EDIT: 5000th post!!!
OK, so I have this half-finished martial discipline. Can someone help me finish it? What I need right now is:
1) 9th-level maneuver(s)
2) Names for everything
3) Critique on the effect stubs, particularly for level-appropriateness
4) Maybe some counters?
Once I have these things, I can do the actual maneuver writeups.
This discipline is for any character that has an Animal Companion or Wild Cohort [henceforth referred to as "partner"]. Other things (like Special Mount, Psicrystal, or Familiar) work just fine, but the nature flavor of the rest of the abilities works best with druids & rangers.
It also uses
Rushes.
Martial Discipline: Essence of GaiaInsert flavor text here.
Associated weapons: All axes, all spears, scythe, sickle, quarterstaff, and natural weapons.
Key skill: Survival.
Whenever mention is made of "your partner", this refers to any companion you've gained through class features and feats other than Leadership, the Thrallherd class, and their derivatives. Common examples include:
- Animal companion
- Familiar
- Companion gained via the Wild Cohort feat
- Psicrystal
- Special Mount
Maneuver and Stance List1st levelCall of Vines -- Strike. Enemy is entangled by plant growth for 1 round.
Distraction -- Boost. Target provokes AoO from your partner.
Grasp of the Bear -- Strike. Make a successful melee attack with improved grab.
Stalker in the Wilds -- Stance. Gain sneak attack +1d6 while in natural settings.
2nd levelDefensive Partnership -- Counter. Your partner attacks an opponent who just struck you.
Dual Movement -- Rush. Swap places with partner.
Lend Strength -- Boost. Increase partner's size by 1 category for 1 round.
Venomstrike -- Strike. Make a melee attack which poisons your target.
3rd levelGaia Infusion -- Stance. Gain +2 to Str, Dex, and Con.
Gecko Run -- Rush. Move as if via
spider climb.
Lessening Strike -- Strike. Reduce opponent's size by 1 category for 1 round.
Listen to the Earth -- Stance. Gain tremorsense.
4th levelConstricting Vines -- Strike. Opponent is grappled by plant life for 1 round.
Wild Reposition -- Boost. Your partner moves up to its speed.
Wolfpack Harry -- Strike. Both partners make single attack.
5th levelArboreal Charge -- Strike. Charge in one tree and out another.
As the Wilds -- Stance. Gain plant immunities, lose speed and Dex.
Defensive Partnership, Greater -- Counter. Your partner attacks an opponent who is about to strike you, may interrupt attack.
Lend Might -- Boost. Increase your partner's size by 2 categories for 1 round
6th levelDiminishing Strike -- Strike. Reduce opponent's size by 2 categories for 1 round.
Venomstrike, Greater -- Strike. Make a melee attack which poisons your target with a more virulent poison.
Wild Assault -- Boost. Partner makes single move + attack.
7th levelInflict Transformation -- Strike. Opponent is affected by
baleful polymorph.
Vinefury Strike: Strike. Opponent is grappled and pinned by plant life indefinitely.
Wild Cavalry -- Boost. Partner makes a charge attack.
8th levelArboreal Evasion -- Counter. Immediate-action
transport via plants.
Gaian Intellectus -- Stance. While in natural terrain, know the position of every living thing w/in 60 feet;
find the path to places in natural terrain.
Stoneform Strike -- Strike. Make an attack which inflicts petrification.
Wolfpack Unison -- Strike. You and your partner each make a full attack.
9th levelSublime Unison -- Strike. You and your partner each initiate a strike you know (which total to 9 levels).
Maneuver and Stance DescriptionsCall of VinesEssence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
You attack a creature to mark it, and the grass, bushes, and trees around it grow up and tangle with its nether portions.When you initiate this strike, make a melee attack against your opponent at +1d6 damage. If you are successful, grasses, weeds, bushes, and even trees wrap, twist, and entwine about your target, causing it to become entangled for 1 round. An affected creature can break free and move half its normal speed by using a full-round action to make a DC 20 Strength check or a DC 20 Escape Artist check. The entangling effect of this maneuver does not function if there are no plants within 5 feet of the target (creatures with the Plant type do not count). This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
DistractionEssence of Gaia (Boost)
Level: Domeskipper 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature your partner threatens
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
You make a motion with your weapon, and your opponent is momentarily distracted, allowing your partner an opening.Make a melee attack roll with your weapon. Your target must make a Will save (DC equal to the result of your attack roll) or provoke an attack of opportunity from your partner.
Grasp of the BearEssence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 1
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
You attack your opponent, twisting into a wrestling hold.When you initiate this strike, make a normal melee attack against your opponent. If you succeed, you may immediately begin a grapple, as per the
Improved Grab special ability.
