D&D 3E/3.5 ToB: Bo9S - Nifft's Compendium

[Nifft]

Hey, all I'm saying is, don't discount the importance of fluff. And don't worry if the fluff seems overly specific. If it's written well, people will find a reason to use the class.

Yeah, I'm convinced. But I would appreciate some help with the mechanics while I get the fluff stuff written out. "Fluff" is actually harder for me (takes longer).

Thanks, -- N

 

[Nifft]

New stuff! Added Dancing Fox school (short descriptions only), which is a school of feints and illusions, covering all the stuff that Shadow Hand didn't.

Also, two feats (one regular, one tactical) to support Dancing Fox; finally, moved Ghost Mona out of Crescent Moon and into Dancing Fox, since that's really where it belongs. Added one new maneuver to fill the gap left in Crescent Moon (can you spot it?).

Finally, one new racial sub thingy -- the Halfling Swordsage should be able to fill in as a back-up Rogue, at least for a few levels, and will be a good candidate to multi-class with Rogue.

Cheers, -- N

 

[RangerWickett]

Josh, you ought to toss some of this stuff WotC's way, to see if they'll put it up as a web enhancement (and maybe make you some bucks). This is good stuff.

 

[javcs]

Josh, you ought to toss some of this stuff WotC's way, to see if they'll put it up as a web enhancement (and maybe make you some bucks). This is good stuff.

True that.

Now I'll give feedback.

The only way to get the Heaven's Arc school is to be a Elf warblade, a halfling swordsage, or burn feats?

It's a nice school, but it's rather restricted in terms of use, especially since those classes that have it aren't ranged combatants. How to make it a more accessible and useful school, I don't know.

 

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

Hey Nifft!

I just threw a look over the Dancing Fox discipline.

One thing I noted about this discipline is that it supplements an attrition style. One-on-one, no single foe of equal level is going to hit you because of the mirror images. (And even if they do pick the right one, they still have to hit your AC)

The next is that this discipline synergies well with all the others, especially Stone Dragon. Stone Dragon is about taking hits and dishing it out. What could be better for a tank than only getting hit 1/13 times? Oh, wait, forcing your foes to waste time trying to hit you.

In all, it depends on what kind of class can take this discipline. A beefy tank type like Warblade (some say it's not a very good tank, but it depends on how much magic is availible) or Crusader is going to get a whole lot of mileage out of it. A rogue or monk-ish type will find it a lifesaver, but not particularly overpowering. This discipline looks like a rogue-type, and fits well with the other disciplines.

That said, about the individual maneuvers:
"Foxy Fall" (I think it needs a better name) - Do you get a benefit or does the foe need to make a save? Theres a Tactical Feat in, I think, PHB2 that has a benefit like this.
"Blazing Foxfire" - It can daze for multiple rounds? Ouch. Seems pretty rough, depending on how many rounds it is.
"Braggart's Bait" - I take it this works like the Knight class ability? (Where they must choose you as the target of their attacks, but are still free to conduct their combat competently)

Overall, looks good but the writeups are, as always, the clincher.

 

[periscope69]

Have you been blessed from the higher or lower powers? This stuff is awesome (i like the visual i get of mirror images, very naruto [im having a one piece vs naruto pirate vs ninja inner conflict and this is not helping but I love it!]).

question though, how come the halfling swordsage loses access to the setting sun school (which seems very much a water school if you think about it)? I would think they would want access to the school that lets them chuck the "big uns"? Id sack the desert school instead of setting sun, setting fires seems to blatant for halflings (they tend to be subtle creatures if you read races of the wild).

For the tricksters tail stance of the dancing fox, do you actually sprout a tail or do you do a little like naruto when he goes demon fox and just kind of protect an aura that has a tail? and can you grab something with it (might be good for trips or disarms)?

also, with the jade viper maneuvers, would a feat or stance that allowed you poisons to affect those normally immune (undead, constructs, etc) to be affected (like the positive energy ones given in libris mortis for against the undead)? Maybe making your clouds or techniques corrosive (doing acid damage etc)?

