Phantom Battlefield martial discipline
In the time before the fall of the Temple of the Nine Swords, the House of the Fallen Sun was nothing more than an underworld information network. The organization's services, like those of many others, were purchased in service of the Shadow Tiger horde. After the horde's disastrous assault on the Temple of the Nine Swords, many of the martial adepts that fought within its ranks found themselves bereft of purpose. Turning to any sense of the familiar, some of them found themselves in the employ of the very groups that they had purchased the services of just months prior, including the House of the Fallen Sun. The information network was more than willing to bring these skilled assassins, infiltrators, and warriors under its sway. Over time, these martial adepts adapted the techniques they had learned under the tutelage of Reshar and his students to better suit their new activities. These new twilight adepts combined their knowledge of the nine martial disciplines with the mundane and magical techniques employed by other agents of the House.
Among the many results of this merger of disciplines was the Phantom Battlefield martial discipline. It combines the illusory magics of beguilers and illusionists with the stealth and deception of Shadow Hand and Setting Sun.
Discipline AccessTwilight adepts have access to Phantom Battlefield, allowing them to learn and use its maneuvers. Swordsages can train in the ways of Phantom Battlefield by selecting it in place of one of the Desert Wind, Stone Dragon, or Tiger Claw disciplines, allowing them to learn and use its maneuvers instead. Like all martial disciplines, any character can dabble in Phantom Battlefield's techniques with the Martial Study and Martial Stance feats.
Discipline Key Skill: Disguise
Discipline Favored Weapons: Dagger, falchion, guisarme, kukri, rapier, unarmed strike, and whip.
Sidebar: Mirror Images and Projected ImagesMirror ImagesMany Phantom Battlefield maneuvers create mirror images. Mirror images are figment illusions, which function much like the
mirror image spell. A mirror image you create looks and sounds just like you. You can move into and through a mirror image. When you and the mirror image separate, observers can’t use vision or hearing to tell which one is you and which the image. Mirror images may also move through each other. The images mimic your actions, pretending to cast spells when you cast a spell, drink potions when you drink a potion, levitate when you levitate, and so on.
Enemies attempting to attack you or cast spells at you must select from among indistinguishable targets. Generally, roll randomly to see whether the selected target is real or a figment. Any successful attack against an image destroys it. An image’s AC is 10 + your size modifier + your Dex modifier. Figments seem to react normally to area spells (such as looking like they’re burned or dead after being hit by a
fireball).
While moving, you can merge with and split off from figments so that enemies who have learned which image is real are again confounded.
An attacker must be able to see the images to be fooled. If you are invisible or an attacker shuts his or her eyes, the images have no effect. (Being unable to see carries the same penalties as being blinded.)
Projected ImagesSome Phantom Battlefield maneuvers project your image, creating a mirror image and making you invisible at the same time. Projected images largely function as mirror images, with a few important distinctions.
A projected image is more than a mere figment imitating you. It is an almost direct displacement of your appearance from you onto another location. The light you reflect and project and the sounds you make are consumed and woven into a projected image. While you have at least one projected image, you are invisible and inaudible. If your images fool other senses (such as with the
Mirror Mastery feat), those senses likewise do not detect you. This does not cause the projected images themselves to become invisible, inaudible, or otherwise undetectable.
Projected images are glamers, in addition to being figments.
Any effects that influence or interact with mirror images also apply to projected images.
Maneuvers by LevelPhantom Battlefield 1- Apparent Defense: Stance - Mirror images have increased AC, do not disappear as quickly.
- Dextrous Attack: Stance - Attacks deal -2 damage but have +2 on attack roll.
- Phantom Attack: Strike - Attack, create a mirror image.
- Shrouded Visions: Strike - Deal +1d6 damage, foe suffers 20% miss chance on attacks.
Phantom Battlefield 2- Blurred Motion: Boost - Gain concealment for 1 round.
- Deceptive Edge: Strike - Melee attack has +4 on attack roll and deals +2d6 damage unless defender makes a Will save.
- Mirror Walk: Rush - Teleport up to 50 feet to a mirror image or to a mirrored surface.
- Phantom Dodge: Counter - Create a mirror image against one attack.
Phantom Battlefield 3- Afterimage: Stance - Create a mirror image each round.
- Clouded Visions: Strike - Deal +3d6 damage, foe suffers 50% miss chance on attacks.
- Illusive Stride: Boost - Become invisible for 1 round. Projected image makes you seem teleport up to 50 feet away.
Phantom Battlefield 4- Chains of Disbelief: Strike - Deal +4d6 damage, opponent is entangled and cannot disbelieve your illusions for 1 round.
- Phantom Shift: Counter - Create a mirror image against one attack, then move 5 feet.
Phantom Battlefield 5- Illusion Barrier: Stance - Creatures within 10 feet of you are invisible to creatures more than 10 feet away.
