The Opportunist [Base Class]

[Ashes]

So, a friend of mine wanted a class that looks like this turned out. So I made it for him. The name is just a working title, feel free to make suggestions as to a better one.
So please, all comments and criticism is welcome. Thanks


The Flanker
{table=head]Level| BAB| Fort| Ref | Will| Special
1|+1| +0| +2| +0| Sneak Attack +1d6, Improved Flank
2|+2| +0| +3| +0|
3|+3| +1| +3| +1| Mobility
4|+4| +1| +4| +1| Sneak Attack +2d6
5|+5| +1| +4| +1|
6|+6| +2| +5| +2| Flexible Flanker
7|+7| +2| +5| +2| Sneak Attack +3d6
8|+8| +2| +6| +2|
9|+9| +3| +6| +3| Combat Acrobat
10|+10| +3| +7| +3| Sneak Attack + 4d6
11|+11| +3| +7| +3|
12|+12| +4| +8| +4| Snaking Charge
13|+13| +4| +8| +4| Sneak Attack +5d6
14|+14| +4| +9| +4|
15|+15| +5| +9| +5| Distract
16|+16| +5| +10| +5| Sneak Attack +6d6
17|+17| +5| +10| +5| Critical Strike
18|+18| +6| +11| +6|
19|+19| +6| +11| +6| Sneak Attack +7d6
20|+20| +6| +12| +6| Tumbling Pounce [/table]

Hit die: d10
Skills per level: 6+Int Modifier (4*6+Int) at first level.
Class Skills: The flanker’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/balance.htm) (Dex), Bluff (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/bluff.htm) (Cha), Craft (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/craft.htm) (Int), Diplomacy (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/diplomacy.htm) (Cha), Escape Artist (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/escapeArtist.htm) (Dex), Gather Information (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/gatherInformation.htm) (Cha), Hide (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/hide.htm) (Dex), Intimidate (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/intimidate.htm) (Cha), Jump (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/jump.htm) (Str), Knowledge (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/knowledge.htm) (local) (Int), Listen (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/listen.htm) (Wis), Move Silently (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/moveSilently.htm) (Dex), Open Lock (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/openLock.htm) (Dex), Profession (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/profession.htm) (Wis), Sense Motive (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/senseMotive.htm) (Wis), Spot (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/spot.htm) (Wis), Swim (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/swim.htm) (Str), Tumble (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/tumble.htm) (Dex), and Use Rope (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/useRope.htm) (Dex).
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: Flankers are proficient with all simple weapons, and light and one-handed melee and all ranged martial weapons. Flankers are proficient with light armor, and bucklers and light shields.

Special:

Sneak Attack:
If a flanker can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage.
The flanker’s attack deals extra damage any time her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the flanker flanks her target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and it increases by 1d6 every three flanker levels thereafter. Should the flanker score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied.
Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.
With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a flanker can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. She cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual -4 penalty.
A flanker can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, 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 flanker must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. A flanker cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.

Improved Flank:
When the flanker is in a flanking position, the bonus to hit increases to +4 instead of the normal +2 bonus.


Mobility:
At third level the flanker gains Mobility as a bonus feat, even if he wouldn’t normally qualify for it.

Flexible Flanker:
If the flanker and an ally are both adjacent to a creature, they are considered to be flanking it.

Combat Acrobat:
The ninth-level flanker does not apply his armour check penalty (if any) to Balance, Jump and Tumble checks. Also he is able to take 10 on any of those checks, even if he normally wouldn’t be able to.

Snaking Charge:
The 12th level flanker need not charge in a straight line.

Distract:
A number of times per day equal to his class level divided by three, the flanker as a swift action can cause an opponent to be denied his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) for a number of rounds equal to 2+Cha mod. The opponent must then make a Will save to resist this effect (DC=10+½ class level + Cha modifier)

Critical Strike:
At 17th level, the flanker can apply his sneak attack if he scores a critical hit.

Tumbling Pounce:
The 20th level flanker can make a full attack following a charge if he makes a Tumble check that exceeds his target’s Armour Class.

[Reptilius]

Even though it's the name of a rogue ability, how about the Opportunist? Their fighting style could be conducive to a philosophy of taking opprtunities. Also, a good sneak attack-based ability could revolve around dealing sneak attack damage on an attack of opportunity.

[Ashes]

Even though it's the name of a rogue ability, how about the Opportunist? Their fighting style could be conducive to a philosophy of taking opprtunities. Also, a good sneak attack-based ability could revolve around dealing sneak attack damage on an attack of opportunity.


