Self-Interested Preface: Hey! I stopped making builds 'cause I stopped feeling like it and it's fairly fucking exhausting to spend time researching interesting exploits and at the same time research all the little updates and revisions Paizo might have put out to close those interesting exploits. But then I suddenly started getting positive feedback about these builds, which is nice and kind of balances it out, at least to the point I'm willing to preface and release some of the builds I've already made. As such:
This is a halfling Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) / Rose Warden build that attacks by jumping on the back of an enemy and sneak-attack stabbing them to death by using their own body as cover (which also applies against enemies on the other side of it). The Human Shadow trait lets a halfling hide behind any creature larger than it without cover or concealment, while the Limb-Climber archetype ability lets it make a Climb check to do a modified grapple onto any creature larger than it. The errata doesn't list any criteria other than adjacency and a successful roll, which means it's a regular part of movement and can pretty much take the place of a feint. The halfling race trait Intrepid Volunteer, along with a high DEX, Climb as a class skill, and points mean this character starts with a +8 Climb modifier, and Adaptable Luck means the character can add a bonus if it looks difficult. At fourth level, due to Wall Scramble, the character always rolls twice for Climb checks, and at fifth level, Signature Skill comes in to keep it from being flat-footed while climbing. That should be enough words to cover this character's primary trick. I encourage you, though, as the player, to look up everything in all my builds to make sure you're not missing any bonuses.
This is a halfling Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) / Rose Warden build that attacks by jumping on the back of an enemy and sneak-attack stabbing them to death by using their own body as cover (which also applies against enemies on the other side of it). The Human Shadow trait lets a halfling hide behind any creature larger than it without cover or concealment, while the Limb-Climber archetype ability lets it make a Climb check to do a modified grapple onto any creature larger than it. The errata doesn't list any criteria other than adjacency and a successful roll, which means it's a regular part of movement and can pretty much take the place of a feint. The halfling race trait Intrepid Volunteer, along with a high DEX, Climb as a class skill, and points mean this character starts with a +8 Climb modifier, and Adaptable Luck means the character can add a bonus if it looks difficult. At fourth level, due to Wall Scramble, the character always rolls twice for Climb checks, and at fifth level, Signature Skill comes in to keep it from being flat-footed while climbing. That should be enough words to cover this character's primary trick. I encourage you, though, as the player, to look up everything in all my builds to make sure you're not missing any bonuses.
Defensively, this character has the saving throws of a rogue, though its Adaptable Luck is like Hero Points Jr. Threatening Defender means Combat Expertise should always be active, and the amazing racial feat Cautious Fighter brings the additional dodge AC to 3, giving this character 10 (base) + 4 (studded leather) + 4 (DEX) + 3 (Combat Expertise) an incredible 21 AC at level 1, not counting the scaling negative attack incurred by any creature being clung on(read Limb-Climber in Vexing Dodger). Iron Will shores up its will saves at level 3, and Emboldening Strike at level 6 adds an additional circumstance bonus of +1/2 sneak attack die amount to all saving throws. Fortunate One's pretty weak as a level 7 feat, only adding one use of Adaptable Luck per day, but it's a prerequisite for the amazing Adaptive Fortune, which increases Adaptable Luck's uses to five per day at a +4 modifier(!). Defensive Roll and Slippery Mind come into play at the end of the build, but everything else in this paragraph should be pretty adequate to keep this character alive.
Offensively, in addition to its primary Shank Parasite tactic, it ends up very good at dirty trick combat maneuvers, with a free Improved Dirty Trick at level 2, Agile Maneuvers at level 5, and Greater Dirty Trick at level 9. These can be replaced, but it's pretty useful to be able to, for example, entangle a creature with an attack, considering this character's meant to cling to them as cover. With a combination of dirty tricks, Slow Reactions (sneak-attacked can't perform attacks of opportunity for a round), and debilitating injuries, this character's very capable of shutting down what it clings to as it stabs it to death. Hunter's Surprise at level 14, Opportunist at level 16, and the prestige abilities Small But Fierce at level 10 and Obfuscate at level 11 give it lots of in-combat non- clinging-cover options to deal sneak attack damage, with Hunter's Surprise letting it apply sneak attack damage to all its attacks for one round per day, Opportunist adding an attack of opportunity whenever an opponent is struck, Small But Fierce trading a move action for making the standard a sneak attack, and Obfuscate being hide in plain sight in urban environments.
All together, this is a pretty badass concept (unless I'm missing something about using climbing up a creature's own back as cover against it) and the character's absolutely full of synergies. Everything it puts any effort into doing, it does well, and it should stay alive doing it. There are some abilities this thing has I haven't even mentioned, but these, as I remember, are the main ones that consistently impact gameplay. Just let your little guy jump on a back, stab a dude to death, and backflip the fuck away as needed. That's all he was ever born to do.
