Carnival Blade Dancer
New Rogue Archetype
The carnival blade dancer is a trained killer. Daggers and other light blades become truly deadly instruments in her hands, but her lethal talents are hidden behind theatrical sideshows and acrobatic performances. This Archetype is best suited for the Unchained rogue.
Class Abilities
Dancing Blades
The Blade Dancer gains Two Weapon fighting as a bonus feat at level 1 and Improved Two Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat at level 8. In addition, the blade dancer chooses a single weapon that she is proficient in, such as the Kukri or the Tri-bladed Katar. Her rogue Finesse Training, which allows her to add her Dex to attack rolls at level 1 and to her damage rolls at level 3, applies only to this weapon. If she chooses the bladed scarf as her dancing blades, treat the scarf as a two handed double weapon, causing 1d4 damage with each of its ends.
This ability supplements the Finesse Training ability
Hidden Blades
A carnival blade dancer adds 1/2 her level on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal her dancing blades. Drawing any hidden blade takes a move action rather than a standard action. At level 4, the carnival blade dancer can draw a hidden blade as a swift action.
This ability replaces trapfinding. Sneak Stab (Ex)
A carnival blade dancer focuses her ability to deal sneak attack damage with her dancing blades to such a degree that she can deal more sneak attack damage with those weapons at the expense of sneak attacks with other weapons. When she makes a sneak attack with her dancing blades she uses d8s to roll sneak attack damage instead of d6s. If she uses a dagger of any type, tri-bladed katar, switchblade knife, bladed scarf or kukri, she uses d6s for the sneak attack damage. For sneak attacks with all other weapons, she uses d4s instead of d6s.
This ability is identical in all other ways to sneak attack, and supplements that ability. Blade Performance (Ex)
A carnival blade dancer is trained to use her dancing blades with the Perform (dance) skill to create magical effects on those around him, including himself if desired. He can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 2 + his Charisma modifier. At each level after 1st a carnival blade dancer can use blade performance for 1 additional rounds per day. Each round, the blade dancer can produce any one of the types of blade performances that she has mastered, as indicated by her level.
Starting a blade performance is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. A blade performance can be disrupted and ends immediately if the blade dancer is knocked prone, killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain the dance each round. Unlike a bard's performance, different effects of a blade dancer can be maintained simultaneously. Thus the blade performance may have both the Dance of Courage and Dance of Doom effects simultaneously, although maintaining such a dance would still be a free action, it will count as two rounds of blade performance.
At 7th level, a blade dancer can start a blade performance effect as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, a blade dancer can start a blade performance effect as a swift action.
Blade performance has only visual components, and they do not require the blade dancer to speak or sing. The targets must have line of sight to the blade dancer for the performance to have any effect. A blind blade dancer has a 50% chance to fail when attempting to use a blade performance. If she fails this check, the attempt still counts against her daily limit. Blind creatures are immune to some blade performances.
Dance of Courage (Su): A 1st level the blade performance can inspire courage in the Blade dancer's allies (including herself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 5th level, and every six blade dancer levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +4 at 17th level. Dance of courage is a mind-affecting ability
Fascinating Dance (Su): At 2ed level, a blade dancer can use his performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, and able to see and the dancer, and capable of paying attention to him. The blade dancer must also be able to see the creatures affected. The Distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a blade dancer has attained beyond 2ed, he can target one additional creature with this ability. Each creature within range receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the blade dancer’s level + his Cha modifier) to negate the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the blade dancer cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and observes the performance for as long as the bard continues to maintain it. While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Perception checks. Any potential threat to the target allows the target to make a new saving throw against the effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinating Dance is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.
Distraction Dance (Su): At 4th level the Blade Dancer can use his performance to disrupt the concentration of spellcasters as they cast spells. Any spell caster attempting to cast a spell 15ft or less from the performing blade dancer, must succeed on a concentration check (DC 10 + Spell level) or loose his spell. If the spell caster is 5ft from the blade dancer, the DC for the concentration check is equal to the Blade Dancer's Performance(dance) check + Spell Level.
Dance of Doom: At 6th level the Blade Dancer's Dance can target one or more creatures and bring their spirits down with his terrifying dance of blades. The target has to succeed on a will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the blade dancer’s level + his Cha modifier) or become shaken for as long as the blade dancer continues his performance. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, he is immune to the Dance of Doom for the next 24 hours. The Blade Dancer may target one additional creature for every third level beyond 6. At level 12,the effect increases from Shaken to Frightened. Dance of Doom is a mind-affecting effect.
This ability replaces the rogue talents gained at 2nd, 4th, 6th, 12th and 16th level Combat Dancing While performing a blade performance, the blade dancer can use her Perform (dance) check instead of her CMB to perform bullrush, dirty trick, disarm, reposition, steal and trip maneuvers. She still provokes attacks of opportunity as usual unless she has the required improved feats.
