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Switch to Forum Live View Taking Advantage of Flanking
4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 3:54PM #1
dbay
Date Joined: Jan 16, 2009
Posts: 306
Hey all,
I'm playing a swordsage that recently got the Island of Blades stance, which makes it really, really easy to set up a flank, especially considering that our party is fairly melee-heavy (a druid (+ companion), a rogue, and some kinda psionic warrior-type build I frankly don't understand). We're all loving the +2 to hit, and the rogue is positively beside himself with joy over the sneak attacks, but I was wondering if there's any way for us non-SA-ers to push our flanking bonus higher?

I flipped through my books (Complete and Races of series, and a sprinkling of others) but couldn't find anything that helped.

Tl;DR: are there any feats (or whatever) out there that add to bonuses a character's attacks made while flanking? In particular, bonuses to attack bonus would be welcome. I'm really loving the swordsage class, and not willing to dump levels multiclassing or in prestige classes (so the obvious answer, multiclass into Rogue, doesn't help).

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: we're level 3, in case it helps.
Harry Potter and the Natural 20 Milo, a genre-savvy Level 3 D&D Wizard and Adventurer Extraordinaire is forced to attend Hogwarts, and soon finds himself plunged into a new adventure of magic, mad old Wizards, metagaming, misunderstandings, and munchkinry. Updates Sundays.
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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 4:09PM #2
draco1119
  • California Dragon
Date Joined: Sep 25, 2005
Posts: 12,681
Races of the Wild has Wolfpack, a tactical feat with crappy prereqs that gives decent extras when flanking. I believe there's also an "Improved Flanking" feat somewhere.
"Today's headlines and history's judgment are rarely the same.  If you are too attentive to the former, you will most certainly not do the hard work of securing the latter."  -Condoleezza Rice

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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 4:42PM #3
frost.fire
Date Joined: Aug 24, 2012
Posts: 274
Well on the positive side I would get the other melee in the group to flank with you, also don't forget about rthe first level desert wind maneuver distracting ember. Its only one round but it will give bonuses for you
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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 4:47PM #4
Tempest_Stormwind
Date Joined: Jun 20, 2004
Posts: 4,770
See the Uberflank build in my sig. I'm also working on writing up a revised build from.Andarious called Truberflank, but that won't be ready for a bit.
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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 5:24PM #5
Maat_Mons
Date Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 1,522

The backstab feat (Dragon 340, p86) gives you an attack of opportunity once per round when an opponent you flank attacks someone other than you. It requires combat reflexes.


The vexing flanker feat (Player's Handbook II, p85) increases the bonus you get from flanking to +4. It requires combat reflexes.


The superior flanking feat (Dragon 343, p93) increases the bonus you get from flanking to +6 and the bonus your allies get from flanking with you to +3. It has improved flanking (the swashbuckler class feature) as a prerequisite, but since its benefits are identical to those of the vexing flanker feat, your DM might allow you to substitute that.


The dirty rat feat (Champions of Ruin, p20) gives you an extra +1 on attack rolls when flanking.


The assassination weapon special ability (Cityscape web enhancement) gives you an extra +1d6 damage while flanking.

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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 5:27PM #6
draco1119
  • California Dragon
Date Joined: Sep 25, 2005
Posts: 12,681
Thanks, Maat; Vexing Flanker was the one I was thinking of as "Improved Flanking". 
"Today's headlines and history's judgment are rarely the same.  If you are too attentive to the former, you will most certainly not do the hard work of securing the latter."  -Condoleezza Rice

"My fellow Americans... I've just signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever.  Bombing begins in five minutes." - Ronald Reagan

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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 6:55PM #7
dbay
Date Joined: Jan 16, 2009
Posts: 306
Vexing Flanker looks great! Thanks, guys! I'd get Assassination (when I get the cash, of course), except I think it'll make our rogue feel overshadowed. Also, I noticed the Helm of Tactics from MiC for +2 damage on flanking for the whole party. Epic! Keep it coming if there's anything else out there.
Harry Potter and the Natural 20 Milo, a genre-savvy Level 3 D&D Wizard and Adventurer Extraordinaire is forced to attend Hogwarts, and soon finds himself plunged into a new adventure of magic, mad old Wizards, metagaming, misunderstandings, and munchkinry. Updates Sundays.
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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 7:48PM #8
Maat_Mons
Date Joined: Oct 24, 2005
Posts: 1,522

I'd never noticed the helm of tactics before. I've added it to my list of “rogue items.”