This build created in January of 2017.
Offensively, in addition to its primary Shank Parasite tactic, it ends up very good at dirty trick combat maneuvers, with a free Improved Dirty Trick at level 2, Agile Maneuvers at level 5, and Greater Dirty Trick at level 9. These can be replaced, but it's pretty useful to be able to, for example, entangle a creature with an attack, considering this character's meant to cling to them as cover. With a combination of dirty tricks, Slow Reactions (sneak-attacked can't perform attacks of opportunity for a round), and debilitating injuries, this character's very capable of shutting down what it clings to as it stabs it to death. Hunter's Surprise at level 14, Opportunist at level 16, and the prestige abilities Small But Fierce at level 10 and Obfuscate at level 11 give it lots of in-combat non- clinging-cover options to deal sneak attack damage, with Hunter's Surprise letting it apply sneak attack damage to all its attacks for one round per day, Opportunist adding an attack of opportunity whenever an opponent is struck, Small But Fierce trading a move action for making the standard a sneak attack, and Obfuscate being hide in plain sight in urban environments.
All together, this is a pretty badass concept (unless I'm missing something about using climbing up a creature's own back as cover against it) and the character's absolutely full of synergies. Everything it puts any effort into doing, it does well, and it should stay alive doing it. There are some abilities this thing has I haven't even mentioned, but these, as I remember, are the main ones that consistently impact gameplay. Just let your little guy jump on a back, stab a dude to death, and backflip the fuck away as needed. That's all he was ever born to do.
This build created in January of 2017.
Unchained Rogue 10, Rose
Warden 10
[Must be Chaotic Good
and worship Milani]
Race: Halfling,
+2 DEX, +2 CHA, -2 STR (+1 Hit Point/+1 Skill Point/+½ to critical confirmation
with one of the following: dagger, sling, any Halfling weapon; cannot exceed 4)
Racial Traits
20’ base land speed
Adaptable Luck [3/day can apply +2 (+3 with Fate’s Favored
trait bonus) to any ability check, attack roll, saving throw, or skill check
before thrown, or +1 (+2 with Fate’s Favored trait bonus) after it’s thrown]
Human Shadow (+2 to Sleight Of Hand and Stealth when within
30’ of any human; can use Stealth to hide behind creature one size or more
larger without other cover or concealment)
Irrepressible (+2 to saving throws against domination or
possession)
Shadowhunter (can always hit incorporeal creatures for ½
damage as if attacks were magical; +2 to saves removing negative levels; heal 2
ability score damage per day if source was undead)
Character Traits/Drawbacks
Drawback: (Detriment, Circumstance)
Combat: Threatening Defender (Combat Expertise penalty to
attack reduced by one)
Faith: Fate’s Favored (+1 to any luck bonuses)
Race: Intrepid Volunteer, Climb (use DEX instead of STR for Climb
skill checks)
Class Skills: Acrobatics,
Appraise, Bluff, Climb, Craft (Any), Diplomacy, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape
Artist, Intimidate, Knowledge (Dungeoneering), Knowledge (Local), Linguistics,
Perception, Perform (Any), Profession (Any), Sense Motive, Sleight Of Hand, Stealth,
Swim, and Use Magic Device.
Known Languages:
Common, Halfling, +1 other
1: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 1, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +0
Base Saves: +2/+6/+1
New Feats: Simple and Rogue Weapon Proficiencies, Light Armor
Proficiency, Rogue Sneak Attack, Limb-Climber, Weapon Finesse, [1st
Level Feat] Combat Expertise, [Anti-Hero] Cautious Fighter
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Bluff, Climb, Disable Device, Disguise,
Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth, Swim
Current Sneak Attack: 1d6
2: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 2, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +1
Base Saves: +2/+7/+1
New Feats: Evasion, Improved Dirty Trick
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Disguise, Knowledge
(Local), Perception, Sense Motive, Sleight Of Hand, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 1d6
3: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 3, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +2
Base Saves: +3/+7/+4
New Feats: Finesse Training (3rd): Dagger, Underfoot
Agility +1, [3rd Level Feat] Iron Will
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Disguise, Perception,
Stealth, +3 others
Current Sneak Attack: 2d6
4: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 4, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +3
Increased Ability Score: DEX +1
(20)
Base Saves: +3/+9/+4
New Feats: Debilitating Injury, Underfoot Trickster, [Rogue 4th]
Wall Scramble
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Disguise, Perception,
Stealth, +3 others
Current Sneak Attack: 2d6 + Debilitating Injury
5: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 5, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +3
Base Saves: +3/+9/+4
New Feats: Rogue's Edge (5th): Climb, [5th Level Feat] Agile
Maneuvers
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Disguise, Perception,
Stealth, +3 others
Current Sneak Attack: 3d6 + Debilitating Injury
6: Rose Warden 1 (current Rogue talent level: 6)
BAB: +4
Base Saves: +4/+10/+5
New Feats: Anonymity, Liberated Mind +2, Street Sentinel +2,
[Insurgent Technique 1st] (Rogue Talent) Emboldening Strike
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 3d6 + Debilitating Injury; +1 to all saves
