Shadowdancer
Shadowdancers operate in the border between light and darkness. These nimble artists of deception are never completely trusted but always induce wonder when met. Despite their link with shadows and trickery, shadowdancers are as often good as evil. They may use their incredible abilities as they wish.
Shadowdancers often work in troupes, never staying in one place too long. Some use their abilities to entertain. Others operate as thieves, using their abilities to infiltrate past defenses and dupe others. All shadowdancer troupes maintain an aura of mystery among the populace, who never know whether to think well or ill of them.
Requirements
Skills: Hide 10 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks
Feats: Dodge, Mobility
Hit Die: d8
Proficiencies: Armor (Light), Weapons (Simple)
Skill Points: 6 + INT
Class Skills: Bluff, Craft (Weapon, Armor, Building, Gemcutting, Locksmith), Decipher Script, Disguise, Escape Artist, Forgery, Heal, Hide, Knowledge (all), Listen, Lore, Move Silently, Perform, Persuade, Profession, Search, Spot, Tumble
Level progression
| Lvl | BAB | Saves | Feats | HP range | Shadow Evade | Shadow Summon |
Sneak Attack | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | Damage Reduction | Concealment | AC bonus | ||||||||
| 1st | +0 | +0 | +2 | +0 | 4-8 | ||||||||
| 2nd | +1 | +0 | +3 | +0 | Darkvision, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge I | 8-16 | |||||||
| 3rd | +2 | +1 | +3 | +1 | Shadow Daze, Summon Shadow | 12-24 | Shadow Demon | ||||||
| 4th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Shadow Evade, Shadow Jump, Shadow Conjuration 1/day | 16-32 | 5/+2 | 10% | +2 | ||||
| 5th | +3 | +1 | +4 | +1 | Hide in Plain Sight, Defensive Roll, Uncanny Dodge II | 20-40 | 10/+2 | 20% | +2 | ||||
| 6th | +4 | +2 | +5 | +2 | 24-48 | 5/+3 | 30% | +3 | Nightwing | 1d6 | |||
| 7th | +5 | +2 | +5 | +2 | Slippery Mind | 28-56 | 10/+3 | 40% | +3 | ||||
| 8th | +6 | +2 | +6 | +2 | Swift and Silent +10% | 32-64 | 5/+4 | 50% | +4 | Nightwalker | |||
| 9th | +6 | +3 | +6 | +3 | 36-72 | 10/+4 | 60% | +5 | 2d6 | ||||
| 10th | +7 | +3 | +7 | +3 | Improved Evasion, Uncanny Dodge III | 40-80 | 5/+5 | 70% | +6 | Shadow Dragon | |||
Sneak Attack
Shadowdancers receive sneak Attack progression, starting at level 6 and continues every 4 levels afterwards.
Note: Mechanically, this is Blackguard's Sneak Attack, so it will stacks with the damage bonus from the rogue's sneak attack and assassin's death attack.
Swift and Silent
Shadowdancers receive "Swift and Silent" at level 8. This increases movement speed in stealth mode. Speed increases every 4 levels, until level 20.
Shadow Evade
In addition to the chart above, Shadow Evade applies Haste and immunity to necromancy for its duration. The duration is equal to 2 rounds plus an additional round per Shadowdancer level to a maximum of 10 rounds. Shadow Evade works on a charge-based system, capping at a maximum of 3 charges that independently refresh 5 minutes after use. Level 10 grants an additional charge. If the Shadowdancer does not have a dexterity modifier of at least 4, Shadow Evade will cap at 50% concealment and a +3 AC bonus. This ability is undispellable and is a free action to use.
Tips: Becoming a shadowdancer
- Rogues, bards, and monks make excellent shadowdancers.
- Fighters, barbarians, rangers, and paladins also find that shadowdancer abilities allow them to strike at their opponents with surprise and skill.
- Wizard, sorcerer, cleric, and druid shadowdancers employ the defensive capabilities inherent in the prestige class to allow them to cast their spells from safety and move away quickly.