Zenith Games: Bravo's Guide to a Knife Master Scout (Recovered)

Note: Zenith Games did not write this guide. This guide was recovered from a Google Docs Trash in April 2017.

Bravo's guide to a Knife Fighting Scout.

http://www.fearthegooberzilla.com/pics/resident_kukri.jpg

Bring it on bitches!!

The goal of this guide is to help you design a Knife Master Scout. The essence of the Knife Master Scout is to dish out higher amounts of Sneak Attack damage while having many different options to get your Sneak Attack in. You can also enjoy collecting magical knives for all types of situations, so be nice to your DM.

KEY:

SA = Sneak Attack
Red: A warning. This is a poor option and should be avoided
Orange: This is an OK option. I'm not recommending it, but it's not bad
Green: I recommend this option. It is a strong choice
Blue: A must have. Your best possible option
Purple: Absolutely amazing

http://i.computer-bild.de/imgs/7/6/1/9/7/4/Guild-Wars-Factions-Scharfe-Braut-Mit-ihren-Wurfmessern-trifft-diese-745x649-b245a1785525edfe.jpg

RACE:
Human: +2 to Dexterity
This is the best choice because if the alternate race trait bonus skill feats and the favored class option.

Alternate racial trait - Focused study
- Bonus Skill Focus feats at level 1, 8, 16
- Replaces bonus feat level 1, but gets you two more feats
- Perfect for Bluff, Acrobatics, Stealth, UMD

Favored class option - Rogue
The rogue gains +1/6 of a new rogue talent.
This is the reason a rogue must always be human.
The bonus Rogue Talents at levels 6 and 12 are invaluable.

ABILITY SCORES
Dexterity - base for all your melee and ranged attacks as well as many skills.
Charisma - good for bluffing for feints, as well as Use Magic Device.

http://www.empireonline.com/images/features/build-the-perfect-action-team/billy-predator.jpg

Constitution - as a melee striker you need lots of hit points.
Intelligence - more skill points, 13 are needed for combat expertise.

Strength - dump stat

Wisdom - dump stat

FEATS

Refer to the builds.

http://www.smkw.com/large/knife/DBHK5010RG.jpg

WEAPONS OF CHOICE

Kukri

A kukri is a curved blade, about 1 foot in length.

More importantly it has a critical range of 18-20.

Slap on a keen enhancement and its 15-20.

If you cannot buy some keen kukri then you

will have to take the feat: improved critical

As a Knife Master Scout you won't have proficiency in the Kukri.
So here are your choices to gain it:

1. Take First level Ranger Trapper: gain proficiency in the Kukri,

get trap finding back and get a favored enemy, most likely humans.

2. Take First level fighter: gain proficiency in the Kukri and get a bonus feat.

Probably your best choice. Check out The Intimidator build for an example.

3. Heirloom weapon: get proficiency in one Kurki, hold a dagger in the other hand.

Ask your DM, maybe he will give you a pair of Kukri. This is the best option. How cool is your DM?

4. Martial Weapon Proficiency (Combat): Probably your best bet. This will make your Knife Master shine.

Starknives

From a central metal ring, four tapering metal blades extend like points on a compass rose. A wielder can stab with the Star knife or throw it. It has a thrown range of 20ft, whereas a dagger has 10 ft. Combined with the trait strong arm subtle wrist you can be throwing them for 30ft and getting SA damage at level 4 when you are a Scout.

http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/images/367435/Starknife.jpg

http://www.gameonpodcast.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/image15-496x400.jpg

Daggers

If you don't care about critical hitting, which you should, then daggers are the best bet for you.

You can use your feats and traits for other things.

You can also throw your daggers for 10ft.

Keep a spare pair of daggers in spring loaded wrist sheaths.

Make them keen for a 18-20 threat range.

TRAITS

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/mathewbelcher/RP/Vagrant_Story___Rood_Inverse_by_Deonos.jpg

For weapon proficiency:

Tattooed Mystic This is a Varisian trait. You bear the elaborate tattoos of your people, marking you as a free son or daughter of the road. You gain a +1 trait bonus on saving throws against charm and compulsion effects. Additionally, you are proficient with bladed scarves and starknives. The starknife has range 20ft whereas the dagger has 10ft.
Heirloom Weapon and gain proficiency in a Kukri.

