{"id":52,"date":"2017-02-13T22:44:07","date_gmt":"2017-02-13T22:44:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/?p=52"},"modified":"2019-02-26T11:32:31","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T11:32:31","slug":"1-sap-master","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/13\/1-sap-master\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;#1 Sap Master&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This Pathfinder character is based on the <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/ultimateCombat\/ultimateCombatFeats.html#sap-master\">Sap Master<\/a> feat that doubles sneak attack damage when attacking a flat-footed opponent with non-lethal bludgeoning damage. That&#8217;s a lot of conditions<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>sneak attack<\/li>\n<li>flat footed<\/li>\n<li>non-lethal<\/li>\n<li>bludgeoning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I need sneak attack and a way to make opponents flat-footed.\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/classes\/rogue.html#rogue\">Rogues<\/a> have sneak attack, and there&#8217;s a <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/ultimateCombat\/classArchetypes\/monk.html#flowing-monk-(archetype)\">Flowing Monk<\/a> archetype whose AOOs make opponents flat-footed.\u00a0 I&#8217;ll multi-class.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>sneak attack \u2705<\/li>\n<li>flat footed \u2705<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/coreRulebook\/classes\/monk.html#unarmed-strike\">Unarmed strikes<\/a> (Monk&#8217;s specialty) are bludgeoning and can be non-lethal, so that&#8217;s a great fit.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>non-lethal \u2705<\/li>\n<li>bludgeoning \u2705<\/li>\n<li>AOO<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Rogues and Monks both have reason to maximize Dexterity, so I planned to get <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/coreRulebook\/feats.html#weapon-finesse\">Weapon Finesse<\/a> so my accuracy is based on Dex, not Str.\u00a0 But I need AOOs to make my combo work, and reach weapons threaten more areas, so enemies provoke more AOOs.\u00a0 No reach weapon is finessable (except whips, which require a huge investment to work).<\/p>\n<p>I decided to drop Weapon Finesse and maximize Str over Dex.\u00a0 I wanted the reach weapon to also deal non-lethal bludgeoning damage (like my close-range unarmed strikes). The <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/ultimateCombat\/ultimateCombatFeats.html#bludgeoner\">Bludgeoner<\/a> feat allows me to deal non-lethal damage with any bludgeoning weapon, but Monks and Rogues are not proficient with any bludgeoning reach weapons. <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/advancedPlayersGuide\/advancedRaces.html#half-elves\">Half-Elves<\/a> have an alternate racial trait called <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/advancedRaceGuide\/coreRaces\/halfElves.html#ancestral-arms\">Ancestral Arms<\/a> that awards proficiency with one martial or exotic weapon, so I picked the Lucerne Hammer and was ready to actually build the character!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>sneak attack \u2705<\/li>\n<li>flat footed \u2705<\/li>\n<li>non-lethal \u2705<\/li>\n<li>bludgeoning \u2705<\/li>\n<li>AOO \u2705<\/li>\n<li>Flowing Monk 2 \u2705<\/li>\n<li>Rogue 5 \u2705<\/li>\n<li>Half-Elf \u2705<\/li>\n<li>STR, not DEX \u2705<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As I started selecting ability scores and looking up class features, I remembered that Rogues are bad.\u00a0 3\/4 BAB, d8 HD, and light armor makes melee combat dangerous, but I planned to be in melee all the time.\u00a0 There&#8217;s an <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/advancedPlayersGuide\/baseClasses\/alchemist.html#alchemist\">Alchemist<\/a> archetype called <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/ultimateMagic\/spellcastingClassOptions\/alchemist.html#vivisectionist-(archetype)\">Vivisectionist<\/a> that gets Sneak Attack just like a Rogue.\u00a0 If I was going to have the weak BAB, HD, and armor, I might as well get spellcasting to go with it.\u00a0 So Rogue was out, and Vivisectionist was in.<\/p>\n<p>The Vestigial Arm discovery let me hold a shield and a two-handed weapon at once, boosting my low AC, but I didn&#8217;t have shield proficiency.\u00a0 Building the shield from <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/coreRulebook\/magicItems\/armor.html#darkwood-shield\">Darkwood<\/a> reduced the penalty for wielding the shield to zero, which is just as good as proficiency.