 

[Nifft]

Josh, you ought to toss some of this stuff WotC's way, to see if they'll put it up as a web enhancement (and maybe make you some bucks). This is good stuff.

Any suggestions who I should contact?

Thanks! -- N

 

[Nifft]

The only way to get the Heaven's Arc school is to be a Elf warblade, a halfling swordsage, or burn feats?

It's a nice school, but it's rather restricted in terms of use, especially since those classes that have it aren't ranged combatants. How to make it a more accessible and useful school, I don't know.

An Elf Warblade is a fine ranged combatant -- ranged maneuvers + bows = ranged combatant, no? Same for a Halfling Swordsage, but focused on thrown weapons, since he only gets proficiency with those.

As to the rest -- yeah, I needed the Heaven's Arc school before I could write a decent Sublime Ranger, and that class will be the "main user" of the school.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nifft]

One thing I noted about this discipline is that it supplements an attrition style. One-on-one, no single foe of equal level is going to hit you because of the mirror images. (And even if they do pick the right one, they still have to hit your AC)

Remember that the mirror images are Boosts, so they generally last for one round. Only at high level, by paying one hit point per mirror image per round, can you keep them between actions.

So what are they good for?
- Avoiding AoOs
- Avoiding readied actions (!!!)
- Charging in and surviving until you make a full attack next round

In all, it depends on what kind of class can take this discipline.

Gnome Swordsage. And at least one Ninja subtype. And maybe Shadowdancer.

That said, about the individual maneuvers:
"Foxy Fall" (I think it needs a better name) - Do you get a benefit or does the foe need to make a save? Theres a Tactical Feat in, I think, PHB2 that has a benefit like this.

You avoid the blow if your Bluff check exceeds the attack roll (effectively your Bluff check replaces your AC), but in return you are prone, and the attacker gains any benefits which occur when he drops a foe (i.e. Cleaving into your ally).

You could then pretend to be dead if you wished; that's its own mechanic.

"Blazing Foxfire" - It can daze for multiple rounds? Ouch. Seems pretty rough, depending on how many rounds it is.

Dazzle for multiple, daze for one. Duration depends on effect. Write-ups coming!

"Braggart's Bait" - I take it this works like the Knight class ability? (Where they must choose you as the target of their attacks, but are still free to conduct their combat competently)

Exactly. It's a "draw aggro" thing. Opponents are still free to chose their actions.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Nifft]

Have you been blessed from the higher or lower powers?

I commute from Carceri.

question though, how come the halfling swordsage loses access to the setting sun school (which seems very much a water school if you think about it)? I would think they would want access to the school that lets them chuck the "big uns"? Id sack the desert school instead of setting sun, setting fires seems to blatant for halflings (they tend to be subtle creatures if you read races of the wild).

I'll take a look at the two schools; I liked the Desert Wind mobility stuff, but Setting Sun may have better stances & counters. Thanks.

For the tricksters tail stance of the dancing fox, do you actually sprout a tail or do you do a little like naruto when he goes demon fox and just kind of protect an aura that has a tail?

You do not sprout any tails. It just negates the penalty to feint non-humanoids, and allows you to feint the stupid and the really stupid (Int < 2 and those who lack Int entirely).

I'm pretty sure that "demon fox vessel" would be a template rather than a stance.

also, with the jade viper maneuvers, would a feat or stance that allowed you poisons to affect those normally immune (undead, constructs, etc) to be affected (like the positive energy ones given in libris mortis for against the undead)? Maybe making your clouds or techniques corrosive (doing acid damage etc)?

Nah, the poison clouds still grant you concealment against some of those foes, but poison is poison. The school has a weakness. (About as bad as Desert Wind, given the prevalence of fire critters.) Most of the same foes who are immune to poison are also immune to fear, so the school's weakness is consistent in that respect.

Cheers, -- N