For improving initiative:

Reactionary +2 initiative, allows you to a get in max SA's round one

Paragon of speed +2 initiative, allows you to a get in max SA's round one

For use in combat:

Strong arm supple wrist +10ft throw after moving 10ft, mixes well with the charging hurler feat for a 30ft ranged Starknife sneak attack. wow.
Anatomist +1 to confirm critical hits. Don't miss when wielding your keen Kurki!!

Armor expert Reduce your armor check penalty by 1. This basically gives you a +1 bonus to all Dex- and Str- based skills. Pretty huge!!

Defender of the Society (Fighter) +1 AC when wearing armor. Better than Armor Expert but you have to be a fighter. If you build the intimidator this is good!!

Adopted -> Ruthless (dwarf) +1 to confirm critical hits.

Adopted -> Propitiation (Any Dwarven deity) At the start of each day, pick one of the following skills: Appraise, Bluff, Craft (pick one craft skill), Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Knowledge (local). You gain a +2 bonus on that skill until the start of the next day. Brilliant for both The Intimidator and The Shanker builds.

Veteran of Battle (Gorum) +1 bonus on Initiative, and if you are able to act during a surprise round, you may a draw a weapon as a free action during that round. A bonus to Initiative and a limited Quick Draw ability during a surprise round. This would allow you to draw and attack in a surprise round. Throw that knife for sneak.

Defensive Strategist (Torag) You are not flat-footed when you are an unaware combatant. This includes a surprise round that you don’t get to act in, and before you get to act at the start of a battle. It basically gives you Uncanny Dodge as a trait, which you gave up to become a Knife Master Scout!!

For intimidation:

Extremely Fashionable You really know how to make a good impression when you’re dressed well. Whenever you are wearing clothing and/or jewelry worth at least 150gp, you gain a +1 trait bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks. GOLD

Unnatural Presence You can use your Intimidate skill to demoralize animals and vermin; Intimidate is a class skill for you. Pretty good for the intimidator build.

Masterful Demeanor (Human) +3 bonus on Intimidate against non-human humanoids. Well non-human humanoids encompasses a pretty big group, and it is a +3 bonus.

ROGUE WANDS

The Rogue is trained in Use Magic Device, so max out your UMD and take Skill focus (UMD) at level 8.

To use a wand you need to roll a 20+ to use it. You will automatically succeed at Level 10, unless you roll a 1.

http://nerdtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Harry-Potters-Wand-Magic-Wands.jpg

1st level wands: 750 gold

Comprehend languages handy

Cure light wounds

Delay poison You never know when you might need this

http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/images/910832/Jeska_1.png

Detect secret doors it's your job, be better.

Disguise self it's your job, be better.

Expeditious Retreat Increase your land speed by 30ft. This is awesome for knife masters who want to run around a lot throwing daggers. It's also great for acrobatics as you move half speed that means you can back flip and cartwheel around the battlefield 30ft at a time dodging attacks.... radical.

Feather fall Don't slip

Grease Useful at every level

Jump Obvious

Obscuring mist Great for when you need to disappear

Silent image Great for when you sneak about

Ventriloquism Great for when you sneak about

Protection from evil Pure gold

Reduce person Increase your dex thus your ability to hit as well as your AC!!

http://paizo.com/image/content/RiseOfTheRunelords/28StarKnifeThrower.jpg

True strike +20 to hit. Useful for delivering poison loads. Never miss.

2nd level wands: 4,500 gp

Align weapon Can be a life saver at higher levels to bypass DR

Alter self Very fun buff to have

Dark vision Situational

Find traps You gave up trap finding, get it back

Fog cloud Great battle field control

Invisibility Get your full round SA on

Mirror image This is brilliant for a squishy melee character like the rogue. Must have.