\u00a0 Similarly, a <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/equipment.html#mithral\">mithral<\/a> breastplate that I was not proficient in inflicted a penalty of zero.\u00a0 So my alchemist\/monk used a weapon, shield, and armor that alchemists and monks are not proficient in.<\/p>\n<p>Alchemist <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/advancedPlayersGuide\/baseClasses\/alchemist.html#mutagen\">Mutagen<\/a> boosted my Str, and the <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/advancedPlayersGuide\/baseClasses\/alchemist.html#feral-mutagen\">Feral Mutagen<\/a> discovery gave me three natural attacks.\u00a0 Those three attacks with regular, lethal sneak attack dealt far more damage than the single non-lethal weapon attack with double sneak attack.\u00a0 Should I drop Sap Master, the whole reason for this build?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Non-lethal Vivisectionist<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Vivisectionist Alchemist<\/li>\n<li>Feral Mutagen<\/li>\n<li>3 natural attacks with sneak attack<\/li>\n<li>non-lethally maul people into submission<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But wait! Feral Mutagen does not specify the damage type of the bite and claw attacks, so I must fall back to the defaults.\u00a0 The bestiary has a <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/bestiary\/universalMonsterRules.html#natural-attacks-by-size\">table of natural attacks<\/a> and their damage types.\u00a0 Both Bite and Claw deal bludgeoning damage (as well as other damage types) which means the Bludgeoner feat affects them and I get double sneak attack damage on all three attacks! Now my character had two modes:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Normal form<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2 hands on Lucerne Hammer<\/li>\n<li>1 hand on shield<\/li>\n<li>1 free hand for potions, etc.<\/li>\n<li>Get AOOs with Lucerne\u00a0 Hammer to make opponents flat-footed<\/li>\n<li>Continue to hit at reach with Lucerne Hammer, or use unarmed strike up close<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Mutagen form<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1 hand to hold Lucerne Hammer (can&#8217;t use it)<\/li>\n<li>1 hand on shield<\/li>\n<li>2 hands make Claw attacks<\/li>\n<li>Bite attack too<\/li>\n<li>3 natural attacks do a lot of damage, even without the Sap Master bonus.<\/li>\n<li>At the end of my turn, I put a second hand on the Lucerne Hammer so I can make AOOs with it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I was almost done with the character when I re-read the <a href=\"http:\/\/paizo.com\/pathfinderRPG\/prd\/ultimateCombat\/classArchetypes\/monk.html#unbalancing-counter\">Unbalancing Counter<\/a> text one more time, and realized that the entire build didn&#8217;t work. Hitting with an AOO wasn&#8217;t enough to make the opponenet flat-footed. The opponent also got to make a save. The save was based on Monk level and would be DC 11 forever, low enough to be irrelevant.\u00a0 I had no way to make opponents flat-footed.\u00a0 I&#8217;d never get to use Sap Master.<\/p>\n<p>Since I had no use for the Monk levels, and was non-proficient with my weapon, armor, and shield, I switched to Fighter 1\/Alchemist 6.\u00a0 I didn&#8217;t need the Half-Elf ability to get proficiency with my weapon, so I switched to human for the extra feat.\u00a0 Now I could wear heavy armor and a shield and get into flanking to trigger sneak attacks.\u00a0 I swapped the Lucerne Hammer and Mithral Breastplate for an Earthbreaker and Full Plate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Invisible Tank<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>use Stealth skill and Invisibility spells to open combat with Sap Master attacks on opponents who haven&#8217;t acted yet.<\/li>\n<li>another melee character in my party moves around to flank with me, since I&#8217;m slow.<\/li>\n<li>3 natural attacks with sneak attack still do a lot of non-lethal damage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Armor Check Penalties make sneaking in Plate armor difficult, and I&#8217;m not sure Pathfinder allows me to sneak up behind someone using the Stealth skill. Charge during the surprise round? Fortunately, I remembered another feat that allows me to make opponents flat-footed.<\/p>\n<p>Catch Off-Guard lets me attack with improvised weapons without penalty, which is fun to roleplay.\u00a0 It also says that unarmed opponents are flat-footed vs. my attacks with improvised weapons.\u00a0 Clearly I&#8217;ll just have to disarm people.\u00a0 Improved Disarm and a flail give me bonuses to disarming opponents, and I hold an improvised weapon in the other hand to use once they are disarmed.