INVISIBLE BLADE

Invisible blades are not the kind of people you want to
underestimate, but if you do, they certainly won’t object.
Brandish a rapier, and they will whip out a dagger. Unsheathe a
longsword, and they will throw off their armor. Wield a
greatsword, and they will smile at you. A big maniacal grin. Rest
assured, the members of this prestige class do not have a death
wish. Its just that they aren’t really impressed by how “mighty”
their opponents appear. Quite the opposite. They relish any
chance to demonstrate how the most unimposing weapons can
also be the most lethal. Perhaps their opponents will live long
enough to tell the tale.
Invisible blades are highly devoted to the use of daggers. They
specialize in fighting with either the dagger, kukri, or punching
dagger, but this list can also include any number of light weapons
derived from these blades. Invisible blades are not penalized for
using other proficient weapons, but every ability they possess is
tied into using these three daggers in particular. This may seem
like an enormous restriction, but the invisible blade considers it
their greatest freedom. Never have they felt more relaxed during
combat; debating with themselves whether to parry or plunge.
Never have they stepped more deliberately on their feet; dodging
opponents while taking note of their styles. Never have they been
more sensitive to when a guard is lowered; treating every such
opening as a “gift”.
Rogues are the most logical choice for invisible blades, as their
sneak attack abilities dovetail with this prestige class. Bards are
the next runner up, followed by monks. Berserkers, rangers, and
warriors could all benefit from becoming invisible blades, if they
abandoned their arsenal of armor and weapons for a less
cumbersome approach. Clerics are seldom recruits, perceiving
this prestige class as having no faith, while druids view invisible
blades as having no strong ties to nature. Sorcerers and wizards
rarely become invisible blades, as they find their lack of offensive
options galling.
NPC invisible blades are the silently egotistical type who
regards their combat style as being superior to any other martial
philosophy. They place enormous emphasis on making a single
decisive strike, ending a fight in one combat round. Invisible
blades pick up their skills in a guild setting (that frequently hire
their members out as mercenaries). Joining the invisible blades
comes with unspoken perils. Not only must the character
practice fanatically with the dagger, but they must also draw
blood from another invisible blade in a rite-of-passage combat.
Hit Die: d6.
Requirements
To qualify to become an invisible blade, a character must fulfill all
the following criteria.
Skills: Bluff 8 ranks, Sense Motive 6 ranks.
Feats: Point Blank shot, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus
(dagger, kukri, or punching dagger).
Special: The candidate must defeat an opponent of equal CR in
single combat using a nonmagical dagger, kukri, or punching
dagger, or any other light blade derived from these three
weapons.
Class Skills
The invisible blade’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill)
are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape
Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently
(Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Sense
Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex),
and Use Rope (Dex). See Chapter 4: Skills in the Player’s Handbook
for skill descriptions.
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

The Invisible Blade

Base Fort Ref Will
Level Attack Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +1 +0 +2 +0 Dagger sneak attack +1d6, unfettered defense
2nd +2 +0 +3 +0 Bleeding wound +1, uncanny feint
3rd +3 +1 +3 +1 Dagger sneak attack +2d6, feint mastery
4th +4 +1 +4 +1 Far Shot
5th +5 +1 +4 +1 Dagger sneak attack +3d6, improved uncanny feint
6th +6 +2 +5 +2 Bleeding wound +2
7th +7 +2 +5 +2 Dagger sneak attack +4d6, extreme dagger throw
8th +8 +2 +6 +2 Opportunist
9th +9 +3 +6 +3 Dagger sneak attack +5d6
10th +10 +3 +7 +3 Bleeding wound +3, greater uncanny feint