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Assassination: This +1 weapon special ability is from Urban Tools – A Web Enhancement for Cityscape. The weapon deals an extra +1d6 when a foe is flat-footed, denied his dexterity bonus to AC, or flanked, removes the danger of poisoning yourself when applying poison to it, and increases the DC of poison applied to it by its enhancement bonus.


Bracers of the Hunter: These cost 8,500 gp and are from Secrets of Xen'drik, page 145. They improve your sneak attack damage by +1d6 and give you a +5 competence bonus on hide checks and a +2 competence bonus on initiative checks.


Bracers of Murder: These cost 8,000 gp and are from Drow of the Underdark, page 98. They grant a +2 profane bonus on attack and damage against flat-footed opponents, increase the DC of your death attack by +2, and allow you to reroll 1s on sneak attack damage dice.


Deadly Precision: This +1 weapon special ability is from Magic Item Compendium, page 32. Any sneak attack delivered with the weapon deals an extra +1d6 damage. (The Complete Adventurer version is +2 and deals an extra +2d6 damage.)


Deathstrike Bracers: These cost 5,000 gp and are from Magic Item Compendium, page 93. They allow you to deal sneak attacks and critical hits to creatures normally immune for 3 rounds per day.


Demolition Crystal, Greater: This costs 6,000 gp and is from Magic Item Compendium, page 65. A +3 or better weapon with this crystal attached can deal sneak attacks and critical hits to constructs, overcomes the DR of constructs as though made of adamantine, and deals an extra +1d6 damage to constructs.


Feycraft: This weapon template adds 1,500 gp to the cost of the weapon and is from Dungeon Master's Guide II, page 275. If applied to a light weapon, anyone who wields the weapon can use dexterity instead of strength on the attack roll, as if he had the weapon finesse feat.


Gloves of the Balanced Hand: These cost 8,000 gp and are from Magic Item Compendium, page 105. They give you the two-weapon fighting feat if you do not already have it. If you already have the two-weapon fighting feat, they instead give you the improved two-weapon fighting feat.


Helm of Tactics: This costs 2,000 gp and is from Magic Item Compendium, page 208. When activated as a swift action, it gives you and allies within 30 feet a +2 bonus to melee damage against flanked opponents. It can be used 3 times per day, and the effect lasts 10 rounds


Mantle of the Predator: This costs 8,000 gp and is from Magic Item Compendium, page 200. It causes you to deal an extra 1d6 damage when you attack a foe denied his dexterity bonus to AC and gives you a +5 competence bonus on hide and move silently.


Mutineer's Eye: This graft costs 4,000 gp and is from Dragon magazine 318, page 54. It improves your sneak attack damage by +1d6 but imposes a -2 penalty to spot checks.


Rogue's Vest: This costs 18,000 gp and is from Magic Item Compendium, page 130. It improves your sneak attack damage by +1d6.


Truedeath Crystal, Greater: This costs 10,000 gp and is from Magic Item Compendium, page 66. A +3 or better weapon with this crystal attached can deal sneak attacks and critical hits to undead, functions as a ghost touch weapon, and deals an extra +1d6 damage to undead.

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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 8:14PM #9
draco1119
  • California Dragon
Date Joined: Sep 25, 2005
Posts: 12,681
I'd also include the fact that your party's Druid can assist in making an item that allows your rogue to use Vinestrike (Personal range), which would let him deal SA damage to plants.
"Today's headlines and history's judgment are rarely the same.  If you are too attentive to the former, you will most certainly not do the hard work of securing the latter."  -Condoleezza Rice

"My fellow Americans... I've just signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever.  Bombing begins in five minutes." - Ronald Reagan

This user has been brought to you by the letters "O-R-C" and the numbers "2, 3, 4, and 6"

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4 months ago  ::  Feb 05, 2013 - 8:24PM #10
dbay
Date Joined: Jan 16, 2009
Posts: 306
I can't use it, because my character is good, but I'm going to add to the list (for anyone else perusing), this:

Hellforged Template (1500 gp, DMG II): +1 damage while flanking, but a -1 to attack when used by a Good character.
Harry Potter and the Natural 20 Milo, a genre-savvy Level 3 D&D Wizard and Adventurer Extraordinaire is forced to attend Hogwarts, and soon finds himself plunged into a new adventure of magic, mad old Wizards, metagaming, misunderstandings, and munchkinry. Updates Sundays.
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