Stalker in the WildsEssence of Gaia (Stance)
Level: Domeskipper 1
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
Your senses grow keener, and you find yourself examining every creature for weak spots, as if you were planning to cull the herd.While in this stance, you gain sneak attack +1d6 (see the Rogue class feature) while in natural surroundings.
Defensive Partnership
Essence of Gaia (Counter)
Level: Domeskipper 2
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Partner
Target: Your partner
Duration: Instantaneous
Enraged by the assault on you, your partner launches to your defense.
When a creature successfully strikes you with a melee or natural weapon, if your partner also threatens the creature, you can use this maneuver to grant your partner an immediate attack against that creature.
Dual Movement
Essence of Gaia (Rush) [Teleportation]
Level: Domeskipper 2
Initiation Action: 1 move action
Range: Personal and partner
Target: You and your partner
Duration: Instantaneous
You and your partner suddenly appear in each others' respective locations.
When you use this maneuver, you and your partner suddenly switch places without moving through the intervening space. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Lend Strength
Essence of Gaia (Boost)
Level: Domeskipper 2
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Partner
Target: Your partner
Duration: 1 round
You channel strength through the special bond you have with your partner, and it grows larger in response.
Use this maneuver to cause your partner to grow, doubling its height and multiplying its weight by 8 for one round. This increase changes its size category to the next larger one, and it gains a +4 size bonus to Strength and a +2 size bonus to Constitution. Your partner gains a +2 enhancement bonus to its natural armor, but its size modifier for AC and attacks changes as appropriate to its new size category. Determine space and reach as appropriate to your partner's new size.
If insufficient room is available for the desired growth, your partner attains the maximum possible size and may make a Strength check (using your increased Strength) to burst any enclosures in the process. If it fails, it is constrained without harm by the materials enclosing it— this maneuver cannot crush your partner by increasing its size.
All equipment your partner wears or carries is similarly enlarged by the maneuver. Melee and projectile weapons deal more damage. Other magical properties are not affected by this maneuver. Any enlarged item that leaves your partner's possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown weapons deal their normal damage (projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them).
This maneuver is a supernatural ability; multiple magical effects that increase size do not stack.
Venomstrike
Essence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 2
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
The wound left behind by your attack displays a shimmering, sickly coating.
When you use this maneuver, make a normal melee attack. If you are successful, the creature you struck is affected by a mild venom, which deals 2 points of Constitution damage unless the target makes a Fortitude save (DC 12 + your Wisdom modifier) against the poison to negate the damage. There is no secondary damage from the poison. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Gaia InfusionEssence of Gaia (Stance)
Level: Domeskipper 3
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
You take on slightly more feral characteristics, becoming tougher, swifter, and stronger.While you are in this stance, you gain a +2 bonus to Strength, Dexterity and Constitution. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Gecko RunEssence of Gaia (Rush)
Level: Domeskipper 3
Initiation Action: 1 move action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
You move quickly, hurrying up and down walls, trees, and ceilings.When you use this maneuver, you may move up to your speed with the benefit of the
spider climb spell. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Lessening StrikeEssence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 3
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fortitude
You strike your opponent, who suddenly shrinks.When you use this maneuver, make a normal melee attack. If you are successful, the creature you struck must make a Fortitude save (DC 13 + your Wisdom modifier) or be reduced, halving its height, length, and width and dividing its weight by 8 for one round. This decrease changes the creature’s size category to the next smaller one. The target gains a +2 size bonus to Dexterity and a -2 size penalty to Strength (to a minimum of 1), but its size modifier for AC and attacks changes as appropriate to its new size category. This maneuver doesn’t change the target’s speed. All equipment worn or carried by a creature is similarly reduced by the maneuver.
Melee and projectile weapons deal less damage. Other magical properties are not affected by this maneuver. Any reduced item that leaves the reduced creature’s possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown weapons deal their normal damage (projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them).This maneuver is a supernatural ability; multiple magical effects that reduce size do not stack.
Listen to the EarthEssence of Gaia (Stance)
Level: Domeskipper 3
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
The ground suddenly seems to be part of your body, and you can feel all the myriad creatures of the world moving over it.While you are in this stance, you gain
tremorsense to a range of 30 feet.
Constricting Vines
Essence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 4
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
You attack a creature to mark it, and the grass, bushes, and trees around it grow quickly and grasp at it with their pulpy tendrils.
When you initiate this strike, make a melee attack against your opponent with +3d6 damage. If you are successful, grasses, weeds, bushes, and even trees wrap, twist, and entwine about your target, attempting to grapple it. Your target must make a grapple check, opposed by the grapple check of the plants. Treat the plants as a Large creature with a base attack bonus equal to your initiator level and a Strength score of 19. Thus, the plants' grapple check modifier is equal to your initiator level +8. If the creature fails its grapple check, it is grappled by the plants, as well as taking 1d6+4 bludgeoning damage. The grappling effect of this maneuver does not function if there are no plants within 5 feet of the target (creatures with the Plant type do not count). This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Wild Reposition
Essence of Gaia (Boost)
Level: Domeskipper 4
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Partner
Target: Your partner
Duration: Instantaneous
You call out to your partner in wild abandon, who is then spurred to motion.
