your attack chain with C. Smash or Enforcer.
Not quite there, but if you have some way of getting fighter training, Dazzling Intimidation (fighter weapon training) allows you to use Dazzling Display as a standard action instead of full round.
Alternatively, dip a couple levels in slayer to get sneak attack; even 1d6 will trigger the effects of Violent Display.
Further alternative: use an 18-20 crit range weapon, and apply your favorite flavor of keen (spell, +1, etc). Critting on 1/4 of your rolls and likely half or so of your hits is fairly repeatable, if not 100% reliable.
Finally, there are some spells which could help... if you can find a way to cast Blistering Invective (Bard/Alchemist/Inquisitor 2) or put it on your spell list, maybe get a use-activated item or wand? Again, standard action, but with a rod of quicken you could pull out a swift action cast 3/day. Or find a way to have contingency cast on you, maybe contingent scroll would be more accessible, and have blistering invective trigger on a full attack.
Not quite there, but if you have some way of getting fighter training, Dazzling Intimidation (fighter weapon training) allows you to use Dazzling Display as a standard action instead of full round.
Alternatively, dip a couple levels in slayer to get sneak attack; even 1d6 will trigger the effects of Violent Display.
Further alternative: use an 18-20 crit range weapon, and apply your favorite flavor of keen (spell, +1, etc). Critting on 1/4 of your rolls and likely half or so of your hits is fairly repeatable, if not 100% reliable.
Finally, there are some spells which could help... if you can find a way to cast Blistering Invective (Bard/Alchemist/Inquisitor 2) or put it on your spell list, maybe get a use-activated item or wand? Again, standard action, but with a rod of quicken you could pull out a swift action cast 3/day. Or find a way to have contingency cast on you, maybe contingent scroll would be more accessible, and have blistering invective trigger on a full attack.
Slayer is a good choice but Vivisectionist Alchemist would require only a 1 level dip for Mutagen, +1d6 SA, tons of skills, level 1 extracts, and brew potions. Means less level investment and more payoff. If the OP is going for the Display options
Seems like the best options are:
A. Level dip into rogue/slayer/alchemist. Weapon focus. Dazzling display. Shatter defenses. Violent display.
B. Stay in class. Weapon focus. Dazzling display. Heroic display. Performing combatant.
C. Build for 1v1. Take feats like hurtful. Soulless gaze. Signature skill.
Appreciate the creativity. While that would be less feat intensive, the quicken metamagic feat wouldnt work as it must move spell to 6th level, and playing a half caster. Lesser metamagic rods are 35,000 gp and only work 3x/day.
cavalier of cockatrice can do it as a standard with just 2 levels.
Bah- why change the action when you can change your action economy?
Go eldritch guardian and get you familiar to do dazzling display with you. Get disheatening display, and enemies might be running away frightened in 1 round. Thus is the advantage of doubled action economy.
Thanks for all the suggestions! I was able to fit something into my build because of them.
If it's not too late, a paladin can take the oath of the people's council to get bardic performance, which then enables intimidating performance.
If it's not too late, a paladin can take the oath of the people's council to get bardic performance, which then enables intimidating performance.
Ended up deciding on antipaladin. Great idea, though. I wouldve never found that myself. I may use that in another campaign someday.