Assassin Acupuncturist (3.5e Maneuver)

Author: SecondDeath777 (talk) Date Created: 16 November 2017 Status: I feel Assassin Needles aren't the only things usable this way. Suggestions? Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Assassin Acupuncturist

Thousand Daggers, Surreptitious Bandit, Organic Repast (Stance) [X-Discipline]
Level:	7
Prerequisite:	Three Thousand Daggers maneuvers or Four Surreptitious Bandit maneuvers or Four Organic Repast maneuvers, Weapon Finesse, Heal 10 Ranks
Initiation Action:	1 swift action
Range:	Stance
Target:	You
Duration:	Stance
Saving Throw:	See Text

Many disregard the Assassin Needle as a poison delivery tool, and little else. But you know this to be false. Their precision matched with yours allows for a killer deadly at all ranges, and even allows you to heal others with only a careful observation and a deft throw, requiring minimal attention to be helpful to a downed ally.

While this stance is active, you gain proficiency with Assassin Needles. If you already had it, you gain +2 to your d20 rolls and DCs involving them. You may also deal nonlethal damage with them at no penalty.

You can do anything you were able to do at melee range, except Grab On attempts, grappling, and other things of a similar nature, at any distance you could throw an Assassin Needle. Examples include maneuvers, touch attacks, & disarmament. However, an appropriate amount of needles must be thrown to see the task done. In addition, if you down someone with an Assassin Needle, you may choose to let it stick in its target and hold them in place. This will cause them to appear paralyzed until the needle is removed. This is especially useful in stealth, freezing a target in an unassuming position, nobody being able to tell their lookout's dead until they get close.

You may also use Assassin Needles at close range. The rapid, precise striking capability also allows you to make several attacks with the needles, offering an extra attack at Level 6, two extra attacks at Level 14, three extra attacks at Level 18, and a number of extra attacks equal to the amount granted by your BAB at Level 20. You must have at least 3 in one hand to access this rapid striking feature.

You may also now use a form of the Death Attack that utilizes pressure points, spinal discs, and your needles. It only uses the paralysis function and the needle sticks in the target whether you're at close or long range if it succeeds, but unless the needle is removed, the paralysis is permanent. If you have advanced versions of the Death Attack, like the Sudden Death Attack of the Shinobi, you may use them here. This includes Dagger to the Heart, allowing you to skip the study, but deal no sneak attack damage(which could work to your favor). Immunity to paralysis does not help unless the target is also not subject to critical hits.

If you know a Thousand Daggers maneuver, you may use Needle Point Purification as an at will maneuver-like ability, and an Assassin Needle always counts as a gold and silver pin for the sake of that maneuver, and you can choose to make the 1d4 nonlethal not apply. In addition, you may have stuck needles jam into precarious positions, requiring a Heal check DC 25 to remove safely. If failed, the target makes a Fortitude save (DC 10 + half your CR + highest mental modifier) against instant death. If you know an Organic Repast maneuver, you may choose to let someone succeed automatically as a non-action, and the Heal DC rises by your highest mental modifier.

If you know a Surreptitious Bandit maneuver, you may forego attacks as a Duelist might, but rather than parrying, you're saving up counterattacks. If you are missed by an attack at close range, you may expend a saved counterattack to trade squares with your assailant, and attempt the special Death Attack mentioned in Paragraph 4, with no study necessary. However, no damage is dealt, making the attack useless if the save is made. In addition, targets two or more levels below you never know when they have been struck by your needles unless you dealt lethal damage, or they clearly see you.

If you know an Organic Repast maneuver, you may delay the effects of anything against which your target failed their save, so long as the effect was delivered through a needle, Assassin Needle, or pin. You may activate the effect as a non-action at any time within the next 24 hours, or any time after the save is failed if the needle/pin is still in the target. You may delay any number of effects, but good luck keeping track if you go crazy. In addition, you may have stuck needles jam into precarious positions, requiring a Heal check DC 25 to remove safely. If failed, the target makes a Fortitude save (DC 10 + half your CR + highest mental modifier) against instant death. If you know a Thousand Daggers maneuver maneuver, you may choose to let someone succeed automatically as a non-action, and the Heal DC rises by your highest mental modifier.

Although you cannot gain this stance through the Coin's Edge discipline, knowing at least one maneuver from it permits you to apply all properties listed to not only Assassin Needles, but Throwing Cards, too. In addition, if you are holding a throwing card, you may use a Duelist's Improved Parry, with the exception you use a Profession (Gambling) check in place of an attack roll.

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