- Phantom Decoy: Counter - Invisibly move out of an area effect. Leave a projected image behind that appears to take the hit.
- Shifting Phantom Strike: Strike - Attack, create 3 mirror images.
Phantom Battlefield 6- Hall of Mirrors: Rush - Move up to your speed. Create a mirror image in each space you move through. If you have any leftover movement, continue the path of your movement and create mirror images in those spaces as well.
- Perceptive Inversion: Strike - Deal +8d6 damage. Foe must make a Will save or believe you are an illusion.
Phantom Battlefield 7- Phantom Escape: Counter - Create a mirror image against one attack, then invisibly move 5 feet as a projected image moves in a different direction.
- Phantom Jaunt: Rush - Invisibly teleport up to 50 feet. Leave a projected image behind.
- False Keenness: Strike - Melee attack automatically hits and crits x4 unless defender makes a Will save.
Phantom Battlefield 8- Dancing Phantom Assault: Strike - Attack, create 7 mirror images.
- Mirror Dance: Counter - Swap places with a mirror image up to 50 feet away.
- Shattered Mirrors: Stance - Creatures that attack your mirror images take 2d6 damage.
Phantom Battlefield 9- Phantasmal Death Blow: Strike - Attack deals +20d6 damage with failed Will save, causes death with failed Fort save.
AfterimagePhantom Battlefield (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 3, Twilight Adept 3
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
When you enter this stance and whenever you begin your turn while in this stance, you create a mirror image in your space. This image lasts for 1 round. When you leave this stance, the image it has created disappears.
This stance is a supernatural ability. This stance is an illusion (figment) effect.
Apparent DefensePhantom Battlefield (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 1, Twilight Adept 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
While you are in this stance, your mirror images gain a dodge bonus to their Armor Class equal to your Intelligence bonus (minimum +1). Additionally, whenever you create a mirror image, the image's duration is increased by 1 round. This does not affect the duration of any other aspects of the effect that produced the image. A mirror image still disappears normally when it is struck, and some abilities impose other conditions upon which a mirror image may disappear, which continue to apply as normal.
This stance is a supernatural ability.
Blurred MotionPhantom Battlefield (Boost)
Level: Swordsage 2, Twilight Adept 2
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
You gain concealment for 1 round. This imposes a 20% miss chance on attacks made against you and allows you to hide without anything to hide behind.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (glamer) effect.
Chains of DisbeliefPhantom Battlefield (Strike) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Swordsage 4, Twilight Adept 4
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If it hits, you deal an extra 4d6 points of damage, and your opponent must make a successful Will save (DC 14 + your Int modifier) or become entangled for 1 round. During this time, your opponent automatically fails to disbelieve any illusion you produce, even when presented with incontrovertible proof. A successful save negates the entanglement and inability to disbelieve but not the extra damage.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is a mind-affecting effect.
Clouded VisionsPhantom Battlefield (Strike) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Swordsage 3, Twilight Adept 3
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will disbelief
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If it hits, you deal an extra 3d6 points of damage, and your opponent must make a successful Will save (DC 13 + your Int modifier) or suffer a 50% miss chance on all melee and ranged attacks for 1 round. A successful save negates the miss chance but not the extra damage.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is a mind-affecting illusion (phantasm) effect.
Dancing Phantom AssaultPhantom Battlefield (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 8, Twilight Adept 8
Prerequisite: Three Phantom Battlefield maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If it hits, in addition to dealing normal damage, you create seven mirror images in your space. These images separate from you and remain in a cluster, each within 5 feet of at least one other image or you. The images disappear after 1 round.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment) effect.
Deceptive EdgePhantom Battlefield (Strike) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Swordsage 2, Twilight Adept 2
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Will disbelief
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If your opponent fails a Will save (DC 12 + your Int modifier), you gain a +4 bonus on your attack roll and the attack deals an additional 2d6 points of damage. Otherwise, it is just a normal melee attack.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is a mind-affecting illusion (phantasm) effect.
Dextrous AttackPhantom Battlefield (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 1, Twilight Adept 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
While you are in this stance, you gain a +2 bonus on all melee attack rolls, but you suffer a -2 penalty on all melee damage rolls.
False KeennessPhantom Battlefield (Strike) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Swordsage 7, Twilight Adept 7
Prerequisite: Three Phantom Battlefield maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Will disbelief
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If your opponent fails a Will save (DC 17 + your Int modifier), the attack automatically hits and is an automatic crit, regardless of the attack roll, and the attack's critical multiplier becomes x4.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is a mind-affecting illusion (phantasm) effect.
Hall of MirrorsPhantom Battlefield (Rush)
Level: Swordsage 6, Twilight Adept 6
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 move action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
As part of this maneuver, move up to your speed. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. You create a mirror image in each space you move out of, which separates from you and remains in that space. If you have any movement remaining, another mirror image separates from you and continues up to the remainder of your movement, leaving mirror images in the spaces it moves through just like you would. The mirror images created by this maneuver disappear after 1 round.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment) effect.