Weapon Proficiency
In addition to the basic Rogue weapon proficiency, a carnival blade dancer gains proficiency with any martial weapon that has "dagger" in its name plus tri-bladed katar, switchblade knife, bladed scarf, and kukri.Class Abilities
Dancing Blades
The Blade Dancer gains Two Weapon fighting as a bonus feat at level 1 and Improved Two Weapon Fighting as a bonus feat at level 8. In addition, the blade dancer chooses a single weapon that she is proficient in, such as the Kukri or the Tri-bladed Katar. Her rogue Finesse Training, which allows her to add her Dex to attack rolls at level 1 and to her damage rolls at level 3, applies only to this weapon. If she chooses the bladed scarf as her dancing blades, treat the scarf as a two handed double weapon, causing 1d4 damage with each of its ends.
This ability supplements the Finesse Training ability
Hidden Blades
A carnival blade dancer adds 1/2 her level on Sleight of Hand checks made to conceal her dancing blades. Drawing any hidden blade takes a move action rather than a standard action. At level 4, the carnival blade dancer can draw a hidden blade as a swift action.
This ability replaces trapfinding. Sneak Stab (Ex)
A carnival blade dancer focuses her ability to deal sneak attack damage with her dancing blades to such a degree that she can deal more sneak attack damage with those weapons at the expense of sneak attacks with other weapons. When she makes a sneak attack with her dancing blades she uses d8s to roll sneak attack damage instead of d6s. If she uses a dagger of any type, tri-bladed katar, switchblade knife, bladed scarf or kukri, she uses d6s for the sneak attack damage. For sneak attacks with all other weapons, she uses d4s instead of d6s.
This ability is identical in all other ways to sneak attack, and supplements that ability. Blade Performance (Ex)
A carnival blade dancer is trained to use her dancing blades with the Perform (dance) skill to create magical effects on those around him, including himself if desired. He can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to 2 + his Charisma modifier. At each level after 1st a carnival blade dancer can use blade performance for 1 additional rounds per day. Each round, the blade dancer can produce any one of the types of blade performances that she has mastered, as indicated by her level.
Starting a blade performance is a standard action, but it can be maintained each round as a free action. A blade performance can be disrupted and ends immediately if the blade dancer is knocked prone, killed, paralyzed, stunned, knocked unconscious, or otherwise prevented from taking a free action to maintain the dance each round. Unlike a bard's performance, different effects of a blade dancer can be maintained simultaneously. Thus the blade performance may have both the Dance of Courage and Dance of Doom effects simultaneously, although maintaining such a dance would still be a free action, it will count as two rounds of blade performance.
At 7th level, a blade dancer can start a blade performance effect as a move action instead of a standard action. At 13th level, a blade dancer can start a blade performance effect as a swift action.
Blade performance has only visual components, and they do not require the blade dancer to speak or sing. The targets must have line of sight to the blade dancer for the performance to have any effect. A blind blade dancer has a 50% chance to fail when attempting to use a blade performance. If she fails this check, the attempt still counts against her daily limit. Blind creatures are immune to some blade performances.
Dance of Courage (Su): A 1st level the blade performance can inspire courage in the Blade dancer's allies (including herself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive the performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. At 5th level, and every six blade dancer levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1, to a maximum of +4 at 17th level. Dance of courage is a mind-affecting ability
Fascinating Dance (Su): At 2ed level, a blade dancer can use his performance to cause one or more creatures to become fascinated with him. Each creature to be fascinated must be within 90 feet, and able to see and the dancer, and capable of paying attention to him. The blade dancer must also be able to see the creatures affected. The Distraction of a nearby combat or other dangers prevents the ability from working. For every three levels a blade dancer has attained beyond 2ed, he can target one additional creature with this ability. Each creature within range receives a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the blade dancer’s level + his Cha modifier) to negate the effect. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, the blade dancer cannot attempt to fascinate that creature again for 24 hours. If its saving throw fails, the creature sits quietly and observes the performance for as long as the bard continues to maintain it. While fascinated, a target takes a –4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Perception checks. Any potential threat to the target allows the target to make a new saving throw against the effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a weapon at the target, automatically breaks the effect. Fascinating Dance is an enchantment (compulsion), mind-affecting ability.
Distraction Dance (Su): At 4th level the Blade Dancer can use his performance to disrupt the concentration of spellcasters as they cast spells. Any spell caster attempting to cast a spell 15ft or less from the performing blade dancer, must succeed on a concentration check (DC 10 + Spell level) or loose his spell. If the spell caster is 5ft from the blade dancer, the DC for the concentration check is equal to the Blade Dancer's Performance(dance) check + Spell Level.
Dance of Doom: At 6th level the Blade Dancer's Dance can target one or more creatures and bring their spirits down with his terrifying dance of blades. The target has to succeed on a will save (DC 10 + 1/2 the blade dancer’s level + his Cha modifier) or become shaken for as long as the blade dancer continues his performance. If a creature’s saving throw succeeds, he is immune to the Dance of Doom for the next 24 hours. The Blade Dancer may target one additional creature for every third level beyond 6. At level 12,the effect increases from Shaken to Frightened. Dance of Doom is a mind-affecting effect.
This ability replaces the rogue talents gained at 2nd, 4th, 6th, 12th and 16th level Combat Dancing While performing a blade performance, the blade dancer can use her Perform (dance) check instead of her CMB to perform bullrush, dirty trick, disarm, reposition, steal and trip maneuvers. She still provokes attacks of opportunity as usual unless she has the required improved feats.
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