JaronK
How about a two level dip into Swordsage taken after the first level? That would give you Sapphire Nightmare Blade (Concentration check to make opponent flat footed and deal extra damage) and Cloak of Deception (Swift action invisibility for one round). And you could get 2d6 sneak attack in the deal.
JaronK
I am not too familiar with ToB those are stances? How long do they last? Is it a one use and finished?
Acrobatic Backstab [Complete Scoundrel]
Gloom Razor [Tome of Battle]
Marbles [Arms and Equipment Guide?]
Winning Initiative/Surprise Round [Rules]
Flick of the Wrist [Complete Warrior]
For a good weapon unless you're dead set on the katana, the Gnome Quickrazor solves the sheathing issue of using Iaijutsu Focus.
Sapphire Nightmare Blade [Tome of Battle]
Acrobatic Backstab [Complete Scoundrel]
Gloom Razor [Tome of Battle]
Marbles [Arms and Equipment Guide?]
Winning Initiative/Surprise Round [Rules]
Flick of the Wrist [Complete Warrior]
For a good weapon unless you're dead set on the katana, the Gnome Quickrazor solves the sheathing issue of using Iaijutsu Focus.
actually the quick razor is the weapon I use. like you said it solves the sheathing issue perfectly
you could also try a wand of grease if you have a decent UMD check.
Invisibility does not make opponent flat-footed. Just denied Dex to AC.
Feinting does not make opponent flat-footed. Just denied Dex to AC.
I have no idea how mindblank and pass without trace are supposed to cause an opponent to become flat-footed, unless you're talking about being able to get a suprise round in on them. Grease is a classic option, and works amazingly well until your DM catches on and starts giving everything that isn't a mook 5 ranks in balance. As for the ToB maneuvers, yes. If you get them through feats, they're basically one-shot per encounter deals - the strikes / boosts, anyways. Other than that, Nox seems to have hit most of the good ways to pull it off.
Getting an opponent to be flat-footed for an entire series of attacks isn't easy to pull off. Probably the most reliable way short of marbles / grease / other way of forcing balance checks is to jack your initiative modifier up crazy high and making sure nothing ever gets a suprise round on you. And that still only works until they've acted.
Not the easiest egg to crack I've ever seen, though it's one I've been working on for a couple characters for a while.
Some of you seem confused about what flat-footed means.
Invisibility does not make opponent flat-footed. Just denied Dex to AC.
Feinting does not make opponent flat-footed. Just denied Dex to AC.
+1. Do your homework, people.
Though, IIRC, feinting + Suprising Riposite = flatfooted.
Feint as free action 1/round (on your first attack, obviously). Then you attack and they don't get Dex to AC, assuming hey didn't beat you on the opposed check. If you hit, they're flat-footed for a round. They still won't be flat-footed for your first attack each round, but this is probably as close as you can get.
Feint as free action 1/round (on your first attack, obviously). Then you attack and they don't get Dex to AC, assuming hey didn't beat you on the opposed check. If you hit, they're flat-footed for a round. They still won't be flat-footed for your first attack each round, but this is probably as close as you can get.
Just buff your bluff as best as you can, and you should be able to feint relatively safely. Unless your DM metagames by giving all your opponents sense motive boosting items and abilities, those checks should be relatively easy. Getting lots of attacks does help with the not counting as flat-footed against the first attack part.
What other ways are there to feint as free/swift action besides Invisible blade (Surprising riposte requires Improved feint, which is a wasted feat for them)? All I can think of are the Beguiler (not much melee or sneak attack synergy there) and the Scarlet corsair (they have a "cooldown" with their ability, and can't use it every round)?
*edit*
Nevermind, I'm an idiot.