When you initiate this maneuver, your partner immediately moves up to its speed (provoking AoOs as normal for the movement).
Wolfpack Harry
Essence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 4
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
You strike your opponent, and your partner takes advantage of the momentary distraction to strike as well.
You and your partner each make a single melee attack against a creature that you both threaten.
Arboreal Charge
Essence of Gaia (Strike) [Teleportation]
Level: Domeskipper 5
Initiation Action: 1 full-round action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
You charge directly into a tree, reappearing at another at top speed and hurtling toward your target from an unexpected direction.
As part of this maneuver, move up to twice your speed in a straight line to a tree, teleport to another tree within 10 feet per initiator level as per transport via plants, then move up to the remainder of your movement from before the teleportation in a straight line, then make an attack as though at an end of a charge. This is otherwise treated as a charge, except as noted above. You needn't move to the nearest space from which you can attack the target. As you come from an unexpected direction, your opponent must make a Spot check (DC 15 + your Wisdom modifier) or be flatfooted against your charge attack. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
As the Wilds
Essence of Gaia (Stance)
Level: Domeskipper 5
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
You skin becomes tougher and you take on some of the characteristics of a plant.
While you are in this stance, your natural armor bonus increases by +2, but you suffer a -4 penalty to your Dexterity and your base speed is reduced by 10 feet. In addition, you are immune to extra damage from critical hits and precision damage, mind-affecting spells and abilities, poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and polymorphing. Any spell or effect that would affect plant creatures also affects you, for the duration of the stance. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Defensive Partnership, Greater
Essence of Gaia (Counter)
Level: Domeskipper 5
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Partner
Target: Your partner
Duration: Instantaneous
Your partner jumps to your defense, interrupting an attack against you.
Whenever a creature attempts to attack you, if your partner threatens that creature, you may use this maneuver to grant your partner an immediate attack of opportunity against the creature. If your partner's AoO succeeds, the creature must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC equal to the damage dealt) or be unable to complete its attack against you.
Lend Might
Essence of Gaia (Boost)
Level: Domeskipper 5
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Partner
Target: Your partner
Duration: 1 round
You channel strength through the special bond you have with your partner, and it grows significantly larger in response.
Use this maneuver to cause your partner to grow, quadrupling its height and multiplying its weight by 16 for one round. This increase changes increases its size category by two, and it gains a +12 size bonus to Strength, a +6 size bonus to Constitution, and a -4 size penalty to Dexterity. Your partner gains a +4 enhancement bonus to its natural armor, but its size modifier for AC and attacks changes as appropriate to its new size category. Determine space and reach as appropriate to your partner's new size.
If insufficient room is available for the desired growth, your partner attains the maximum possible size and may make a Strength check (using your increased Strength) to burst any enclosures in the process. If it fails, it is constrained without harm by the materials enclosing it— this maneuver cannot crush your partner by increasing its size.
All equipment your partner wears or carries is similarly enlarged by the maneuver. Melee and projectile weapons deal more damage. Other magical properties are not affected by this maneuver. Any enlarged item that leaves your partner's possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown weapons deal their normal damage (projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them).
This maneuver is a supernatural ability; multiple magical effects that increase size do not stack.
Diminishing Strike
Essence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 6
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fortitude
You strike your opponent, who suddenly shrinks to miniature size.
When you use this maneuver, make a normal melee attack. If you are successful, the creature you struck must make a Fortitude save (DC 16 + your Wisdom modifier) or be reduced, quartering its height, length, and width and dividing its weight by 16 for one round. This decrease changes the creature’s size by two categories. The target gains a +6 size bonus to Dexterity and a -6 size penalty to Strength (to a minimum of 1), but its size modifier for AC and attacks changes as appropriate to its new size category. This maneuver doesn’t change the target’s speed. All equipment worn or carried by a creature is similarly reduced by the maneuver.
Melee and projectile weapons deal less damage. Other magical properties are not affected by this maneuver. Any reduced item that leaves the reduced creature’s possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown weapons deal their normal damage (projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them). This maneuver is a supernatural ability; multiple magical effects that reduce size do not stack.
Venomstrike, Greater
Essence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 6
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
The wound left behind by your attack oozes black sludge.