Spider climb Very cool at all stages in a game. Fly is better though

Cat's grace +4 dex is gold but only if you don't have any other magic items boosting dexterity by level 10

3rd level wands: 11,250 gp

Displacement for a squishy melee build this is gold

Fly Fly around throwing star knives. See picture >

Haste Get your sneak on for some serious

Heroism don't miss

Keen edge if you don't have keen kukri

Gaseous form escape!

http://www.swordsofhonor.com/bmz_cache/8/8c5ee6f0698ab33924c35a01481da5c5.image.241x240.png

Don't forget to buy an Efficient Quiver for all your wands!!

"This appears to be a typical arrow container capable of holding about 20 arrows. It has three distinct portions, each with a non-dimensional space allowing it to store far more than would normally be possible. The first and smallest one can contain up to 60 objects of the same general size and shape as an arrow........ Once the owner has filled it, the quiver can quickly produce any item she wishes that is within the quiver, as if from a regular quiver or scabbard. The efficient quiver weighs the same no matter what's placed inside it."

If you want to be really cool get a Wand of Weapon Wand and combine a Kukri with a Wand of Vampiric Touch. Be even more sneaky and take the lunge feat.

ROGUE ARCHETYPES:

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSbb3hlRB1ncC2IkcC_njBIyi3wwCPX_nnr8FQd42u5Oc1-M0aWdA

You can be a Knifemaster Scout simultaneously. Take them both.

Scout
At Level 4 you can charge and SA
- Feat that compliments this is Charging Hurler
At Level 8 you can move more than 10ft and then SA
- A feat that compliments this is Disorientating Maneuver
- Allows you to move 15ft and throw for SA.

This is why you always need a Star Knife with a range of 20ft.

Downside: Lose Uncanny Dodge and Improved Uncanny Dodge.

Both of these are situational.

Knife master
At Level 1 you Sneak Stab
- When you make a sneak attack with a dagger, kerambit, kukri, punching daggers, Starknife, or swordbreaker dagger, you use d8s to roll sneak attack damage instead of d6s.
- This makes getting only one attack in from a charge, throw, or feint much better.

Downside: You lost Trapfinding......so let the barbarian to go first!!

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091229162828/dnd4/images/c/ca/RoguePHB.png

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs18/i/2007/198/a/4/my_knife_collection_by_tzum.jpg

SKILLS = Silent KILLS...

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/139/8/4/daggers_by_anndr-d3gos5g.jpg

Acrobatics: Essential for moving around the battle field un-hurt.

Appraise

Bluff: You need this for feint attack builds especially for feinting

Climb

Craft

Diplomacy

Disable Device: You have lost trap finding so you need this more.

Fly

Knowledge (Dungeoneering)

Knowledge (Engineering)

Knowledge (Geography)

Knowledge (History)

Knowledge (Local): A rogue needs to know his way around town.

Linguistics: Handy for making friends and influencing people, then stabbing them in the belly.

Perception: Essential.

Perform

Profession

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbnl5pyjLg1qedl16o1_500.png

Ride

Sense Motive: Gotta know who your friends are, kill the rest!!

Sleight of Hand: Useful for hiding a large amount of daggers on your body.

Spellcraft

Stealth: You are a rogue. Don't forget it.

Survival

Swim

Use Magic Device: Needed for the use of wands later around level 10.

Stick around.....for the sample builds.

The Shanker

http://images.solidcactus.com/swblades/dragclawdag.jpg

Skilled at feinting while slipping his dagger between your ribs. You will need a high charisma for bluffing so that while fighting you can pretend that you will stab them in the left side of the neck.....but stab them in the right instead. Ouch!!

Traits:

Reactionary +2 initiative, win initiative and throw 2 daggers for SA

Adopted -> Propitiation (Any Dwarven deity) +2 Bluff

Weapons of choice: Kukri
Glamered Keen Kukri

Distance Daggers hide these up spring loaded wrist sheathes

http://images.bbgsite.com/news/2009/08/14/assassin_male2.jpg

Feats and Talents:
1. Feat: Two weapon fighting
1. Bonus Human Feat: Martial Weapon Proficiency (Kukri)
2. Rogue talent: Finesse rogue
3. Feat: Weapon focus (Kukri)
4. Rogue Talent: Combat trick: Combat expertise
4. Scout: Charge and SA
5. Feat: Two weapon feint
6. Rogue talent: *Offensive defense
6. Favored Class Bonus talent: feat: Improved two weapon fighting
7. Feat: Improved two weapon feint
8. Rogue talent: *Slow reactions
8. Scout: Move more than 10ft and SA
9. Feat: Opening volley

10. Advanced talent: *Entanglement of blades
11. Feat: Extra talent: Skill mastery - Bluff, UMD, Acrobatics, Stealth
12. Advanced talent: Feat: Critical focus

12. Favored Class Bonus talent: *Crippling strike

Tactics:

Critical on 15-20, Feint and stab for SA anytime anywhere.

