The Sublime Gunslinger's Art: Black Rain [Discipline]

[The Demented One]

Black Rain

http://fc89.deviantart.com/fs30/f/2008/045/d/9/Gunslinger_King_by_AdamWithers.jpg

The first mortal battles were those of nature, red in tooth and claw–beasts struggling among each other, fighting with sharp claws, piercing teeth, or lashing tails. But then came man and his fellow races, primitive at first, using simple clubs and spears, conquering the beasts of the wild. Soon the mortal races abandoned their simple stone bludgeons for blades, taking up cold iron and haughty steel to war. And soon–or perhaps even already–the mortal races, ever inventing new tools and weapons, will discover a force much greater than any club or sword: the gun. The firearm, sleek, compact, and ruthlessly powerful. A knight, armored in full plate and trained for years in the noble art of the greatsword could be downed from a hundred feet by a peasant with a musket, and a master duelist could be shot down before he had a chance to draw his sword by a pistol-wielding gunslinger. And just as the sword had its true masters, the martial adepts of the Sublime Way, so too might the gun find its exalted wielders, martial adepts of the tenth path, the discipline of Black Rain. An art of finesse and ruthless power, the Black Rain discipline promises its wielders the true power of the gun. The Black Rain discipline’s associated skill is Spot, as a sharp and unwavering aim is essential to sublime gunslinging. All firearms, as well as the concussion blaster, death ray, firewand (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5867363#post5867363) and wandgun (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5867363#post5867363) are associated weapons of the Black Rain discipline.

Because the Black Rain discipline was never taught at the Temple of the Nine Swords or any similar center of training, most martial adepts do not know any maneuvers from it, or even know it exists. Any martial adept can learn maneuvers from the Black Rain discipline, but they must either have the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Firearms) feat or otherwise be proficient with firearms to do so. There are two ways to master the discipline. The first is to have been trained in it. If you choose to make a martial adept that has already been trained in the Black Rain discipline, you simply replace one discipline that adept could normally learn with maneuvers from with the Black Rain discipline. He loses the associated skill of the replaced discipline as a class skill, but gains Spot as a class skill. You must take Exotic Weapons Proficiency (Firearms) at 1st level in order to begin with knowledge of the Black Rain discipline.

The other way is to seek out a master of the Black Rain discipline–a martial adept capable of using at least 5th-level maneuvers from the discipline–and training under him. You must train for a month under the master, and spend 1,000 xp at the end of your training. You gain the ability to learn maneuvers from the Black Rain discipline, and add Spot to your martial adept class’s list of class skills. In addition, you may exchange your maneuvers known for maneuvers of the Black Rain discipline. You may exchange one maneuver of each level, and the new maneuvers you learn must be of the same level as the exchanged maneuvers, unlike normal. You must still be proficient in firearms to receive training in Black Rain.

Black Rain, Firearms, and a Campaign
Guns don’t belong in every campaign. Many campaign settings either do not have guns as a feature, or specifically do not include guns. In such a case, the Black Rain discipline simply does not have a place in such campaigns. A DM might be willing to allow a player to use firearms and Black Rain, particularly if the characters background provides a compelling justification for it–they are gnomish tinkerer who invented firearms as a new weapon, or they are an adventuring archaeologist who unearthed a cache of ancient weapons–but this should be considered an exception, rather than a rule. In campaigns where firearms are more common, then the discipline should likewise be more spread, perhaps even made a major feature of the setting.

[The Demented One]

1st level
Dust Devil Shot: Strike–Attack rebounds to strike two foes.
Iron Caress: Strike–Make a called shot with a firearms attack that deals +1d6 damage.
Gather the Storm: Boost–Reload a firearm as a swift action.
Hot-Blooded Gunman Bravado: Stance–Take penalty on firearm attack rolls to deal extra damage.

2nd level
Blossom of Iron Petals: Strike–Make firearms attack in a line.
Elegant Execution: Boost–Deal bonus damage at point blank or make a coup de grace against a downed enemy.
Smoking Steel Parry: Counter–Parry a ranged attack with a firearm.
Stare Down Death: Boost–Stabilize and heal.

3rd level
Azure Battle Mandala: Strike–Make a firearms attack with a +20 bonus on the attack roll and deal +2d6 damage.
Black Tempest: Boost–Reload a firearm as a swift action for the duration of the encounter.
Sublime Marksmanship: Boost–Disarm or sunder with a ranged attack.