When you use this maneuver, make a normal melee attack. If you are successful, the creature you struck is affected by a strong venom, which deals 1d8 points of Constitution damage immediately and an additional 1d8 Constitution damage one minute later. The target may attempt a Fortitude save (DC 16 + your Wisdom modifier) against each instance to negate the damage from the poison. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Wild Assault
Essence of Gaia (Boost)
Level: Domeskipper 6
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Partner
Target: Your partner
Duration: Instantaneous
You scream wild fury to your partner, who moves to attack your enemies.
When you initiate this maneuver, your partner immediately moves up to its speed (provoking AoOs as normal for the movement), and may make a single melee attack at the end of the movement against an enemy it threatens.
Inflict Transformation
Essence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 7
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Permanent
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates, Will partial
You attack your opponent, channeling the gentler nature of Gaia into your strike.
When you initiate this maneuver, make a normal melee attack. If you are successful, the creature you struck must make a Fortitude save (DC 17 + your Wisdom modifier) or be affected as if by the baleful polymorph spell with a caster level equal to your Initiator Level. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Vinefury Strike
Essence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 7
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Varies (see below)
You attack a creature to mark it, and the grass, bushes, and trees extend branches, thorns, and roots to pummel and grab your opponent.
When you initiate this strike, make a melee attack against your opponent with +12d6 bonus damage. If you are successful, grasses, weeds, bushes, and even trees begin to clutch at your target with amazing strength. If you are successful, grasses, weeds, bushes, and even trees wrap, twist, and entwine about your target, attempting to grapple it. Your target must make a grapple check, opposed by the grapple check of the plants. Treat the plants as a Huge creature with a base attack bonus equal to your initiator level and a Strength score of 25. Thus, the plants' grapple check modifier is equal to your initiator level +15. If the creature fails its grapple check, it is grappled and pinned by the plants, and remains pinned until it can escape. Each round that the creature remains pinned, the constriction of the plants deals 2d8+12 damage. The grappling effect of this maneuver does not function if there are no plants within 5 feet of the target (creatures with the Plant type do not count). This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Wild Cavalry
Essence of Gaia (Boost)
Level: Domeskipper 7
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Partner
Target: Your partner
Duration: Instantaneous
You scream wild fury to your partner, who charges your enemies.
When you initiate this maneuver, your partner immediately makes a charge action (provoking AoOs as normal for the movement) against any enemy which it could normally charge.
Arboreal EvasionEssence of Gaia (Counter)
Level: Domeskipper 8
Initiation Action: 1 immediate action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous
As your opponent swings, you disappear and reappear elsewhere.You may initiate this maneuver at any time as an immediate action, gaining the benefit of the
transport via plants spell. The plant you enter need not be Medium-sized or larger, but you may only transport yourself a distance up to 50 feet per initiator level. Since this is an immediate action, you may use this to avoid an attack of which you are aware. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Gaian IntellectusEssence of Gaia (Stance)
Level: Domeskipper 8
Initiation Action: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Stance
You begin communing with the essence of Gaia, receiving information on the surrounding area.While you are in this stance, you gain immediate knowledge of the exact position of every creature within 60 feet, regardless of spells, Hide checks, or other effects which would obscure your target's position. In addition, while you are in natural terrain, you may spend a standard action to gain the benefit of the
find the path spell to determine the best route to any other location in natural terrain.
Stoneform StrikeEssence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 8
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
Duration: Permanent
You strike your opponent with such force that they turn to stone.Make a normal melee attack against your opponent as part of this strike. If you are successful, your opponent must make a Fortitude save (DC 18 + your Wisdom modifier) or be
petrified. This maneuver is a supernatural ability.
Wolfpack UnisonEssence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 8
Initiation Action: 1 full-round action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One or more creatures
Duration: Instantaneous
Working together, you and your partner savage your enemies.As part of this maneuver, you and your partner each make a full-attack action.
Sublime Unison
Essence of Gaia (Strike)
Level: Domeskipper 9
Initiation Action: 1 standard action
Range: Varies
Target: Varies
Duration: Varies
Saving Throw: Varies
You and your partner move in lockstep, destroying your enemies.
When you initiate this maneuver, choose two maneuvers you know whose total levels add up to 9, and which must take no longer than 1 standard action to initiate. You initiate one of these maneuvers, and your partner initiates the other; this happens even if you did not have the two chosen maneuvers readied. You and your partner may not initiate either of the chosen maneuvers again (either via this maneuver or through readying and initiating them individually as normal) for the rest of the encounter.
You and your partner protect each others' backs.
Prerequisite: One Essence of Gaia stance.
Benefit: Whenever an opponent successfully deals damage to you, if you are in an Essence of Gaia stance, your partner gains a +1 morale bonus to attack and damage per 10 points of damage dealt. This bonus only applies to attacks against that opponent, and lasts for 1 round. You gain the same benefit whenever you are in an Essence of Gaia stance and an opponent successfully deals damage to your partner. You and your partner must both know which opponent caused the damage to gain the benefit of this feat.