\u00a0 The weapon is a trophy, reading &#8220;#1 Sap Master&#8221;\u00a0 The chance to disarm is disappointing, especially compared to <a href=\"http:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/12\/crusher-the-emotionless-barbarian\/\">Crusher&#8217;s inescapable grip<\/a>, but the concept is fun to roleplay, so I&#8217;m still happy with it. Sort of.\u00a0 I want more to-hit and better saves.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Catch Off-Guard Shenanigans<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alchemist 6\/Fighter 1<\/li>\n<li>Flail in one hand to disarm<\/li>\n<li>Trophy in other hand to use as improvised weapon<\/li>\n<li>Shield in third hand<\/li>\n<li>Feral mutagen is still an option<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>That&#8217;s the long, winding road from nimble Monk\/Rogue with a reach weapon to heavily-armored mutant who knocks people out with a trophy for knocking people out.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Number One<\/strong><br \/>\nMale Human Fighter 1\/ Alchemist (Vivisectionist, Beastmorph) 6<br \/>\nN Medium humanoid(human)<br \/>\n<strong>Init<\/strong> +4; <strong>Senses<\/strong> Perception +10<\/p>\n<p><strong>DEFENSE<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>AC<\/strong> 24, touch 11, flat-footed 23 (+10 Armor, +1 DEX, +3 shield)<br \/>\n<strong>hp<\/strong> 56 (10 + 6d8+20)<br \/>\n<strong>Fort<\/strong> +12, <strong>Ref<\/strong> +9, <strong>Will<\/strong> +6<\/p>\n<p><strong>OFFENSE<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>Speed<\/strong> 20 ft.<br \/>\n<strong>Melee<\/strong> MW Flail +11 1d8+5 non-lethal<br \/>\nor MW Flail +15 vs CMD disarm<br \/>\nor \u201c#1 Sap Master\u201d trophy +12 vs flat footed AC, 1d6 + 5 non-lethal<br \/>\n<strong>Ranged<\/strong> MW composite longbow +8 1d8 (x3) non-lethal<br \/>\n<strong>Special Attacks<\/strong> (3d6+3 sneak attack, double if flat-footed)<br \/>\n<strong> Alchemist Formulae prepared:<\/strong><br \/>\n1. (DC 13) enlarge person x2, vanish x2, expeditious retreat<br \/>\n2. DC 14) barkskin, bull&#8217;s strength x2, invisibility<\/p>\n<p><strong>STATISTICS<\/strong><br \/>\nStr 20, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 8<br \/>\nBase Atk +5; CMB 10 (+5 disarm); CMD 21<br \/>\n<strong>Feats<\/strong> Bludgeoner, Brew Potion, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Sap Adept, Sap Master, Throw Anything<br \/>\n<strong>Skills<\/strong> perception +10, craft(alchemy) +11, spellcraft +11, acrobatics +3, knowledge nature +11, knowledge arcana +11, climb +2, swim +2 (ACP = -6)<br \/>\n<strong>Languages<\/strong> Common, +2 more<br \/>\n<strong>SQ<\/strong> Beastmorph Mutagen, Improved Beastmorph Mutagen, Mutagen, poison use, Feral Mutagen, Wings, Vestigial Arm<br \/>\n<strong>Traits<\/strong>: Surprise Weapon, Reactive<br \/>\n<strong>Gear<\/strong>: +1 Full Plate, +1 Heavy Wooden Shield, Cloak of Resistance +2, , Belt of STR +2, Headband of INT+2, +1 Amulet of Mighty Fists, MW Flail, MW Composite Longbow, 20x arrows, 20x blunt arrows, alchemist&#8217;s kit, \u201c#1 Sap Master\u201d trophy<\/p>\n<p><strong>Improved Feral Beastmorph Mutagen<\/strong>: 60min duration. +4 STR, -2 INT, 2 1d6 claws, 1 1d8 bite, 2 of the following abilities (climb 30 feet, fly 30 feet (average maneuverability), swim 30 feet, darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, and scent.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>What do I do with my hands?<\/strong><br \/>\n3 arms: shield, flail, \u201c#1 Sap Master\u201d trophy<br \/>\n3 arms with mutagen: 1 for shield, 2 for claws.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Attack with mutagen<\/strong>: bite +13 1d8+7, 2 claws +13 1d6+7 non-lethal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This Pathfinder character is based on the Sap Master feat that doubles sneak attack damage when attacking a flat-footed opponent with non-lethal bludgeoning damage. That&#8217;s a lot of conditions sneak attack flat footed non-lethal bludgeoning I need sneak attack and a way to make opponents flat-footed.\u00a0 Rogues have sneak attack, and there&#8217;s a Flowing Monk &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/2017\/02\/13\/1-sap-master\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;&#8220;#1 Sap Master&#8221;&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-character-build"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60,"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52\/revisions\/60"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cliffnordman.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}