4th level
Inglorious Maiming Shot: Strike–Firearms attack deals 2 Constitution damage, leaves bleeding wound.
Trance of Unhesitating Speed: Boost–Draw an attack with a firearm at the beginning of combat.

5th level
Blossom of Righteous Fire: Strike–Make firearms attack in a line, deals +6d6 damage
Righteous Devil Gunslinger: Stance–Fire bullets of ki that can be mentally guided

6th level
Cruel Shrapnel Cascade: Strike–Attack maims foe, deals ability damage.
Deadeye Sniper Gaze: Stance–Ignore range and concealment penalties, deal extra damage on critical hits with firearms.

7th level
Blossom of Inevitable Demise: Strike–Make firearms attack in a line, deals +10d6 damage.
Scarlet Battle Mandala: Strike–Attack automatically threatens a critical hit, deals +10d6 damage.

8th level
Heaven-Shattering Volley: Boost–Attacks ignore damage reduction, leave bleeding wounds.
Lord of Arms: Stance–Gain special bonuses while wielding firearms.

9th level
Ebon Lotus Blossom Mandala: Strike–Make firearms attack in a line, automatically threatens a critical hit, deals 15d6 damage.

[The Demented One]

1st level

Iron Caress
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 1, Swordsage 1, Warblade 1
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: Firearms attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 5 rounds
Save: Fortitude partial

Anyone can fire blindly into a mass of soldiers, knowing that their ball of lead will most likely hit a foe. But only a true artist of the gun can aim with superhuman precision, picking out the precise point on their target they wish to hit and then firing flawlessly. As part of this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon against an opponent. If the attack hits, the foe hit must make a Fortitude save, DC 11 + your highest mental ability score, or suffer one of the following effects, based on which body part you targets:

Arms: Your bullet lodges itself in your victim’s hand, hindering their use of it. They take a -1 penalty on all attack and damage rolls.

Legs: Your bullet pierces the muscles of your foe’s legs, slowing their every movement. They take a -5 penalty on all Balance, Climb, Jump, Swim, and Tumble checks.

Vitals: Your bullet leaves a messy, bleeding wound. Each subsequent round, the foe takes an additional point of damage.

The additional effects last for 5 rounds. Magical healing equal to the amount of damage dealt by this strike or a Heal check, DC 11 + your highest mental ability score, also ends the effects. Some foes may not be affected by certain called shots. A creature lacking arms, tentacles, claws, or similar appendages cannot be affected by an arms shot; a creature lacking any legs, wings, fins, or similar propulsory appendages cannot be affected by a legs shot, and creature lacking a discernible anatomy (any creature immune to sneak attack damage) is immune to a vitals shot.

Gather the Storm
Black Rain (Boost)
Level: Crusader 1, Swordsage 1, Warblade 1
Initiation Action: Swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

Reloading a fired gun is an awkward and ponderous task–ejecting the used cartridge, pouring in black powder, loading a ball, ramming it down. But with a quick hand, a masterful finesse, and a through knowledge of the mechanisms of a firearm, such a task can be done in seconds. When you initiate this maneuver, you may load any firearm you are holding. In addition, this maneuver allows you to load a gun even if you cannot use your hands–if, for example, you are holding a pistol in each hand, or have your hands tied behind your back. Through superhuman feats of coordination you can use your mouth, feet, and all your body to help load a gun, as long as you are not fully incapable of movement.

Dust Devil Shot
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 1, Swordsage 1, Warblade 1
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: Firearms attack
Target: Two creatures within ten feet of each other.
Duration: Instantaneous

Deserts are haunted by dust devils, mysterious twisters of sand that few understand. Fewer still understand the maneuver named for them, the elaborate dust devil shot. With a steady hand and a quick mind for geometry, a gunslinger can ricochet his shot off one foe into a second, allowing him to quickly even the odds. As part of this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon against an opponent. If the attack hits, you may have the shot ricochet to strike an additional foe within 10 ft. of the first one. You make new attack and damage roll for the ricocheted shot.

Hot-Blooded Gunman Bravado
Black Rain (Stance)
Level: Crusader 1, Swordsage 1, Warblade 1
Initiation Action: Swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

A true gunslinger must have a deft hand, a calm mind, an unshakable will–but above all, he must have hot blood flowing through his veins, an unconquerable assurance in himself. Gunman who thrive on such bravado can take risky shots with potentially devastating consequences. While in this stance, before you make an attack roll with a ranged weapon (even one that is not a firearm), you may take a penalty on all ranged attack rolls for that round of up to your base attack bonus. If you do, then you gain a bonus equal to the penalty you took on all ranged damage rolls you make in that round.