Lock them down with entanglement of blades.
Unleash hunters surprise to take down the boss.

The Backstabber

http://www.szco.com/catalog/images/products/KNIVES/211155-BL.jpg

Somersault and stab for SA using disorientating maneuvers. Nice and simple.

Traits:

Reactionary +2 initiative, win initiative and throw 2 daggers for SA

Heirloom Weapon and gain proficiency in a Kukri.

Weapons of choice:
Glamered Keen Kukri

Distance returning daggers - hide these up spring loaded wrist sheathes

$C:\downloads\plunge.jpg$ 6. Rogue talent: Peerless maneuver
6. Favored Class Bonus talent: *Slow reactions
7. Feat: Improved two weapon fighting
8. Rogue talent: Combat trick Opening volley
8. Focused study bonus feat: Skill focus (Use magic device)
8. Scout: Move more than 10ft and SA
9. Feat: Acrobatics
10. Advanced talent: *Entanglement of blades

11. Feat: Extra talent: Skill mastery - Bluff, UMD, Acrobatics, Stealth
12. Advanced talent: Feat: Critical focus
12. Favored Class Bonus talent: *Crippling strike

Tactics:

Critical on 15-20

Charge and hurl a dagger for SA with +2 hit

Then Charge and stab with a knife for SA using the feat Opening volley to get +6 to hit

Tumble over enemies and move a total of 15 feet for +2 hit.

The Twirler

http://www.stu711.com/images/STAR-WUU-JAU.jpg

A Varisian rogue that twirls Starknives across the room.

Traits:

Tattooed Mystic gives you proficiency in the star knife. This has a range of 20ft whereas the dagger has 10ft.

Strong arm supple wrist Whenever you move at least 10 feet before making an attack with a thrown weapon, you add 10 feet to the range increment of the weapon thrown.

Weapons of choice:

Called Distance Starknives

$C:\Users\Ash Rex\Downloads\aerian.jpg$
Feats and Talents:
1. Bonus feat: Two weapon fighting
1. Feat: Point blank shot
2. Rogue talent: Finesse rogue
3. Feat: Precise shot
4. Rogue talent: Combat trait: Charging hurler
4. Scout: Charge and SA
5. Feat: Weapon focus (starknife)
6. Rogue talent: Snap shot
6. Favored Class Bonus talent: *Distracting attack
7. Feat: Improved Initiative
8. Rogue talent: Sniper's eye

8. Scout: Move 10ft and SA
9. Feat: Opening volley
10. Advanced talent: *Crippling strike

11. Feat: Improved two weapon fighting

12. Advanced talent: Skill mastery - Bluff, UMD, Acrobatics, Stealth
12. Favored Class Bonus talent: *Dispelling attack

Tactics

Win initiative and throw two star knives up to 30ft for full round SA.

The Slicer

Slice throats in the dark.

Traits

http://www.swordsknivesanddaggers.com/daggers/daggers-battling-dragon-dagger-hk-349-b.jpg

Armor expert Reduce your armor check penalty by 1. This increases your stealth by 1, and all other Dex.

Weapons of choice:

Glamered Keen Kukri

Stalking daggers - hide these up spring loaded wrist sheathes

http://www.rocketllama.com/blog-it/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/4.jpg

Feats and Talents:
1. Human bonus feat: Martial Weapon Proficiency (Kukri)
1. Feat: Two weapon fighting
2. Rogue talent: Finesse rogue
3. Feat: Weapon focus (Kukri)
4. Rogue talent: Fast stealth
4. Scout: Charge and SA
5. Feat: Blind fight
6. Rogue talent: Minor magic Ghost sound
6. Bonus talent: Major magic Vanish (2 times a day)
7. Feat: Improved two weapon fighting
8. Rogue talent: *Offensive defense
8. Scout: Move 10ft and SA
9. Feat: Point blank shot
10. Advanced talent: *Entanglement of blades
11. Feat: Opening volley
12. Advanced talent: Feat: Critical focus
12. Bonus advanced talent: *Crippling strike

Tactics

Critical on 15-20

Vanish and observe then throw daggers for SA in a full round attack.