Illusion BarrierPhantom Battlefield (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 5, Twilight Adept 5
Prerequisite: Two Phantom Battlefield maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: 10 feet
Area: 10-ft.-radius emanation around you
Duration: Stance
While you are in this stance, you and all creatures within 10 feet of you are invisible, as per the
invisibility spell. Those affected by this stance can see each other and themselves as if unaffected by the stance. Any affected creature moving out of the area becomes visible, and creatures moving into the area become invisible. Affected creatures (including you) who attack unaffected targets negate the invisibility for themselves for 1 round. Attacking creatures affected by this stance does not negate its invisibility.
This stance is a supernatural ability. This stance is an illusion (glamer) effect.
Illusive StridePhantom Battlefield (Boost)
Level: Swordsage 3, Twilight Adept 3
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: 50 ft.
Duration: 1 round
When you initiate this maneuver, you appear to teleport to a distant location, yet you secretly remain where you are. You create a single projected image in any space within 50 feet. The projected image remains in this space even if you move. The projected image lasts for 1 round or until either you make a successful attack or a successful attack is made against you. As normal, you are invisible while you have any projected images.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment, glamer) effect.
Mirror DancePhantom Battlefield (Counter) [Teleportation]
Level: Swordsage 8, Twilight Adept 8
Prerequisite: Four Phantom Battlefield maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: 50 ft.
Target: A mirror image
As part of this maneuver, you swap places with one of your mirror images up to 50 feet away. You teleport to the image's space as it reappears seamlessly in your own. If you attempt to use this maneuver to move into an unoccupiable space, you do not move, and the maneuver is expended to no effect.
You can initiate this maneuver in response to an attack or effect directed at you or your image. An attack targeting you instead targets the image you swap potions with, and vice-versa. You may initiate this maneuver after the attack was declared and its target selected, but you must do so before any rolls are made.
If you use this maneuver to swap places with a mirror image occupying the same space as you, you do not move to a different space, although an attack directed at you is still redirected to the image you swap with.
As a secondary benefit, your seamless transition causes opponents to lose track of you. Unless they have a method of differentiating you from your mirror images, opponents that have previously determined which of your images is actually you no longer know which is real.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Mirror WalkPhantom Battlefield (Rush) [Teleportation]
Level: Swordsage 2, Twilight Adept 2
Initiation Action: 1 move action
Range: 50 ft.
Target: You
As part of this maneuver, you teleport up to 50 feet away. Your destination must be within the space of or adjacent to one of your mirror images, or adjacent to a mirror or mirrored surface at least as larges as you. You must have line of sight and line of effect to your destination. If you attempt to use this maneuver to move into an unoccupiable space, you do not move, and the maneuver is expended to no effect.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Perceptive InversionPhantom Battlefield (Strike) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Swordsage 6, Twilight Adept 6
Prerequisite: Two Phantom Battlefield maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If it hits, you deal an extra 8d6 points of damage, and your opponent must make a successful Will save (DC 16 + your Int modifier) or believe you are only an illusion. For 1 round, nothing you or anyone does, not even incontrovertible proof, will convince your opponent that you are anything other than a figment of its imagination. The opponent even acts as though any memories he has of you are merely caused by his imagination. Your opponent is not helpless against your attacks, and will still instinctively attempt to defend himself from your attacks, even as he is consciously convinced that they are not real. A successful save negates this effect but not the extra damage.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Phantasmal Death BlowPhantom Battlefield (Strike) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Swordsage 9, Twilight Adept 9
Prerequisite: Four Phantom Battlefield maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Saving Throw: Will disbelief, then Fortitude partial
You strike at your foe in body and mind. What is in reality a minor nick seems as though it is a fatal wound as you push at your foe's thoughts to make that perception into truth.
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If it hits, your opponent must make a Will save (DC 19 + your Int modifier). On a failed save, you deal an extra 20d6 points of damage and your foe must make a Fortitude save at the same DC or be instantly slain.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is a mind-affecting illusion (phantasm) effect.
Phantom AttackPhantom Battlefield (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 1, Twilight Adept 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If it hits, in addition to dealing normal damage, you create a single mirror image in your space. The image separates from you and remains within 5 feet of at least one other image or you. The image disappears after 1 round.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment) effect.