2nd level

Blossom of Iron Petals
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 2, Swordsage 2, Warblade 2
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: Line
Duration: Instantaneous

With the patience of a monk watching a lotus flower bloom, a gunslinger can watch the bullet blossom forth from the barrel of his gun, its path guided by calm mind, steady eye, and a quick finger on the trigger. The blossom of iron petals has let a lone gunman slay mobs of foes with a single shot. When you initiate this maneuver, you make a single attack with a firearm or ray weapon as a line attack. You make a single attack roll, and use that for each foe in the area of this maneuver to determine if the attack hits them. However, starting with the third foe, you take a -5 penalty on the attack roll for every target past the first two: -5 for the roll against the third, -10 against the fourth, and so on, to a maximum of -20 against the sixth. If the attack misses a single foe, then it stops, and does not apply to any further foes behind them. You make a separate damage roll for each opponent hit by the attack.

Elegant Execution
Black Rain (Boost)
Level: Crusader 2, Swordsage 2, Warblade 2
Initiation Action: Swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round or Instantaneous (see text)

Mercy comes from the barrel of a gun, the warm kiss of iron that ends the misery of the wounded. This maneuver has two uses: first, it can be used to enhance attacks made executioner-style, at close range. For one round, any firearm or ray weapon attack you make against an opponent within 30 ft. of you deals an additional 1d6 damage, +1/initiator level. If they are within 10 ft., the attack instead deals an additional 2d6 damage, +1/initiator level.

Alternatively, this maneuver can be used to rapidly dispatch a fallen foe. As part of this maneuver, you may make a coup de grace attack with a firearm or ray weapon against any opponent who is helpless and within the first range increment of the gun you are attacking with. Delivering a coup de grace with this maneuver does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Smoking Steel Parry
Black Rain (Counter)
Level: Crusader 2, Swordsage 2, Warblade 2
Initiation Action: Immediate action
Range: 30 ft.
Target: You or one ally
Duration: Instantaneous

In times of desperation and immediate danger, an experienced gunslinger finds that their perception seems to slow down, that everything seems to move much slower. As adrenaline surges through their body, a single moment of perfect action is possible...and if they take it, they can achieve the superhuman. Smoking steel parry allows a gunslinger to accomplish a task most think impossible, deflecting a bullet with a shot of their own. Whenever an opponent makes an attack with a ranged or thrown weapon against you or an ally within 30 ft. of you, after they make their attack roll, you may initiate this maneuver to make a single attack roll with any firearm or ray weapon you are holding. The target of the attack uses the higher of his AC or your attack roll as his effective AC against his attack. Smoking steel parry cannot be used attacks made with weapons more than one size category larger than the weapon you are holding, and you cannot use it if you are flatfooted or otherwise denied your Dexterity bonus to AC.

Stare Down Death
Black Rain (Boost)
Level: Crusader 2, Swordsage 2, Warblade 2
Initiation Action: Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

Some men burn with a fire that will not let them succumb to death, an unconquerable spirit that refuses to go gentle into that good night. Unlike most maneuvers, you cannot actively initiate stare down death. Instead, if you have it readied (but not necessarily granted, if you are a Crusader) and are reduced to -1 hp or less (but not if you are reduced to -10 hp and die), it is automatically initiated, even if you are not conscious. You immediately make a stabilization check, adding your initiator level to the base 10% chance you have of stabilizing. In addition, if you successfully stabilize, then you regain a number of hit points equal to your Charisma score (not modifier). This maneuver can only be initiated once per encounter, unlike most.


3rd level

Azure Battle Mandala
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 3, Swordsage 3, Warblade 3
Prerequisites: One Black Rain maneuver
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: Firearms attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous

A trained gunslinger does not aim with his eyes alone, nor with the sights of his gun–both are unreliable, and can lead him astray. After years of honing their skills, an adept can master the azure battle mandala, a meditation that allows them to envision an intricate ring of blue circles that center around their foe, allowing them to aim and fire with inhuman precision, the only hint of their prowess a light glinting in their eyes. As part of this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon against an opponent with a +20 insight bonus on the attack roll. If the attack hits, it deals an additional 2d6 damage.

