INVISIBLE BLADE

Invisible blades are not the kind of people you want to underestimate, but if you do, they certainly wont object. Brandish a rapier, and they will whip out a dagger. Unsheathe a longsword, and they will throw off their armor. Wield a greatsword, and they will smile at you. A big maniacal grin. Rest assured, the members of this prestige class do not have a death wish. Its just that they arent really impressed by how mighty their opponents appear. Quite the opposite. They relish any chance to demonstrate how the most unimposing weapons can also be the most lethal. Perhaps their opponents will live long enough to tell the tale. Invisible blades are highly devoted to the use of daggers. They specialize in fighting with either the dagger, kukri, or punching dagger, but this list can also include any number of light weapons derived from these blades. Invisible blades are not penalized for using other proficient weapons, but every ability they possess is tied into using these three daggers in particular. This may seem like an enormous restriction, but the invisible blade considers it their greatest freedom. Never have they felt more relaxed during combat; debating with themselves whether to parry or plunge. Never have they stepped more deliberately on their feet; dodging opponents while taking note of their styles. Never have they been more sensitive to when a guard is lowered; treating every such opening as a gift. Rogues are the most logical choice for invisible blades, as their sneak attack abilities dovetail with this prestige class. Bards are the next runner up, followed by monks. Berserkers, rangers, and warriors could all benefit from becoming invisible blades, if they abandoned their arsenal of armor and weapons for a less cumbersome approach. Clerics are seldom recruits, perceiving this prestige class as having no faith, while druids view invisible blades as having no strong ties to nature. Sorcerers and wizards rarely become invisible blades, as they find their lack of offensive options galling. NPC invisible blades are the silently egotistical type who regards their combat style as being superior to any other martial philosophy. They place enormous emphasis on making a single decisive strike, ending a fight in one combat round. Invisible blades pick up their skills in a guild setting (that frequently hire their members out as mercenaries). Joining the invisible blades comes with unspoken perils. Not only must the character practice fanatically with the dagger, but they must also draw blood from another invisible blade in a rite-of-passage combat. Hit Die: d6.

Requirements
To qualify to become an invisible blade, a character must fulfill all the following criteria. Skills: Bluff 8 ranks, Sense Motive 6 ranks. Feats: Point Blank shot, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (dagger, kukri, or punching dagger). Special: The candidate must defeat an opponent of equal CR in single combat using a nonmagical dagger, kukri, or punching dagger, or any other light blade derived from these three weapons.

Class Skills
The invisible blades class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex). See Chapter 4: Skills in the Players Handbook for skill descriptions. Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

The Invisible Blade

Level 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Base Attack Bonus +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +10 Fort Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 Ref Save +2 +3 +3 +4 +4 +5 +5 +6 +6 +7 Will Save +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +3 +3 Special Dagger sneak attack +1d6, unfettered defense Bleeding wound +1, uncanny feint Dagger sneak attack +2d6, feint mastery Far Shot Dagger sneak attack +3d6, improved uncanny feint Bleeding wound +2 Dagger sneak attack +4d6, extreme dagger throw Opportunist Dagger sneak attack +5d6 Bleeding wound +3, greater uncanny feint critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. (See Table 85: Attack Roll Modifiers and Table 86: Armor Class Modifiers, page 151 of the Players Handbook, for combat situation in which the blackguard flanks an opponent or the opponent loses their Dexterity bonus to AC.) Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. An invisible blade cant strike with deadly accuracy from beyond that range. An invisible blade cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual 4 penalty, because optimal use must be made of their weapon in order to execute a sneak attack. (See Nonlethal Damage, page 146 of the Players Handbook). An invisible blade can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomiesundead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The invisible blade must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. An invisible

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the invisible blade prestige class. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Invisible blades are proficient with the dagger, kukri, punching dagger, and any other light blade derived from these three weapons. They are not proficient with any type of armor or shields. Dagger Sneak Attack (Ex): Beginning at 1st level, if an invisible blade can catch an opponent unable to defend themselves effectively from their attack, a strike can be made to a vital spot for extra damage. This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers. Basically, the invisible blades attack deals extra damage any time their target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the invisible blade flanks their target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and it increases by 1d6 every two invisible blade levels thereafter (3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th). If an invisible blade gets a sneak attack bonus from another source, the bonuses on damage stack. Should the invisible blade score a

blade cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment (see Concealment, page 152 of the Players Handbook) or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach. Unfettered Defense (Ex): When not wearing armor or using a shield, an invisible blade benefits from an increased survival instinct during combat by adding 1 point of Intelligence bonus (if any) per invisible blade class level to their Dexterity bonus to modify Armor Class. If an invisible blade is caught flat-footed or otherwise denied their Dexterity bonus to AC, this bonus is also lost. This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers. Bleeding Wound (Ex): At 2nd level, the invisible blade is treated as having the Arterial Strike feat (see page 96 of the Complete Warrior) even without the normal prerequisites for that feat. This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers. If the invisible blade already has Arterial Strike, choose a different feat. The bleeding wound increases by 1 point of damage for every four levels of advancement (2 points at 6th level by forgoing 2d6 of extra dagger sneak attack damage and 3 points at 10th level by forgoing 3d6 of extra dagger sneak attack damage). Creatures immune to dagger sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding wounds as well. Uncanny Feint (Ex): At 2nd level, the invisible blade gains the ability to mislead their opponents attention in combat with reflexes that are much faster than normal. The character is treated as having the Improved Feint feat (see page 95 of the Players Handbook) even without the normal prerequisite for that feat. This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers. If the invisible blade already has Improved Feint, choose a different feat. Feint Mastery (Ex): At 3rd level, the invisible blade becomes so certain in the use of Bluff to feint in combat that the character can use it reliably even under adverse conditions. When making a skill check with Bluff to feint in combat, the invisible blade may take 10 even if stress and distractions would normally prevent the character from doing so. Far Shot: At 4th level, the invisible blade gains Far Shot (see page 94 of the Players Handbook) as a bonus feat. If the invisible blade already has Far Shot, choose a different feat. Improved Uncanny Feint (Ex): At 5th level, the invisible blade can make a Bluff check to feint in combat as a swift action. This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers. Extreme Dagger Throw (Ex): At 7th level, the invisible blade becomes exceedingly skilled at throwing daggers, increasing the range increment from 20 feet (already doubled from the invisible blades Far Shot feat) to 30 feet. Opportunist (Ex): At 8th level, the invisible blade can make an attack of opportunity against an opponent who has just been struck for damage in melee by another character. This attack counts as the invisible blades attack of opportunity for that round. Even an invisible blade with the Combat Reflexes feat cant use the opportunist ability more than once per round. This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers. Greater Uncanny Feint (Ex): At 10th level, the invisible blade can make a single Bluff check to feint in combat as a free action during an attack of opportunity (in addition to the swift action feint in combat during their turn). This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers.

The invisible blade was last modified 02 June 2004. Copyright Kolja Raven Liquette 2002, 2003, 2004. (Email: sonofapreacherman@wakinglands.com)