Phantom DecoyPhantom Battlefield (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 5, Twilight Adept 5
Prerequisite: Two Phantom Battlefield maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
You can initiate this maneuver whenever you would make a saving throw against an area effect. You must use this maneuver before rolling your saving throw. You gain a +4 bonus on your save. If you succeed, the following effects occur. You create a single projected image in your original space. You can move up to your speed to the nearest occupiable space outside of the effect's area. If no such space is available, you remain where you are. If your movement succeeds, you suffer no effects at all from the area effect that allowed the save, as though you weren't in its area. Regardless of the success or failure of your movement, the projected image remains in your original space. The projected image lasts for 1 round or until either you make a successful attack or a successful attack is made against you. As normal, you are invisible while you have any projected images.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment, glamer) effect.
Phantom DodgePhantom Battlefield (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 2, Twilight Adept 2
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
This maneuver creates a single mirror image in your space, which instantly separates from you, dodging in another direction and possibly drawing your enemy's attack. You can initiate this maneuver in response to being targeted by an attack, before your attacker has checked for concealment or made her attack roll. Your attacker must newly select which of you or the new mirror image she is directing the attack at. Unless your attacker has some special senses that allow her to distinguish you from your mirror image or your mirror image is otherwise ineffective (for example, if your attacker cannot see you), she has a 50% chance to target the newly created mirror image instead of you. This may also be ineffective against attack forms that can affect multiple targets, such as a
horrid wilting spell, as your attacker may simply be able to designate both you and the new image as targets regardless. Likewise, it offers no protection against area effects. You can initiate this maneuver against any form of targeted attack, including both weapons and spells. After resolving the attack, the mirror image disappears, regardless of if it was successfully struck or not.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment) effect.
Phantom EscapePhantom Battlefield (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 7, Twilight Adept 7
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Duration: 1 round
This maneuver functions just like phantom dodge, except that after resolving the attack, you become invisible as a projected image appears in your space and separates from you. Both you and the projected image may make a 5-foot step (you and the image need not move into the same space). The projected image lasts for 1 round or until either you make a successful attack or a successful attack is made against you. As normal, you are invisible while you have any projected images.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment, glamer) effect.
Phantom JauntPhantom Battlefield (Rush) [Teleportation]
Level: Swordsage 7, Twilight Adept 7
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 move action
Range: 50 ft.
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
As part of this maneuver, you create a projected image in your space and invisibly teleport up to 50 feet away. You must have line of sight and line of effect to your destination. If you attempt to use this maneuver to move into an unoccupiable space, you do not move. Regardless of the success or failure of your teleportation, you still create the projected image and the image remains in your original space. The projected image lasts until for 1 round or until either you make a successful attack or a successful attack is made against you. As normal, you are invisible while you have any projected images.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment, glamer) effect.
Phantom ShiftPhantom Battlefield (Counter)
Level: Swordsage 4, Twilight Adept 4
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
This maneuver functions just like phantom dodge, except that after resolving the attack, you may make a 5-foot step.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment) effect.
Shattered MirrorsPhantom Battlefield (Stance)
Level: Swordsage 8, Twilight Adept 8
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
While you are in this stance, whenever a creature successfully attacks one of your mirror images in melee and causes it to disappear, the image's magical energy violently discharges into the creature. This deals 2d6 points of damage to the creature that struck the image.
This stance is a supernatural ability.
Shifting Phantom StrikePhantom Battlefield (Strike)
Level: Swordsage 5, Twilight Adept 5
Prerequisite: Two Phantom Battlefield maneuvers
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If it hits, in addition to dealing normal damage, you create three mirror images in your space. These images separate from you and remain in a cluster, each within 5 feet of at least one other image or you. The images disappear after 1 round.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (figment) effect.
Shrouded VisionsPhantom Battlefield (Strike) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Swordsage 1, Twilight Adept 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will disbelief
As part of this maneuver, you make a single melee attack. If it hits, you deal an extra 1d6 points of damage, and your opponent must make a successful Will save (DC 11 + your Int modifier) or suffer a 20% miss chance on all melee and ranged attacks for 1 round. A successful save negates the miss chance but not the extra damage.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is a mind-affecting illusion (phantasm) effect.
Change Log
15/06/2022: Reduced Clouded Visions's bonus damage to 3d6 from 5d6.
26/05/2022: Changed save DCs of maneuvers and Apparent Defense's bonus to be Int-based instead of Cha-based.
Fixed Phantom Shift in the table.
16/07/2017: First posted.
Deprecated
Hidden Jaunt
Phantom Battlefield (Rush) [Teleportation]
Level: Swordsage 6, Twilight Adept 6
Prerequisite: One Phantom Battlefield maneuver
Initiation Action: 1 move action
Range: 50 ft.
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
As part of this maneuver, you become invisible, as per the invisibility spell, and teleport up to 50 feet away. You must have line of sight and line of effect to your destination. If you attempt to use this maneuver to move into an unoccupiable space, you do not move, although you still become invisible. Your invisibility lasts for 1 round unless you perform an action that would end it sooner.
This maneuver is a supernatural ability. This maneuver is an illusion (glamer) effect.