7: Rose Warden 2 (current Rogue talent level: 7)
BAB: +5
Base Saves: +4/+10/+5
New Feats: Voice Of The Masses, [7th Level Feat] Fortunate One
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 4d6 + Debilitating Injury; +2 to all saves
8: Rose Warden 3 (current Rogue talent level: 8)
BAB: +6/+1
Increased Ability Score: DEX +1
(21)
Base Saves: +4/+11/+5
New Feats: Cunning Disarm, [Insurgent Technique 3rd] (Rogue
Talent) Slow Reactions
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 4d6 + Debilitating Injury; +2 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
9: Rose Warden 4 (current Rogue talent level: 9)
BAB: +6/+1
Base Saves: +5/+11/+6
New Feats: Insurrectionist, [9th Level Feat] Greater Dirty Trick
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 5d6 + Debilitating Injury; +2 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
10: Rose Warden 5 (current Rogue talent level: 10)
BAB: +7/+2
Base Saves: +5/+12/+6
New Feats: Advanced Talents, Liberated Mind +4, Rogue's Edge
Advancement (10th): Climb, [Advanced Insurgent Technique 5th]
Small But Fierce
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 5d6 + Debilitating Injury; +2 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
11: Rose Warden 6 (current Rogue talent level: 11)
BAB: +8/+3
Base Saves: +5/+12/+6
New Feats: Obfuscate, Street Sentinel +4, [11th Level Feat] Adaptive
Fortune
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 6d6 + Debilitating Injury; +3 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
12: Rose Warden 7 (current Rogue talent level: 12)
BAB: +9/+4
Increased Ability Score: DEX +1
(22)
Base Saves: +6/+14/+7
New Feats: [Advanced Insurgent Technique 7th] (Advanced
Rogue Talent) Double Debilitation
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 6d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +3 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
13: Rose Warden 8 (current Rogue talent level: 13)
BAB: +9/+4
Base Saves: +6/+14/+7
New Feats: Rallying Courage, [13th Level Feat] Combat Reflexes
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 7d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +3 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
14: Rose Warden 9 (current Rogue talent level: 14)
BAB: +10/+5
Base Saves: +6/+15/+7
New Feats: [Advanced Insurgent Technique 9th] (Advanced
Rogue Talent) Hunter’s Surprise
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 7d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +3 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
15: Rose Warden 10 (current Rogue talent level: 15)
BAB: +11/+6/+1
Base Saves: +7/+15/+8
New Feats: Rogue's Edge Advancement (15th): Climb, Smite Tyranny, [15th
Level Feat] Dirty Trick Master
Skills(5): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth
Current Sneak Attack: 8d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +4 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
16: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 6, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +12/+7/+2
Increased Ability Score: DEX +1
(23)
Base Saves: +7/+16/+8
New Feats: Underfoot Agility +2, [Rogue (1)6th] Opportunist
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth,
+4 others
Current Sneak Attack: 8d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +4 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
17: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 7, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +12/+7/+2
Base Saves: +7/+16/+8
New Feats: [17th Level Feat] Critical Focus
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth,
+4 others
Current Sneak Attack: 9d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +4 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
18: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 8, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +13/+8/+3
Base Saves: +8/+17/+9
New Feats: Distracting Climber, [Rogue (1)8th] Defensive Roll
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth,
+4 others
Current Sneak Attack: 9d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +4 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
19: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 9, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +14/+9/+4
Base Saves: +8/+17/+9
New Feats: Underfoot Agility +3, [19th Level Feat] Dirty Critical
Hit
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth,
+4 others
Current Sneak Attack: 10d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +5 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
20: Unchained Rogue (Vexing Dodger) 10, +1 Hit Point
BAB: +15/+10/+5
Increased Ability Score: DEX +1
(24)
Base Saves: +8/+19/+9
New Feats: Rogue's Edge Advancement (20th): Climb and
Perception, Rogue's Edge (10th): Perception, [Rogue (2/)/10th] Slippery Mind
Skills(9): Acrobatics, Climb, Disable Device, Perception, Stealth,
+4 others
Current Sneak Attack: 10d6 + 2x Debilitating Injury; +5 to all saves; enemy can perform no AoO for
one round
This is hilarious!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
This is pretty awesome lol
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try this, currently I am using the Brawler Shield Champion and that is also a great build.
ReplyDeletehey alright
DeleteJust discovered these builds and will be using them for kickass characters. Thanks for putting these up.
ReplyDeleteone potential issue I see is that cautious fighter affect fighting defensively not combat expertise.
ReplyDelete