Black Tempest
Black Rain (Boost)
Level: Crusader 3, Swordsage 3, Warblade 3
Prerequisites: One Black Rain maneuver
Initiation Action: Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Encounter

In the heat of battle, no man has time to be caught reloading his gun. Trained gunslingers can re-arm themselves in seconds, never letting down their onslaught of steel against a foe. For the duration of the encounter, you may reload any firearm you are holding as a swift action.

Sublime Marksmanship
Black Rain (Boost)
Level: Crusader 3, Swordsage 3, Warblade 3
Initiation Action: Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round

Not all gunslingers are bloodthirsty murderers or ruthless vigilantes. Most see the value of ending a fight without fatally wounding a foe, and have thus honed their skills to shoot an enemy’s weapons out of his hands. For one round, you may disarm foes or sunder weapons with ranged attacks (even if they are not made with firearms) without the usual penalty for doing so.


4th level

Inglorious Maiming Shot
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 4, Swordsage 4, Warblade 4
Prerequisites: One Black Rain maneuver
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: Firearms attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 5 rounds
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates

Nothing is more cruel than a bullet in the guts, the cruel, bleeding wound it leaves. Such a shot all but guarantees a slow and miserable death that is worlds apart from the clean kill of a shot to the head. As part of this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon against an opponent. If the attack hit, the opponent must make a Fortitude save, DC 14 + your highest mental ability score, or take 2 points of Constitution damage. In addition, they suffer a grievous bleeding wound, causing them to take 1d6 damage each subsequent round for 5 rounds. Magical healing equal to the amount of damage dealt by this strike or a Heal check with DC equal to 14 + your highest mental ability score ends the bleeding. If the bleeding is not healed before the end of the 5 rounds, then the foe takes an additional 2 Constitution damage. Foes that are immune to precision damage are immune to the Constitution damage and bleeding from inglorious maiming shot.

Trance of Unhesitating Speed
Black Rain (Boost)
Level: Crusader 4, Swordsage 4, Warblade 4
Prerequisites: Two Black Rain maneuvers
Initiation Action: Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

Without even thinking, a gunslinger might find that he has already drawn his gun and shot his foe down before he has even consciously realized the threat to him. Unlike most maneuvers, you cannot actively initiate trance of unhesitating speed. Instead, if you have it readied at the beginning of an encounter (but not necessarily granted, if you are a Crusader), it is automatically initiated immediately before the first round of combat, even if you are flatfooted. As part of this maneuver, you may draw a single firearm or ray weapon and either load it or make a single ranged attack with it. You are still flatfooted after using this maneuver; your actions are unconscious and you are still not fully aware of the danger to you.


5th level

Blossom of Righteous Fire
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 5, Swordsage 5, Warblade 5
Prerequisites: Two Black Rain maneuvers
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: Line
Duration: Instantaneous

A master gunslinger can perceive in the most fleeting seconds the countless geometries of the battlefield, immediately knowing the path his bullet must take to down his foes. When you initiate this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon as a line attack. You make a single attack roll, and use that for each foe in the area of this maneuver to determine if the attack hits them. If the attack misses a single foe, then it stops, and does not apply to any further foes behind them. You make a separate damage roll for each opponent hit by the attack, and the attack deals an additional +6d6 damage.

Righteous Devil Gunslinger
Black Rain (Stance)
Level: Crusader 5, Swordsage 5, Warblade 5
Prerequisites: Two Black Rain maneuvers
Initiation Action: Swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

A master gunslinger can be a righteous man, a defender of the innocent; or he can be a cruel and ruthless devil. But whatever he is in his heart of hearts, his soul is a thing of refined glory, a shining exemplar of good or evil. Legendary gunslingers wield their guns not with their hands, but with their very souls, their bullets forged from their own spirit. While in this stance, your ki infuses your guns. Whenever you fire your gun, if it is unloaded, the ki coalesces into a bullet and powder, allowing you to fire your gun without having to ever reload. In addition, the bullets of ki retain a link to you, allowing you to control their motion. You do not have to shoot in a straight line with firearms or ray weapons–instead, you may include a single 90 degree turn in the path of a shot.


6th level

Cruel Shrapnel Cascade
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 6, Swordsage 6, Warblade 6
Prerequisites: Two Black Rain maneuver
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: Firearms attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 5 rounds
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates

With a flick of his wrist and a cruel gaze, a gunslinger can casually dispense mutilation, razing his foe’s flesh with bullets that splinter into shards of lead. As part of this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon against an opponent. If the attack hits, the foe hit must make a Fortitude save, DC 16 + your highest mental ability score, or suffer one of the following effects, based on which body part you targets:

Arms: Your bullet shreds the foe’s arm muscles, rendering it almost useless. They take 4 Strength damage, and temporarily lose the use of one of their arms, dropping whatever they are holding in it at the time.