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the invisible blade
prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Invisible blades are
proficient with the dagger, kukri, punching dagger, and any other
light blade derived from these three weapons. They are not
proficient with any type of armor or shields.
Dagger Sneak Attack (Ex): Beginning at 1st level, if an
invisible blade can catch an opponent unable to defend
themselves effectively from their attack, a strike can be made to a
vital spot for extra damage. This ability only functions when the
invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or
punching daggers. Basically, the invisible blade’s attack deals
extra damage any time their target would be denied a Dexterity
bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or
not), or when the invisible blade flanks their target. This extra
damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and it increases by 1d6 every two
invisible blade levels thereafter (3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th). If an
invisible blade gets a sneak attack bonus from another source, the
bonuses on damage stack. Should the invisible blade score a
critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not
multiplied. (See Table 8–5: Attack Roll Modifiers and Table 8–6:
Armor Class Modifiers, page 151 of the Player’s Handbook, for
combat situation in which the blackguard flanks an opponent or
the opponent loses their Dexterity bonus to AC.)
Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is
within 30 feet. An invisible blade can’t strike with deadly
accuracy from beyond that range.
An invisible blade cannot use a weapon that deals lethal
damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with
the usual –4 penalty, because optimal use must be made of their
weapon in order to execute a sneak attack. (See Nonlethal
Damage, page 146 of the Player’s Handbook).
An invisible blade can sneak attack only living creatures with
discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and
incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that
is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The
invisible blade must be able to see the target well enough to pick
out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. An invisible
 blade cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with
concealment (see Concealment, page 152 of the Player’s Handbook)
or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.
Unfettered Defense (Ex): When not wearing armor or using a
shield, an invisible blade benefits from an increased survival
instinct during combat by adding 1 point of Intelligence bonus (if
any) per invisible blade class level to their Dexterity bonus to
modify Armor Class. If an invisible blade is caught flat-footed or
otherwise denied their Dexterity bonus to AC, this bonus is also
lost. This ability only functions when the invisible blade is
wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers.
Bleeding Wound (Ex): At 2nd level, the invisible blade is
treated as having the Arterial Strike feat (see page 96 of the
Complete Warrior) even without the normal prerequisites for that
feat. This ability only functions when the invisible blade is
wielding one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers. If the
invisible blade already has Arterial Strike, choose a different feat.
The bleeding wound increases by 1 point of damage for every
four levels of advancement (2 points at 6th level by forgoing 2d6
of extra dagger sneak attack damage and 3 points at 10th level by
forgoing 3d6 of extra dagger sneak attack damage). Creatures
immune to dagger sneak attack damage are immune to bleeding
wounds as well.
Uncanny Feint (Ex): At 2nd level, the invisible blade gains
the ability to mislead their opponent’s attention in combat with
reflexes that are much faster than normal. The character is treated
as having the Improved Feint feat (see page 95 of the Player’s
Handbook) even without the normal prerequisite for that feat.
This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding
one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers. If the invisible
blade already has Improved Feint, choose a different feat.
Feint Mastery (Ex): At 3rd level, the invisible blade becomes
so certain in the use of Bluff to feint in combat that the character
can use it reliably even under adverse conditions. When making a
skill check with Bluff to feint in combat, the invisible blade may
take 10 even if stress and distractions would normally prevent the
character from doing so.
Far Shot: At 4th level, the invisible blade gains Far Shot (see
page 94 of the Player’s Handbook) as a bonus feat. If the invisible
blade already has Far Shot, choose a different feat.
Improved Uncanny Feint (Ex): At 5th level, the invisible
blade can make a Bluff check to feint in combat as a swift action.
This ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding
one or more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers.
Extreme Dagger Throw (Ex): At 7th level, the invisible blade
becomes exceedingly skilled at throwing daggers, increasing the
range increment from 20 feet (already doubled from the invisible
blade’s Far Shot feat) to 30 feet.
Opportunist (Ex): At 8th level, the invisible blade can make
an attack of opportunity against an opponent who has just been
struck for damage in melee by another character. This attack
counts as the invisible blade’s attack of opportunity for that
round. Even an invisible blade with the Combat Reflexes feat
can’t use the opportunist ability more than once per round. This
ability only functions when the invisible blade is wielding one or
more daggers, kukris, or punching daggers.
Greater Uncanny Feint (Ex): At 10th level, the invisible blade
can make a single Bluff check to feint in combat as a free action
during an attack of opportunity (in addition to the swift action
feint in combat during their turn). This ability only functions
when the invisible blade is wielding one or more daggers, kukris,
or punching daggers.

The invisible blade was last modified 02 June 2004. Copyright © Kolja Raven Liquette 2002, 2003, 2004.
(Email: sonofapreacherman@wakinglands.com)