RigaMortus
Explorer
The Gninja
Gnome
Sorc 1 / Ninja 8
Attributes: Arrange them anyway you like. The only requirement is that you need a 13 Charisma (minimum) for this to work. Of course a high Dex and Wis is great to have for the Ninja.
BAB: +6/+1
However, pulling off this tactic will really grant you 1 attack at +12 against a foe that will become flat-footed. You will also be applying +4d6 Sudden Strike damage as well (+5d6 if you do not take the level in Sorc, which isn't needed, but is a nice touch).
1st lvl Feat: Dodge [just for extra defense, can really replace with anything]
3rd lvl Feat: Goad
6th lvl Feat: Skill Focus (Tumble) [Just a suggestion, can be anything really]
9th lvl Feat: Giantbane (tactical feat from CW)
Skills: Any that you want. Just make sure you max out Tumble.
Spells: Mage Armor, Reduce Person
The premise of this is simple… You cast Mage Armor on yourself, and reduce yourself to Tiny size using the Reduce Person spell (will last 1 min). When a Medium-size or larger opponent threatens you, you use the Goad feat (which is a move-equivalent action) to force them into a melee attack against you (this attack happens on their turn). You then use the Standard Action you have left over for the Total Defense action. You now have a minimum of +16 (+20 if the foe is a giant) to your AC (+1 Dodge feat, +2 from size, +1 ninja AC bonus, +4 Mage armor, +4 total defense, +4 from Giantbane feat which will be applied on the opponents turn).
On the opponents turn, if he chooses to make a melee attack, it has to be against you. So he attacks you and your Giantbane feat kicks in… Assuming he misses (which I hope he would), on your next turn you get to make a DC 15 Tumble check to “Duck Underneath” your opponent’s attack.
So now your turn comes back around… You (hopefully) make your DC 15 Tumble check (as a free action). You move immediately to any unoccupied square on the opposite side of the foe. Now the “Death from Below” part of the Giantbane feat kicks in… You make an immediate single attack against the foe you ducked underneath. That foe is treated as flat footed, and you gain a +4 to your attack roll. So Sudden Strike kicks in… Now notice that you still have not taken your Move action or Standard action yet… you get to rinse and repeat…
You do not need a level in Sorcerer at all. You can do this with full Ninja progression. If you go full ninja, you will lose out on Mage Armor and just as importantly Reduce Person. If that is the case, this tactic would only work on large opponents (or larger) such as Ogres and Giants and what have you. With the Reduce Person spell active, it can work on Medium opponents as well.
The only issue with this is… When you get shrunk to Tiny size, you have a face of 2.5 and a reach of 0. Which means you normally would have to enter the opponents square to make an attack on them. However, I am not sure if the wording of the “Death from Below” technique overrides this. The problem is solved by taking your free 5ft. step into the opponents square anyway, since you can perform a 5 ft. step before, during or after an attack.
Edit: Doh... Just noticed that you'd be getting a 20% exp penalty if you took that level in Sorcerer... Like i said, it's optional anyway
Gnome
Sorc 1 / Ninja 8
Attributes: Arrange them anyway you like. The only requirement is that you need a 13 Charisma (minimum) for this to work. Of course a high Dex and Wis is great to have for the Ninja.
BAB: +6/+1
However, pulling off this tactic will really grant you 1 attack at +12 against a foe that will become flat-footed. You will also be applying +4d6 Sudden Strike damage as well (+5d6 if you do not take the level in Sorc, which isn't needed, but is a nice touch).
1st lvl Feat: Dodge [just for extra defense, can really replace with anything]
3rd lvl Feat: Goad
6th lvl Feat: Skill Focus (Tumble) [Just a suggestion, can be anything really]
9th lvl Feat: Giantbane (tactical feat from CW)
Skills: Any that you want. Just make sure you max out Tumble.
Spells: Mage Armor, Reduce Person
The premise of this is simple… You cast Mage Armor on yourself, and reduce yourself to Tiny size using the Reduce Person spell (will last 1 min). When a Medium-size or larger opponent threatens you, you use the Goad feat (which is a move-equivalent action) to force them into a melee attack against you (this attack happens on their turn). You then use the Standard Action you have left over for the Total Defense action. You now have a minimum of +16 (+20 if the foe is a giant) to your AC (+1 Dodge feat, +2 from size, +1 ninja AC bonus, +4 Mage armor, +4 total defense, +4 from Giantbane feat which will be applied on the opponents turn).
On the opponents turn, if he chooses to make a melee attack, it has to be against you. So he attacks you and your Giantbane feat kicks in… Assuming he misses (which I hope he would), on your next turn you get to make a DC 15 Tumble check to “Duck Underneath” your opponent’s attack.
So now your turn comes back around… You (hopefully) make your DC 15 Tumble check (as a free action). You move immediately to any unoccupied square on the opposite side of the foe. Now the “Death from Below” part of the Giantbane feat kicks in… You make an immediate single attack against the foe you ducked underneath. That foe is treated as flat footed, and you gain a +4 to your attack roll. So Sudden Strike kicks in… Now notice that you still have not taken your Move action or Standard action yet… you get to rinse and repeat…
You do not need a level in Sorcerer at all. You can do this with full Ninja progression. If you go full ninja, you will lose out on Mage Armor and just as importantly Reduce Person. If that is the case, this tactic would only work on large opponents (or larger) such as Ogres and Giants and what have you. With the Reduce Person spell active, it can work on Medium opponents as well.
The only issue with this is… When you get shrunk to Tiny size, you have a face of 2.5 and a reach of 0. Which means you normally would have to enter the opponents square to make an attack on them. However, I am not sure if the wording of the “Death from Below” technique overrides this. The problem is solved by taking your free 5ft. step into the opponents square anyway, since you can perform a 5 ft. step before, during or after an attack.
Edit: Doh... Just noticed that you'd be getting a 20% exp penalty if you took that level in Sorcerer... Like i said, it's optional anyway
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