Shrouded Ambusher [PrC]

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

Shrouded Ambusher

Once a shrouded ambusher is seen, it is too late...

HD: d6

Requirements
BAB: +3
Skills: Hide 8 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks, Martial Lore 2 ranks, Spellcraft 2 ranks
Feats: Shadow Blade, Shadow Trickster
Maneuvers: Must be able to use 2nd level shadow hand maneuvers, including at least one strike and one stance.
Arcane spellcasting: Ability to case 2nd level spells of the school of illusion, including invisibility.
Special: Must either have the Weapon Focus feat for one Shadow Hand school associated weapon, or the discipline focus class feature for Shadow Hand. Must have the cloaked casting class feature.

Class Skills: Appraise, Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Forgery, Gather Information, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (local), Listen, Martial Lore, Move Silently, Open Lock, Profession, Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spellcraft, Swim, Tumble and Use Magic Device
Skill-points per level: 6+Int modifier

{table="head"]Level|BAB|Fort|Ref|Will|Special|Spellcasting
1st|+0|+0|+2|+2|Cloak of darkness|--
2nd|+1|+0|+3|+3|Embrace the hidden|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd|+2|+1|+3|+3|Hide in plain sight|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th|+3|+1|+4|+4|Evasion|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th|+3|+1|+4|+4|Living shadow stance|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th|+4|+2|+5|+5|Gloom razor|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th|+5|+2|+5|+5|Shadow walk|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th|+6|+2|+6|+6|Improved evasion|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th|+6|+3|+6|+6|Shadow doubles|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th|+7|+3|+7|+7|Wraith walker stance|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
[/table]

{table="head"]Level|Man. Known|Man. Readied|Stances Known
1st|0|1|1
2nd|1|0|0
3rd|1|0|0
4th|0|1|0
5th|1|0|0
6th|1|0|1
7th|0|1|0
8th|1|0|0
9th|1|0|0
10th|0|1|0
[/table]

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Shrouded ambushers receive no additional weapon or armor proficiencies.

Maneuvers: At each level except 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th, a shrouded ambusher gains new maneuvers known from the Oncoming Storm, or Shadow Hand disciplines. You must meet a maneuver's prerequisite to learn it. You add your full shrouded ambusher levels to your initiator level to determine your total initiator level and your highest-level maneuvers known.
At levels 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th, you gain additional maneuvers readied per day.

Stances: At 1st, and 6th level, you learn a new martial stance from the Oncoming Storm, or Shadow Hand Disciplines. You must meet the stances prerequisites to learn it.

Spellcasting: At each level except first, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level(and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in an arcane spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one arcane spellcasting class before becoming a shrouded ambusher, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.

Cloak of Darkness (Su): As a warrior of the shadows, you are capable of attacking from the darkness and remaining unseen even after your victims blood has been spilt. Whenever you attack a foe using a Shadow Hand maneuver while invisible, you can instantly make a Hide check(not including the bonus granted by the invisibility spell) against their Spot check. If your check succeeds, your attack does not render you visible again, as would be normal for the invisibility spell.

Embrace the Hidden (Ex): At 2nd level, you know the techniques of hiding behind even your own magic. Whenever you cast a spell of the illusion school, you gain a circumstance bonus to Hide and Move Silently checks equal to your shrouded ambusher level, a bonus which lasts a number of rounds equal to the spell's level.

Hide in Plain Sight (Su): At 3rd level, a shrouded ambusher can use the Hide skill even while being observed. As long as he is within 10 feet of some sort of shadow, a shrouded ambusher can hide himself from view in the open without having anything to actually hide behind. He cannot, however, hide in his own shadow.

Evasion (Ex): At 4th level and higher, a shrouded ambusher can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the shadow ambusher is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless shrouded ambusher does not gain the benefit of evasion.

Living Shadow Stance (Su): At 5th level, you get in touch the the very darkness you harness as a weapon and a tool. You may drop the benefits of any Shadow Hand stance you know to gain the benefits of this one as a swift action. When in this stance, you are capable of swifter attacks when lunging from the darkness. When attacking from a hidden position, you gain the ability to make a full attack after a move action. Additionally, if you make an attack during a round, you are capable of making a Hide check as a swift action.

Gloom Razor: At 6th level, you gain Gloom Razor as a bonus feat.

Shadow Walk (Sp): At 7th level, and once per day as a swift action, you can use the shadow walk spell on yourself.

Improved Evasion (Ex): At 8th level, a shrouded ambusher learns how to avoid harmful magic with even greater effect. This ability works like evasion, except that while the shrouded ambusher still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks henceforth she takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless shrouded ambusher does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.

Shadow Doubles (Sp): At 9th level, as a standard action you are capable of creating a small number of illusory doubles of yourself, which are capable of attacking enemies and moving, but little else. The illusions are perfect doubles of yourself, and otherwise act as the greater shadow conjuration spell. Duplicates have one-fifth your hit points, are wielding illusory versions of any weapons you were wielding at the time they were created, and are carrying illusory versions of your gear. They have your attack and damage bonuses, but they cannot cast spells or use maneuvers.
You cannot leave line of sight of your doubles; if you do, they cease to exist until you have line of sight again. Treat this effect as a 7th-level spell in regards to saving throws. You can create a number of duplicates per day equal to your Intelligence bonus. Duplicates last until they are killed or until 24 hours have passed. Attacks against creatures who know the duplicates are fakes are only 50% effective and abilities used by them (if any) are only 50% likely to work. Against such creatures, their AC is only one-half of your total.

Wraith Walker Stance (Su): At 10th level, you gain the ultimate stance of the shrouded ambusher warrior style. You may drop the benefits of any Shadow Hand stance you know to gain the benefits of this one as a swift action. While in this stance, whenever you use a Shadow Hand strike or boost against an opponent, you can use any illusion spell you know as a swift action. Additionally, if attacking an enemy with a Shadow Hand strike or boost from a hidden position, you gain a bonus to the attack roll equal to your ranks in Hide divided by 4.

[Stycotl]

pretty spiffy. i have been looking for ways to make illusions a more viable part of the game. this would certainly give some life to the system. it seems pretty reasonable to me as far as power level goes.

[Mephisto]

So it's a Shadowdancer with less suck? Nice

[Krimm_Blackleaf]

So it's a Shadowdancer with less suck? Nice

That and it's for swordsage/beguilers instead of flat out rogues.