Legs: Your bullet scatters shrapnel throughout your foe’s legs, leaving them all but unable to stand. They take 4 Dexterity damage and suffer a -10 ft. penalty to all movement forms and a -10 penalty on all Balance, Climb, Jump, Swim, and Tumble checks.

Vitals: Your bullet pulps your foe’s innards, leaving them a bleeding, haggard wreck. They take 2 Constitution damage and take 1d12 damage each subsequent round.

The additional effects last for 5 rounds. Healing the ability damage also ends the effects, but a Heal check or normal magical healing cannot end them. Some foes may not be affected by certain called shots. A creature lacking arms, tentacles, claws, or similar appendages cannot be affected by an arms shot; a creature lacking any legs, wings, fins, or similar propulsory appendages cannot be affected by a legs shot, and creature lacking a discernible anatomy (any creature immune to sneak attack damage) is immune to a vitals shot.

Deadeye Sniper Gaze
Black Rain (Stance)
Level: Crusader 6, Swordsage 6, Warblade 6
Initiation Action: Swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

With a good rifle, a trusty scope, and a bit of luck, any soldier can manage to snipe down an enemy from a few hundred yards. A master gunslinger needs neither rifle, nor scope, nor luck–with but a pistol, he could down a foe before his enemy could even see him. While in this stance, you ignore all range penalties on attack rolls, as well as all miss chances from concealment, except for that from total concealment.


7th level

Blossom of Inevitable Demise
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 7, Swordsage 7, Warblade 7
Prerequisites: Three Black Rain maneuvers
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: Line
Duration: Instantaneous

With purposeful prowess and the graceful finesse that would make angels weep to witness it, you unleash a single bullet upon the battlefield, a bullet that can kill armies. When you initiate this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon as a line attack. You make a single attack roll, and use that for each foe in the area of this maneuver to determine if the attack hits them. However, the attack does not stop if it misses a single foe–it continues on, its course altering to accommodate the miss. You make a separate damage roll for each opponent hit by the attack, and the attack deals an additional +10d6 damage.

Scarlet Battle Mandala
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 7, Swordsage 7, Warblade 7
Prerequisites: Three Black Rain maneuvers
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: Firearms attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous

Every gunslinger eventually learns the anatomy of violence, the countless points on the mortal body that produce spectacular wounds when struck with a flying piece of lead, whether by studying medical texts or simply observing the results of their victories. But only once they can call up this knowledge as reflexively as they would draw their gun, aiming for vital weaknesses without thinking, can they master the scarlet battle mandala. As they enter the meditation to call it up, countless elegant red rings manifest in their vision, circling in on their foes’ weak points. Blood surges into the vessels of the gunslinger’s eyes for a split-second, causing his eyes to flash a deep crimson. As part of this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon against an opponent. The attack automatically hits regardless of your foe’s AC, and ignores any miss chance due to concealment less than total concealment. The attack automatically threatens a critical hit. If you successfully confirm the critical hit, it deals +10d6 damage. In addition, because the scarlet battle mandala reveals any weaknesses a foe has, not just those of living foes, the critical hit damage and bonus damage from the maneuver still applies against foes normally immune to critical hits, like the undead.


8th level

Heaven-Shattering Volley
Black Rain (Boost)
Level: Crusader 8, Swordsage 8, Warblade 8
Prerequisites: Three Black Rain maneuvers
Initiation Action: Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: One round

Nothing survives the onslaught of a master gunslinger–even the gates of heaven would fall before his righteous steel. His bullets pierce even the most powerful bulwarks, leaving nothing but the flow of blood behind. For the duration of this ability, any ranged attack you make with a firearm or ray weapon ignores all damage reduction except for epic damage reduction. In addition, every firearm attack you make leaves a bleeding wound, causing the foe hit by it to take 2d6 damage each subsequent round. The wounds are so grievous that neither magical healing nor normal Heal checks can stop their flow, though they can heal the damage after it has happened. Regardless of how many attacks you hit a creature with, the damage from bleeding is only 2d6 per round.

Lord of Arms
Black Rain (Stance)
Level: Crusader 8, Swordsage 8, Warblade 8
Prerequisites: Four Black Rain maneuvers
Initiation Action: Swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance

No man dares cross the true masters of the Black Rain, those gunslingers who claim the title Lord of Arms. They have drawn their weapons into their souls, becoming one with their arsenal. While in this stance, any firearm or ray weapon you wield is treated as being aligned with both aspects of your alignment for overcoming damage reduction, and cannot be sundered or disarmed. In addition, whenever a martial maneuver allows you to make a melee attack, you may instead make a ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon. In addition, while in this stance, you gain the full benefits of both the Hot-Blooded Gunman Bravado and Righteous Devil Gunslinger stances. Finally, as an immediate action, you may make a firearm or ray weapon attack to parry a ranged attack, as the smoking steel parry maneuver.


9th level

Ebon Lotus Blossom Mandala
Black Rain (Strike)
Level: Crusader 9, Swordsage 9, Warblade 9
Prerequisites: Four Black Rain maneuvers
Initiation Action: Standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: Line
Duration: Instantaneous

At the peak of the gunslinger’s art, there lies the ebon battle mandala, the swirling ring of black lotus petals that is uncompromising death for the gunslinger’s foes. To draw up this mandala, the gunslinger closes his eyes, seeing the battlefield with his very soul. When you initiate this maneuver, you make a single ranged attack with a firearm or ray weapon as a line attack. The attack ignores all miss chances from concealment, even total concealment, and for impaired vision or invisible foes–even with your eyes closed, you take no penalty. The attack automatically hits every foe in the maneuver’s area, and automatically threatens a critical hit. You make a separate confirmation roll for each opponent, and a separate damage roll for each opponent hit by the attack. The attack deals an additional +15d6 damage, which increases to +25d6 if you confirm the critical hit. In addition, because the ebon lotus petal mandala reveals any weaknesses a foe has, not just those of living foes, the critical hit damage and bonus damage from the maneuver still applies against foes normally immune to critical hits, like the undead.

[Ziegander]

Black Tempest
Black Rain (Boost)
Level: Crusader 3, Swordsage 3, Warblade 3
Prerequisites: One Black Rain maneuver
Initiation Action: Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Encounter

In the heat of battle, no man has time to be caught reloading his gun. Trained gunslingers can re-arm themselves in seconds, never letting down their onslaught of steel against a foe. For the duration of the encounter, you may reload any firearm you are holding as a swift action.

This seems to work better as a Stance, but otherwise, this discipline seems to be way cool, dude!

[The Demented One]

This seems to work better as a Stance, but otherwise, this discipline seems to be way cool, dude!
That's what Righteous Devil Gunslinger is; I just wanted to give them an easier way to reload between it and Gathering the Storm.

[Ziegander]

You're right, I wasn't thinking. A swift action each round also prohibits them from using other boosts, so all is well.

[SilentNight]

Heaven-shattering volley is listed as a level 4 manuever. I'm also a little concerned about the power level of Ebon Lotus Blossom Mandala. Appart from that though, great flavor and generally awesome.

[The Demented One]

Heaven-shattering volley is listed as a level 4 manuever. I'm also a little concerned about the power level of Ebon Lotus Blossom Mandala. Appart from that though, great flavor and generally awesome.
Compare it to Inferno Blast. The concealment-ignoring and auto-hit are basically already part of the whole AoE package it as. And while ELBM as a slightly higher maximum damage (although on average, it's damage with a crit will be about equal to that of Inferno Blast on a failed save), Inferno Blast has a much wider area–unless you're fighting in corridors, you're probably only gonna get one or two creatures when you use the Mandala.

[KKL]

Time to roll up a Gunslinger character. I think I'll name him Justice.

Great stuff, by the way.

[SilentNight]

Compare it to Inferno Blast. The concealment-ignoring and auto-hit are basically already part of the whole AoE package it as. And while ELBM as a slightly higher maximum damage (although on average, it's damage with a crit will be about equal to that of Inferno Blast on a failed save), Inferno Blast has a much wider area–unless you're fighting in corridors, you're probably only gonna get one or two creatures when you use the Mandala.

Good point, I guess I'm just used to the single-target ones. Nice job again.

[dyslexicfaser]

Unusual idea. I like it, though.

I particularly like the called shot-style maneuver Iron Caress. In my mind as I was reading, I was hearing the sound of Mustadio of FFT's [Arm Aim] or [Leg Aim]. Just a shame there's no high-level equivalent that works as a ranged disarm or hamstring.

Maybe you could add an example gun or two that could be added easily into a standard dnd game without overbalancing anything? I seem to remember seeing one before somewhere, 3d6 exotic weapon with a high crit multiplier...

[ErrantX]

So do you have a Gunslinger class lurking somewhere, Demented One, because after reading this over I'm dying to see it.

More great work, keep it up. I'm digging your new 3.5 upgrade as well.

-X

[The Demented One]

Unusual idea. I like it, though.

I particularly like the called shot-style maneuver Iron Caress. In my mind as I was reading, I was hearing the sound of Mustadio of FFT's [Arm Aim] or [Leg Aim]. Just a shame there's no high-level equivalent that works as a ranged disarm or hamstring.
Cruel Shrapnel Cascade actually does that–ability score damage plus either disabling an arm, dropping their movement speed, or badly bleeding wounds. Sublime Markmanship also allows for ranged disarms.


Maybe you could add an example gun or two that could be added easily into a standard dnd game without overbalancing anything? I seem to remember seeing one before somewhere, 3d6 exotic weapon with a high crit multiplier...
Guns are in the DMG. Their power depends on their tech level, most campaigns probably using renaissance level firearms. Couple examples:

Pistol: 1d10, 20/x3, one bullet capacity, standard action reload.
Musket: 1d12, 20/x3, one bullet capacity, standard action reload.

Then there are more powerful modern firearms:

Revolver: 2d8, 20/x2, six bullet capacity, full-round action reload
Automatic Rifle: 2d8, 20/x2, thirty bullet capacity, move action reload


So do you have a Gunslinger class lurking somewhere, Demented One, because after reading this over I'm dying to see it.
Honestly, I hadn't really planned on making a Gunslinger class–I figured a martial adept focusing in Black Rain, or maybe a Fighter/Ranger who took a couple martial study feats is all you need to do that.


More great work, keep it up. I'm digging your new 3.5 upgrade as well.
Thank you, but I can't take credit for d20 Reborn–that's Fax's baby.

[SurlySeraph]

One question. With Blossom of Righteous Fire and Blossom of Inevitable Death, does the bonus damage apply just to the first target or to all of the targets?

[The Demented One]

One question. With Blossom of Righteous Fire and Blossom of Inevitable Death, does the bonus damage apply just to the first target or to all of the targets?
All of them. It's basically just an area of effect maneuver, but with an attack roll.

[wadledo]

ScS (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3203504&postcount=97) has a Spellshot Pistol that I believe would work with this.
Awesome though.

*pew pew pew*

[ErrantX]

Bah, my bad. Sorry to you and especially to Fax. I tend to track both yourself and Fax's homebrewing and I guess I crossed wires. The both of you have some truly ingenious works.

Well, while I am sad to not see a gunslinger class put together by yourself, perhaps I may challenge myself to make one and extend the challenge to you as well.

-X

[Callos_DeTerran]

Cruel Shrapnel Cascade actually does that–ability score damage plus either disabling an arm, dropping their movement speed, or badly bleeding wounds. Sublime Markmanship also allows for ranged disarms.


Guns are in the DMG. Their power depends on their tech level, most campaigns probably using renaissance level firearms. Couple examples:

Pistol: 1d10, 20/x3, one bullet capacity, standard action reload.
Musket: 1d12, 20/x3, one bullet capacity, standard action reload.

Then there are more powerful modern firearms:

Revolver: 2d8, 20/x2, six bullet capacity, full-round action reload
Automatic Rifle: 2d8, 20/x2, thirty bullet capacity, move action reload


Honestly, I hadn't really planned on making a Gunslinger class–I figured a martial adept focusing in Black Rain, or maybe a Fighter/Ranger who took a couple martial study feats is all you need to do that.


Thank you, but I can't take credit for d20 Reborn–that's Fax's baby.

There is a...wide assortment of D&D suitable guns in one of the Dragon magazines. Most are single shot thought except for revolvers which cost more and can shoot six times before requiring a full round loading action I believe.

[Stycotl]

Bah, my bad. Sorry to you and especially to Fax. I tend to track both yourself and Fax's homebrewing and I guess I crossed wires. The both of you have some truly ingenious works.

Well, while I am sad to not see a gunslinger class put together by yourself, perhaps I may challenge myself to make one and extend the challenge to you as well.

-X

there are a couple of good ones floating around. i haven't seen any sublime classes yet, but i am sure there are a few. even the nonsublime gun-slingers could get some love out of this discipline with the right feat expenditure.

here are a few of my favorites:

the black powder mage, by necromimesis
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3742075#post3742075

and the axiomarch, by hazkali
http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57103

[Kommisar Engel]

I was planning to use this for my Fighter/Warblade Rifleman but then two questions came to me

1)Can Black Rain be used with a Rifle?
2)What is the effective range of maneuvers? E.g. You can only use martial maneuvers up to targets within 30ft of you unless noted

[Risek]

Very nice.
I was wondering, do you have any feats or PrCs to go with this?

[Stycotl]

Bah, my bad. Sorry to you and especially to Fax. I tend to track both yourself and Fax's homebrewing and I guess I crossed wires. The both of you have some truly ingenious works.

Well, while I am sad to not see a gunslinger class put together by yourself, perhaps I may challenge myself to make one and extend the challenge to you as well.

-X

just thought of something else now that you are running the prc competition. make one of the next competitions about martial maneuver-wielding gunslingers and see what the playground comes up with.

[ErrantX]

just thought of something else now that you are running the prc competition. make one of the next competitions about martial maneuver-wielding gunslingers and see what the playground comes up with.

Good idea. I may just do that. :smallbiggrin:

-X

[Tatsel_Ganav]

How is Lord of Arms not overpowered? It lets you do... a lot.

counts as your alignment against DR
cannot be sundered or disarmed
you can make melee strikes as ranged attacks
Count as in two other stances
immediate action parry

[Golden-Esque]

Hm. I wonder if this Discipline can be adapted to work with any ranged weapon (bows and crossbows). Other than the Falling Star Disciplines (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10707) by Fax, ranged weapons don't get a lot of love.

[averagejoe]

This is cool. Really cool. I wanna play a gunslinger now.

No need for a specialized class, really. Unarmed swordsage does just fine. Even warblade and crusader fit, depending on your concept.

[LunarWolfPrime]

This with lvl's in Grammaton Cleric (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7957596&posted=1#post7957596) would rule in d20 modern.

[Wahrheit]

Heaven-Shattering Volley doesn't say how long they keep bleeding. As-written, anyone hit by it needs constant magical healing or they'll bleed to death, no way around it.

[Surgo]

This is pretty neat -- would you mind if I uploaded it to my wiki (see signature)? It would certainly bring it to a wider audience!

[Jallorn]

Smoking Steel Parry is not clear and is in desperate need of rewording.

[Hazzardevil]

Jallorn, your necrombumping.

[Matar]

Smoking Steel Parry -really- does need a rewrite though. I think I know what it's supposed to do, just not how it's supposed to do it. A rewrite would be wonder.

I mean, this is basically the best ranged Discipline on Gitp right now. We needs everything perfect D:

-Edit: Holy cow, this topic was made back in 2008? I remember when it was first posted! Where did time even go!?

[Gorgondantess]

...Speaking of which, I've had no less than 2 DMs (perhaps 3, even, don't remember) not let me use this discipline because of Azure Battle Mandala. I mean, I know +20 to hit on a non-power-attackable attack isn't that great, but it'll get a lot of people to drop the ban hammer on it right then and there. Perhaps something else, like a bonus to hit equal to initiator level?

[Bad Situation]

But you only get a single hit with it. Why would that be an outright ban?

[Mayhem]

Actually the first level stance hot-blooded gunman bravado allows you to trade attack for damage; ranged power attack. That could be why Azure Battle Mandala is over powered.

But apart from that combo, I love this discipline. Since it works on rays too warlocks can benefit from a swordsage dip or the martial study feat tree.

[Gorgondantess]

But you only get a single hit with it. Why would that be an outright ban?

Sadly, there's a big difference between practical balance and perceived balance, and while it would be great if we could all just go straight to practical balance, in homebrew projects it's often necessary to pander to the perceived balance.

[Mr.Bookworm]

I'm not sure if TDO would even be allowed to revise this, since he works as a freelancer for White Wolf now. The non-compete clause can be a bitch. No idea, though.

Also, what's unclear about smoking steel parry? It seems pretty clear to me. You make an attack roll in response to a ranged attack, and the target of the original attack can substitute your attack result for his AC.

[RobotArtificer]

Isn't smoking steel parry better in every way than the same level maneuver wall of blades?

[Lord_Gareth]

No, as Smoking Steel Parry doesn't permit you to parry melee or melee touch attacks - only ranged and thrown attacks (and ranged spells that require attack rolls).