Consider that name *Yoinked*. Thanks.

[Ashes]

So, I really hate to *bump* like this. But it would be really nice with some feedback.

[Kayeich]

Your original name of Flanker seemed a more accurate name than Opportunist. Opportunist would make me expect abilities/feats that take advantage or better yet cause attacks of opportunities to become available.

This guy only takes advantage of flanking and charging attack bonuses, so he's not much of an opportunist. He's also not particularly impressive in a fight where he's alone, so you might want to expand on the Opportunist theme. There's always opportunities to take advantage even when fighting alone. With flanking, you can only take advantage if you have an ally!

He does have some elements that would point in the direction of a true opportunist, but he's missing stuff that should really come with such a class to be honest, like Combat Reflexes or Deft Opportunist (from C.Adventurer), amongst other things. And he does need some powering up as his class abilities aren't necessarily that powerful either, especially Critical Strike.

Flexible Flanker is available in the PHB II as a feat called Adaptable Flanker which has a requirement of BAB+4, so it could be gotten at an earlier level (with a dip in fighter admittedly).

Critical Strike is much the same, the feat Telling Blow (PHB II as well) only requires the skirmish or sneak attack ability, so it could be gotten all the way at level 1 by a rogue if he wanted to, while your class doesn't get it all the way until level 17th (owtch!).

Distract is a bit more powerful than Improved Feint feat (Bluff in combat as move action) and Beguiler's level 6 class ability (Improved Feint as swift action), but not too much more so. Neither of those abilities require a will save for example, even if they only last to your first attack instead of for a few rounds.

About the only place where you might actually want to downplay him a bit is in skills. Given he best BAB progression with an HD10 like a fighter, yet has skills and precision damage a step away from a rogue's, you might want to go down to 4 skills/level. He looks like someone you want to be more of a combat junkie than a skill monkey, even if some skills are a must for this guy (Bluff and Tumble particularly).

Because you're trying to make a fighter/rogue combo thing though, I could actually see this more as a prestige class than a base class.

[Ashes]

I admit, I was a bit iffy about the higher-level abilities, and orginiallt Distract had no save. But the DM said he wouldn't allow it without a save. So I made one.

And yeah, it might work as a prestige class, or even just a regular multiclass fighter/rogue. I like playing those. But they aren't nearly as effective in combat as I would like them to be. So this would be an alternative to a combat rogue.

If you've got any suggestions as to the high-level abilites (perhaps centered about the opportunities theme) feel free to post them.

[icke]

Speaking in general, this one is too good, here's why:


1), HD+BAB+Skills:
The combination of d10 hit die, full BAB and 6+Int skills per level is better than any other class, I'd reduce the hit die to d8's at least and put the skills down to 4+Int, or keep d10's and use 2+Int skill points.

2) Sneak Attack:
is a good idea, but make it 1d6 per four character levels. Or change most of the special abilities of this class, which are just there to let this guy sneak attack whenever he attacks.

3)Improved Flank:
should be a 2nd or 3rd level ability.

4) Flexible Flanker:
is too powerfull, for any character, and bends the rules too much. To flank someone, a character has to make combat maneuvers. So instead of saying "The enemy's flanked", make it easier for Your class to do the flanking maneuvers(Tumbling skill, Mobility feat, enhanced speed etc.).

5) Combat Acrobat:
Make this two abilities at different levels, one that eliminates armor check penalties for wearing LIGHT armor, the other one to allow taking 10 on balance, jump and tumble checks.

6) Distract:
should not last more than one round. You should make it work like feinting in combat(bluff check versus sense motive check).

[Khantalas]

Basic mathematics: multiply first, add later. This class, RAW, has 24 + Int modifier at first level, while every other class has their Int modifier multiplied too.

See signature before complaining about me nitpicking.

[Ashes]

Speaking in general, this one is too good, here's why:


4) Flexible Flanker:
is too powerfull, for any character, and bends the rules too much. To flank someone, a character has to make combat maneuvers. So instead of saying "The enemy's flanked", make it easier for Your class to do the flanking maneuvers(Tumbling skill, Mobility feat, enhanced speed etc.).


Well, as Kayeich said, this is actually ripped feat, availabe at fourth level, from the PHBII, so I would say that it is quite appropriate and not in the least overpowered. The rest of your points I will think about and adress later.

[kizaman]

if you ask me it works well as a fighter/rogue but might need a few more abillities at lower levels ,considering the new name somthing to do with attacks of oportunity might work

[Ashes]

Yeah, the name's not really descriptive of the class, as I named it afterwards, so it should not be tailored by the name.