Then charge in and SA with +6 to hit.

The Plunger

He won't stab you in the back, he'll stab you in the chest, and fill your heart with poison.

Think what Artemi Entreri would do.

Traits

Reactionary +2 initiative

Heirloom Weapon and gain proficiency in a Kukri.

Weapons of choice:

Glamered Keen Kukri

Daggers of Venom - hide these up spring loaded wrist sheathes

http://cs9436.vk.me/u117419894/a_a9170129.jpg

Feats and Talents:
1. Focused study bonus feat: Skill focus (Acrobatics)
1. Feat: Two weapon fighting
2. Rogue talent: Finesse rogue
3. Feat: Weapon focus (Kukri)
4. Rogue talent: Swift poison
4. Scout: Charge and SA
5. Feat: Extra talent: Ninja trick - pressure points
6. Rogue talent: *Offensive defense
6. Bonus talent: Lasting poison
7. Feat: Improved two weapon fighting
8. Rogue talent: *Slow reactions
8. Focused study bonus feat: Skill focus (UMD)
8. Scout: Move 10ft and SA
9. Feat: Opening volley
10. Advanced talent: *Entanglement of blades
11. Feat: Extra talent: Deadly cocktail
12. Advanced talent: Feat: Critical focus
12. Bonus advanced talent: Hunters quarry

Tactics

Get in fast, poison them, kill them.

Get a wand of True strike to have +20 to hit when you want to poison.

$C:\downloads\widow.jpg$ The Intimidator

Bow down and fear my blade. Think Jason, Crocodile Dundee and Rambo.

Traits

Bully +1 to intimidate

Unnatural Presence You can use your Intimidate skill to demoralize animals and vermin.

Weapons of choice:

Keen Kukri

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaZviOnsI_a8zjsAC_J0XSWRSYCgCsk8Y90aqA1y4Wmw1l1kHJvq4nutefwE4dMoN9xPZiCpjIRrDaQe4ihUF3LXZLCjkDxjv6nSmBEUeSyRuJExW6bUWg000rnN_4zFuad47PP7rsdE/s1600/rambo-.jpg

Feats and Talents:
Fighter 1. Feat: Two weapon fighting
Fighter 1. Human bonus feat: Fearless curiosity
Fighter 1. Bonus fighter Feat: Weapon focus (Kukri)

3. Rogue talent: Finesse rogue
3. Feat: Dazzling display

5. Rogue talent: *Offensive defense
5. Scout: Charge and SA
5. Feat: Intimidating confidence
7. Rogue talent: *Slow reactions

7. Bonus talent: Combat trick: Shatter defenses
7. Feat: Improved two weapon fighting
9. Rogue talent: *Powerful sneak

9. Scout: Move 10ft and SA
9. Feat: Skill focus intimidate
11. Advanced talent: *Entanglement of blades
11. Feat: Critical focus
13. Feat: Dastardly finish (coup de grace)

13. Advanced talent: Hunters quarry
13. Bonus advanced talent: *Crippling strike

Tactics

Strike fear into people's hearts with your large intimidating kukri. Critically hit and intimidate all around you with intimidating confidence. Strike the cowards down to shatter defenses, then take them out when they cower in fear.

3 comments:

UnknownDecember 12, 2018 at 9:40 PM
If you're going to be using a feat for a weapon proficiency why not take exotic proficiency wakizashi? 1d6 18-20/x2, seems like a better option if you're already going to waste a feat for a weapon proficiency.

Also Underhanded as a rogue talent should be checked, as a knife master you already get a bonus to SoH and Underhanded adds even more to it.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Bravo's Guide to a Knife Master Scout (Recovered)

3 comments: