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[[Category:Epic Path]]
[[Category:Epic Path]]
''Go back to the [[Epic Path]] page.''
[[Image:Sunder_1.jpg|500px|right|The creature surged forward, unleashing a devastating blow against the shield, shattering it to flinders!]]
<div style="clear:right; float:right; font-size:85%; padding-left:0.5em; padding-top:0.5em">__TOC__</div>


In Epic Path, there are actually TWO ways to fight.


== Combat Maneuvers ==
The most common way of getting a fight done is by making attack rolls, using a D20, and this is explained in complete detail on the [[Combat]] page.  
During combat, you can attempt to perform a number of maneuvers that can hinder or even cripple your foe, including bull rush, disarm, grapple, overrun, sunder, and trip. Although these maneuvers have vastly different results, they all use a similar mechanic to determine success.


But, while the basic D20 combat system is powerful and can be quite detailed, it is not terribly...cinematic. There's no way to swing from chandeliers, climb up the giant Ogre's back, kick down a door, do a dive-and-roll to get behind the bad guy, etc, etc, etc.  How...boring.


=== Combat Maneuver Bonus ===
But fear not!  For all you latter-day Errol Flynn's out there, we present the Combat Maneuvers system!
Each character and creature has a Combat Maneuver Bonus (or CMB) that represents its skill at performing combat maneuvers. A creature's CMB is determined using the following formula:


'''CMB''' = Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + Dexterity modifier + special size modifier
During a combat, and often, even during a skill challenge with the GM's permission, you are allowed to make skill rolls instead of boring old [[Attack Roll]]s, right in the middle of the fight.  These skill rolls are called Maneuver Offense rolls, and they allow you to do all kinds of crazy, exciting, and interesting things during a fight, that do all sorts of fun and interesting things to the bad guys, and they can even do damage to those bad guys, so that you can be as cinematic as you want, and still win fights.


Heck, if you take the right feats, you can do a LOT of damage with combat maneuvers.  Indeed, if you are playing a Class that has three or four attacks in a Full Attack action, you will frequently discover that those last attacks are really tough to land...the normal boring way.  But Combat Maneuvers made with your last attack have the exact same chance to-hit as ones made with your best attack. So trading away your last, or second-last, normal attack for a fun, fancy combat maneuver is often a way to be MORE effective in a battle, while getting rid of bland boredom at the same time. So if you want to be as acrobatic as the most exciting fight scenes in books, comics, and movies, you absolutely can, and should!


====Special Size Modifier====
Indeed, we want to emphasize that the Combat Maneuver system laid out here is just the guideline.  We encourage players to be as imaginative and free-form as they want.  Most GM's will be able to find a Maneuver listed below that at least gets ''close'' to what the player wants to do, and then, well, it's up to the dice, how well you do!
The special size modifier for a creature's Combat Maneuver Bonus is as follows:


Fine –8, Diminutive –4, Tiny –2, Small –1, Medium +0, Large +1, Huge +2, Gargantuan +4, Colossal +8.
If you want to use combat maneuvers, you will want to be good at a few [[skills]], but there's always a price to pay for all that awesome. If you want to be '''really''' good at combat maneuvers, we direct your attention to [[Improved Combat Maneuvers (Feat)]]. Have fun exploring the possibilities!!


Some feats and abilities grant a bonus to your CMB when performing specific maneuvers.
During combat, you can perform maneuvers that can hinder or even cripple your foe. Although these maneuvers have vastly different results, they all use a similar mechanic to determine success.


Note that Combat Maneuvers are NOT Attack Rolls, though it is considered an attack. Combat Maneuvers are [[Skills | Skill Rolls]], which is why they may be made without suffering the -5, -10, or -15 penalty assessed to some Attack Rolls in Combat. As a result, Combat maneuvers cannot be used to apply abilities, powers, spell effects, class features, etc that require an attack roll. Examples include applying poisons, sneak attack, a paladin's Smite, precision damage dice, laying a fighter's Challenge, and many others besides.


==Performing a Combat Maneuver==
==Performing a Combat Maneuver ==
* To perform any combat maneuver, you make an applicable Skill roll, and if it '''Equals or Exceeds''' your target's Maneuver Defense, your maneuver is successful, inflicting the listed effect of the maneuver and a small amount of damage.


*When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform.  
* Some maneuvers, such as [[Bull_Rush_(Combat_Maneuver)|bull rush]], have varying levels of success depending on how much your skill roll exceeds the target's Maneuver Defense. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a maneuver adds a bonus (usually +5) to the result like other skill rolls, while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure. Rolling a natural 20 does not qualify a combat maneuver for additional damage, the bonus to the result is what you get.


*Combat maneuvers may only be attempted on your turn, never as part of an attack of opportunity or a bonus attack.  
* Even though they use Skill rolls instead of Attack rolls, Maneuvers are capable of combat effectiveness. As a result, they can inflict damage (although this is entirely optional; you may always choose not to deal damage with a combat maneuver).  However, unlike attacks, they may not be used to add any types of precision damage, such as a rogue's Sneak Attack, ranger's Quarry, etc., or to apply any effects that rely upon an attack, like a paladin's Smite Enemy, a prowler's Encroaching Jolt, or a fighter's Challenge.


*Most combat maneuvers are standard actions, but some of them may be used as part of an attack action in place of an attack, or as part of a charge.
* This is worth repeating: DAMAGE FROM A COMBAT MANEUVER IS ALWAYS OPTIONAL. If the Brawler wants to Grapple an NPC to prevent them from running away, or use Bull Rush to clear a door blocked by an innocent bystander, you can totally do that without breaking their bones.  


*Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and take a -4 penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver.  
* Maneuvers do not benefit from bonuses to hit, such as flanking bonuses or a Warlord's Battle Standard any more than any other skill does.  Maneuvers do benefit from bonuses to skill rolls, such as a Bard's ability to grant re-rolls, or magic items that boost Skill rolls.


*If your target is immobilized, unconscious, or otherwise incapacitated, your maneuver automatically succeeds (treat as if you rolled a natural 20 on the attack roll). This allows you to drag or reposition unconscious creatures automatically, for example.
* If you are performing a [[full attack action]], and use a maneuver that only requires an [[attack action]] to perform, you can perform it with your worst remaining attack action at any point during your full attack action (that is, you don't need to use up your best attack actions before trading away your worst one to perform the maneuver, you can do the maneuver early, then finish up your remaining attack actions, exactly like trading away your worst attack action for a bonus [[5-foot step]]). Of course, if you are ''not'' performing a full attack action, then the attack action requires your standard action to perform.


*If your target is suffering any condition which denies it an action of any type, you receive a +4 bonus on your attack roll to perform a combat maneuver against it.
* Only one combat maneuver may be attempted per round, and only during your turn. The exception to this rule being when you spend an action point to gain an action type sufficient to perform the maneuver again, or you have some ability that specifically lets you break this rule. (Fighters. Sheesh, those guys...)


*When you attempt to perform a combat maneuver, make an attack roll and add your CMB in place of your normal attack bonus.  
* Combat maneuvers may never be performed as part of an attack of opportunity. Skills can't be used for attacks of opportunity, sorry.


*Add any bonuses you currently have on attack rolls due to spells, feats, and other effects. These bonuses must be applicable to the weapon or attack used to perform the maneuver.  
* If your target is helpless, unconscious, or otherwise unable to perform any actions, your maneuver automatically succeeds, as if you rolled a natural 20 on the skill roll. This allows you to drag or reposition unconscious creatures automatically, for example.


*The DC of this maneuver is your target's Combat Maneuver Defense.  
* If your target is suffering any condition that denies it an action of any type (such as [[Rattled]]), you receive a +4 bonus on your skill roll to perform a maneuver against it.


*Combat maneuvers are attack rolls, so you must roll for concealment and take any other penalties that would normally apply to an attack roll.
* If the target creature has concealment (partial or total), cover, or otherwise inflicts penalties on attacks made against it, those same penalties are also applied to the skill check you make to perform combat maneuvers against it.


*If you wish to, and you are currently wielding a weapon you are proficient in, you may inflict damage if your CMB roll equals or exceeds your target's CMD.  This damage is in addition to the normal effects of the Combat Maneuver, and is equal to the base damage dice of the weapon. As the base damage dice increase with level, this damage increases. If you wish to inflict subdual damage with a Combat Maneuver, the CMB roll is penalized for subdual damage as normal.
* Monsters can perform combat maneuvers just like players can, except that monster combat maneuvers never inflict damage; they only inflict the associated condition (if successful).
:* Some monsters have special abilities that include combat maneuvers.  In these cases, the special ability language supersedes the above; if the special ability states that the combat maneuver also inflicts damage, it inflicts damage as listed.


*If you have natural or class-based non-weapon attacks(such as a Monks Unarmed Attacks), you may roll one iteration of the lowest damage type that would apply. (A Monk can't use Echoing Strike or Flurry of Blows as part of a Combat Maneuver, for example.) In no cases may you apply bonuses from enhancements, feats, spells, class abilities, or any other boost to this damage.  This damage can never be increased as a critical, either.
{{:Maneuver Offense}}


{{:Maneuver Damage}}


===Combat Maneuver Defense===
{{:Maneuver Defense}}
Each character and creature has a Combat Maneuver Defense (or CMD) that represents its ability to resist combat maneuvers. A creature's CMD is determined using the following formula:
 
CMD = 10 + Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + Dexterity modifier + special size modifier + miscellaneous modifiers
 
 
; Special Size Modifier
The special size modifier for a creature's Combat Maneuver Defense is as follows:
 
Fine –8, Diminutive –4, Tiny –2, Small –1, Medium +0, Large +1, Huge +2, Gargantuan +4, Colossal +8.
 
Some feats and abilities grant a bonus to your CMD when resisting specific maneuvers.
 
 
; Miscellaneous Modifiers
A creature can also add any circumstance, deflection, dodge, insight, luck, martial, morale, profane, and sacred bonuses to AC to its CMD. Any penalties to a creature's AC also apply to its CMD. A flat-footed creature does not add its Dexterity bonus to its CMD.
 
 
==Determine Success==
*If your attack roll equals or exceeds the CMD of the target, your maneuver is a success and has the listed effect.
 
*Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your attack roll exceeds the target's CMD. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a Combat Maneuver is always a success (except when attempting to escape from bonds), while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure.  In no way is a natural 20 on a Combat Maneuver ever a critical.
 
 
===Bull Rush===
 
*You can make a bull rush as a standard action or as part of a charge, in place of the melee attack.
 
*You can only bull rush an opponent who is no more than one size category larger than you.
 
*A bull rush maneuver attempts to push an opponent straight back from the square of the attacker. If you do not have the Improved Bull Rush feat, or a similar ability, initiating a bull rush provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.  If that attack of opportunity hits, you take a -4 penalty on your CMB for the bull rush attempt.
 
*If your Combat Maneuver attack is successful, your target is pushed back 5 feet. For every 5 by which your attack exceeds your opponent's CMD you can push the target back an additional 5 feet.
 
*You can move with the target if you wish but you must have enough movement to do so.  A bull rush maneuver does not grant any extra movement.  It is quite possible to knock a foe so far away you cannot reach that foe any longer.
 
*If your Combat Maneuver attack fails, your movement ends in front of the target.
 
*An enemy being moved by a bull rush does not provoke an attack of opportunity because of the movement unless you possess the Greater Bull Rush feat.
 
*You cannot bull rush a creature into a square that is occupied by a solid object or obstacle.
 
*If there is another creature in the way of your bull rush, and you wish to bull rush both of them, you must immediately make a combat maneuver check to bull rush that creature as well. You take a –4 penalty on this check for each creature being pushed beyond the first. Note that you cannot damage ANY creature except the first one you Bull Rush.
 
*If you are successful on all rolls to bull rush multiple creatures in a stack, you can continue to push the creatures a distance equal to the smallest result.
 
* Example:  A fighter bull rushes a goblin for a total of 15 feet, but there is another goblin in a straight line 5 feet behind the first.  He may stop the bull rush after five feet, or he may make another combat maneuver check against the second goblin (at -4) after having pushed the first 5 feet.  If this check reveals that he can push the second goblin a total of 20 feet, he can continue to push both goblins another 10 feet (since the first goblin will have moved a total of 15 feet, which is the lesser result).  If the second roll showed he could push the second goblin only five feet, he can push both goblins another five feet (the lesser result) and then both stop.
 
 
===Dirty Trick===
 
You can attempt to hinder a foe in melee as a standard action.
 
*This maneuver covers any sort of situational attack that imposes a penalty on a foe for a short period of time. Examples include kicking sand into an opponent’s face to blind him for 1 round, pulling down an enemy’s pants to halve his speed, or hitting a foe in a sensitive spot to make him sickened for a round.
 
*The GM is the arbiter of what can be accomplished with this maneuver, but it cannot be used to impose a permanent penalty, and the results can be undone if the target spends a move action (unless a feat makes that into a standard action).
 
*If you do not have the Improved Dirty Trick feat or a similar ability, attempting a dirty trick provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.  if that attack of opportunity succeeds, you take damage as normal and suffer a -4 penalty on your combat maneuver attack roll.
 
*If your combat maneuver attack is successful, the target takes a penalty. The penalty is limited to one of the following conditions:
 
**[[blind]]
**[[dazzled]]
**[[deafened]]
**[[entangled]]
**[[shaken]]
**[[sickened]]
 
*The condition inflicted by Dirty Trick maneuvers lasts for 1 round. For every 5 by which your attack exceeds your opponent’s CMD, the penalty lasts 1 additional round. This penalty can usually be removed if the target spends a move action.
 
*If you possess the Greater Dirty Trick feat, the penalty lasts for 1d4 rounds, plus 1 round for every 5 by which your attack exceeds your opponent’s CMD. In addition, removing the condition requires the target to spend a standard action.
 
===Disarm===
You can attempt to disarm your opponent in place of a melee attack.
 
*If you do not have the Improved Disarm feat, or a similar ability, attempting to disarm a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.  If that attack of opportunity hits, you take damage as normal and suffer a -4 on your Disarm combat maneuver attack roll. Furthermore, attempting to disarm a foe while unarmed imposes another –4 penalty on the attack.
 
*If your combat maneuver attack is successful, your target drops one item it is carrying of your choice (even if the item is wielded with two hands).
 
*If your attack exceeds the CMD of the target by 10 or more, the target drops the items it is carrying in both hands (maximum two items if the target has more than two hands). Yes, you can knock both the sword AND the shield out of a foes hands.
 
*If your attack fails by 10 or more, you drop the weapon that you were using to attempt the disarm, if any.
 
*If you successfully disarm your opponent without using a weapon yourself, you may automatically pick up the item dropped.  Yoink!  Monks and Brawlers love doing this.
 
 
===Drag===
You can attempt to drag a foe as a standard action. In many ways, a Drag combat maneuver is a Bull Rush maneuver in reverse.
 
*You can only drag an opponent who is no more than one size category larger than you.
 
*The aim of this maneuver is to drag a foe in a straight line from its space through the space the attacker occupies when the roll is made and possibly further.
 
*If you do not have the Improved Drag feat or a similar ability, initiating a drag provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver. If that attack of opportunity hits, you take damage as normal and suffer a -4 penalty on your Drag combat maneuver attack roll.
 
*If your combat maneuver attack is successful, both you and your target are moved 5 feet back, with your opponent occupying your original space and you in the space behind that in a straight line.
 
*For every 5 by which your attack exceeds your opponent’s CMD, you can drag the target back an additional 5 feet. You must be able to move with the target to perform this maneuver. If you do not have enough movement, the drag goes to the maximum amount of movement available to you and ends.
 
*An enemy being moved by a drag does not provoke an attack of opportunity because of the movement unless you possess the Greater Drag feat.
 
*You cannot move a creature into a square that is occupied by a solid object or obstacle. If there is another creature in the way of your movement, the drag ends adjacent to that creature.
 
*Stability Racial Trait: Some characters or types of creatures prove particularly sure-footed, making them more difficult to overthrow and move around the battlefield. Any racial ability that grants a bonus to CMD versus bull rush attempts grants the same bonus against drag combat maneuvers.
 
===Grapple===
 
As a standard action, you can attempt to grapple a foe, hindering his combat options. You roll your CMB against a target DC of the victim's CMD.  You must equal or exceed the target's CMD to succeed.
 
*If you do not have Improved Grapple, grab, or a similar ability, attempting to grapple a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.  If that attack of opportunity hits, you take damage as normal and suffer a -4 on the combat maneuver check to initiate the grapple.
 
*Humanoid creatures without two free hands attempting to grapple a foe take an additional –4 penalty on the combat maneuver roll.
 
* If you make your Grapple combat maneuver attack roll successfully, both you and the target gain the [[grappled]] condition.
 
*If you successfully grapple a creature that is not adjacent to you, move that creature to an adjacent open space (if no space is available, your grapple fails).
 
*Although both creatures have the [[grappled]] condition, you can, as the creature that initiated the grapple, release the grapple as a free action, removing the condition from both you and the target.
 
*If you do not release the grapple, you must continue to make a check each round, as a standard action, to maintain the hold. If your target does not break the grapple, you get a +5 circumstance bonus on grapple checks made against the same target in subsequent rounds.
 
*Once you are grappling an opponent, a successful check allows you to continue grappling the foe, and also allows you to perform one of the following actions (as part of the standard action spent to maintain the grapple).
 
 
====Move====
You can move both yourself and your target up to half your speed. At the end of your movement, you can place your target in any square adjacent to you. If you attempt to place your foe in a hazardous location, such as in a wall of fire or over a pit, the target receives a free attempt to break your grapple with a +4 bonus.
 
 
====Damage====
You can inflict damage to your target equal to your unarmed strike, a natural attack, or an attack made with armor spikes or a light or one-handed weapon. This damage can be either lethal or nonlethal.
 
 
====Pin====
You can give your opponent the [[pinned]] condition (see Conditions). Despite pinning your opponent, you still only have the [[grappled]] condition, but you lose your Dexterity bonus to AC.
 
 
====Tie Up====
If you have your target pinned, otherwise restrained, or unconscious, you can use rope to tie him up. This works like a pin effect, but the DC to escape the bonds is equal to 20 + your Combat Maneuver Bonus (instead of your CMD). The ropes do not need to make a check every round to maintain the pin. If you are grappling the target, you can attempt to tie him up in ropes, but doing so requires a combat maneuver check at a –10 penalty. If the DC to escape from these bindings is higher than 20 + the target's CMB, the target cannot escape from the bonds, even with a natural 20 on the check.
 
 
====If You Are Grappled====
 
*If you are grappled, you can attempt to break the grapple as a standard action by making a combat maneuver check (DC equal to your opponent's CMD; this does not provoke an attack of opportunity) or Escape Artist check (with a DC equal to your opponent's CMD). If you succeed, you break the grapple and can act normally.
 
*Alternatively, if you succeed, you can reverse the grapple, so that you become the grappler, grappling the other creature (meaning that the other creature cannot freely release the grapple without making a combat maneuver check, while you can).
 
*Instead of attempting to break or reverse the grapple, you can take any action that doesn’t require two hands to perform, such as cast a spell or make an attack or full attack with a light or one-handed weapon against any creature within your reach, including the creature that is grappling you.
 
*See the [[grappled]] condition for additional details.
 
*If you are pinned, your actions are very limited. See the [[pinned]] condition in Conditions for additional details.
 
 
====Multiple Creatures====
 
Multiple creatures can attempt to grapple one target.
 
*The creature that first initiates the grapple is the only one that makes a check, with a +2 bonus for each creature that assists in the grapple (using the Aid Another action).
 
*Multiple creatures can also assist another creature in breaking free from a grapple, with each creature that assists (using the Aid Another action) granting a +2 bonus on the grappled creature's combat maneuver check.
 
===Overrun===
 
As a standard action, taken during your move or instead of the attack at the end of a charge, you can attempt to overrun your target, moving through its square. This will allow you to 'charge through' an opponent if successful.
 
*Overrun does not require you to move in a straight line unless you combine it with a charge.
 
*Overrun attempts must end your movement in an open space.  If there is no open space to end your movement, the overrun fails in the square before the opponents space.
 
*You can only overrun an opponent who is no more than one size category larger than you.
 
*If you do not have the Improved Overrun feat, or a similar ability, initiating an overrun provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver. If this attack of opportunity hits you take damage as normal and suffer a -4 penalty to complete the Overrun maneuver.
 
*If your overrun attempt fails, you stop in the space directly in front of the opponent, or the nearest open space in front of the creature if there are other creatures occupying that space.
 
*When you attempt to overrun a target, it can choose to avoid you, allowing you to pass through its square without requiring a combat maneuver attack.
 
*If your target does not avoid you, make a combat maneuver check as normal. If your maneuver is successful, you move through the target's space. If your target occupies more than one square, one overrun check will get you through it's entire space, but you must have enough movement to make the whole trip. 
 
*If your attack exceeds your opponent's CMD by 5 or more, you move through the target's space and the target is knocked prone.
 
*If the target has more than two legs, add +2 to the DC of the combat maneuver attack roll for each additional leg it has.
 
 
 
===Reposition===
 
You can attempt to reposition a foe to a different location as a standard action.
 
*You can only reposition an opponent that is no more than one size category larger than you.
 
*A reposition attempts to force a foe to move to a different position in relation to your location. You may never move out of your starting square during a reposition attempt.
 
*If you do not have the Improved Reposition feat or a similar ability, attempting to reposition a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.  If this attack of opportunity hits, you suffer damage as normal and take a -4 penalty to hit with the combat maneuver attack.
 
*You cannot use this maneuver to move a foe into a space that is intrinsically dangerous, such as a pit or wall of fire.
 
*If your combat maneuver attack is successful, you may move your target 5 feet to a new location within your reach.
 
*For every 5 by which your attack exceeds your opponent’s CMD, you can move the target an additional 5 feet. The target must remain within your reach at all times during this movement, except for the final 5 feet of movement, which can be to a space adjacent to your reach.
 
*An enemy being moved by a reposition does not provoke an attack of opportunity because of the movement unless you possess the Greater Reposition feat.
 
*You cannot move a creature into a square that is occupied by a solid object or obstacle.
 
 
===Steal===
 
You can attempt to take an item from a foe as a standard action. This maneuver can be used in melee to take any item that is neither held nor hidden in a bag or pack.
 
*You must have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to attempt this maneuver.  The Steal attempt is made with that empty hand, and no damage can be inflicted, ever.
 
* You must select the item to be taken before the check is made.
 
*Items that are simply tucked into a belt or loosely attached (such as brooches or necklaces) are the easiest to take, imposing no penalty.
 
*Items fastened to a foe (such as cloaks, sheathed weapons, or pouches) are more difficult to take, and give the opponent a +5 bonus (or greater) to his CMD.
 
*Items that are closely worn (such as armor, backpacks, boots, clothing, or rings) cannot be taken with this maneuver.
 
*Items held in the hands (such as wielded weapons or wands) also cannot be taken with the steal maneuver—you must use the disarm combat maneuver instead. The GM is the final arbiter of what items can be taken.
 
*If you do not have the Improved Steal feat or a similar ability, attempting to steal an object provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.  If this attack of opportunity hits, you suffer damage as normal and take a -4 penalty to the attack roll of the Steal maneuver.
 
*Although this maneuver can only be performed if the target is within your reach, you can use a regular non-combat whip to steal an object from a target within range with a –4 penalty on the attack roll.
 
*If your attack is successful, you may take one item from your opponent. You must be able to reach the item to be taken (subject to GM discretion).
 
*Your enemy is always immediately aware of this theft unless you possess the Greater Steal feat.
 
 
===Sunder===
 
You can attempt to sunder an item held or worn by your opponent as part of an attack action in place of a melee attack* (see Editors Note: Multiple Sunder Attempts).
 
*If you do not have the Improved Sunder feat, or a similar ability, attempting to sunder an item provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.  If this attack of opportunity hits, you take damage as normal and suffer a -4 to-hit on the Sunder combat maneuver attack roll.
 
*If your attack is successful, you deal damage to the item normally. Damage that exceeds the object's Hardness is subtracted from its hit points.
 
*If an object has equal to or less than half its total hit points remaining, it gains the broken condition.
 
*If the damage you deal would reduce the object to less than 0 hit points, you can choose to destroy it.
 
*If you do not choose to destroy it, the object is left with only 1 hit point and the broken condition.
 
 
===Trip===
 
You can attempt to trip your opponent in place of a melee attack.
 
*Note that trip does not require a standard action: It replaces a melee attack, and only one melee attack, even if you have more than one attack per round.  If you make a trip attack at less than your full BAB, use the BAB of the attack used to determine your CMB.
 
*You can only trip an opponent who is no more than one size category larger than you.
 
If you do not have the Improved Trip feat, or a similar ability, initiating a trip provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver.  If this attack of opportunity hits, you take damage as normal and suffer a -4 on your attack roll for the Trip maneuver.
 
*If your Trip combat maneuver attack exceeds the target's CMD, the target is knocked prone.
 
*If your attack fails by 10 or more, you are knocked prone instead.
 
*If the target has more than two legs, add +2 to the DC of the combat maneuver attack roll for each additional leg it has.
 
*Some creatures—such as oozes, creatures without legs, and flying creatures—cannot be tripped.

Latest revision as of 02:26, 31 January 2024

The creature surged forward, unleashing a devastating blow against the shield, shattering it to flinders!

In Epic Path, there are actually TWO ways to fight.

The most common way of getting a fight done is by making attack rolls, using a D20, and this is explained in complete detail on the Combat page.

But, while the basic D20 combat system is powerful and can be quite detailed, it is not terribly...cinematic. There's no way to swing from chandeliers, climb up the giant Ogre's back, kick down a door, do a dive-and-roll to get behind the bad guy, etc, etc, etc. How...boring.

But fear not! For all you latter-day Errol Flynn's out there, we present the Combat Maneuvers system!

During a combat, and often, even during a skill challenge with the GM's permission, you are allowed to make skill rolls instead of boring old Attack Rolls, right in the middle of the fight. These skill rolls are called Maneuver Offense rolls, and they allow you to do all kinds of crazy, exciting, and interesting things during a fight, that do all sorts of fun and interesting things to the bad guys, and they can even do damage to those bad guys, so that you can be as cinematic as you want, and still win fights.

Heck, if you take the right feats, you can do a LOT of damage with combat maneuvers. Indeed, if you are playing a Class that has three or four attacks in a Full Attack action, you will frequently discover that those last attacks are really tough to land...the normal boring way. But Combat Maneuvers made with your last attack have the exact same chance to-hit as ones made with your best attack. So trading away your last, or second-last, normal attack for a fun, fancy combat maneuver is often a way to be MORE effective in a battle, while getting rid of bland boredom at the same time. So if you want to be as acrobatic as the most exciting fight scenes in books, comics, and movies, you absolutely can, and should!

Indeed, we want to emphasize that the Combat Maneuver system laid out here is just the guideline. We encourage players to be as imaginative and free-form as they want. Most GM's will be able to find a Maneuver listed below that at least gets close to what the player wants to do, and then, well, it's up to the dice, how well you do!

If you want to use combat maneuvers, you will want to be good at a few skills, but there's always a price to pay for all that awesome. If you want to be really good at combat maneuvers, we direct your attention to Improved Combat Maneuvers (Feat). Have fun exploring the possibilities!!

During combat, you can perform maneuvers that can hinder or even cripple your foe. Although these maneuvers have vastly different results, they all use a similar mechanic to determine success.

Note that Combat Maneuvers are NOT Attack Rolls, though it is considered an attack. Combat Maneuvers are Skill Rolls, which is why they may be made without suffering the -5, -10, or -15 penalty assessed to some Attack Rolls in Combat. As a result, Combat maneuvers cannot be used to apply abilities, powers, spell effects, class features, etc that require an attack roll. Examples include applying poisons, sneak attack, a paladin's Smite, precision damage dice, laying a fighter's Challenge, and many others besides.

Performing a Combat Maneuver

  • To perform any combat maneuver, you make an applicable Skill roll, and if it Equals or Exceeds your target's Maneuver Defense, your maneuver is successful, inflicting the listed effect of the maneuver and a small amount of damage.
  • Some maneuvers, such as bull rush, have varying levels of success depending on how much your skill roll exceeds the target's Maneuver Defense. Rolling a natural 20 while attempting a maneuver adds a bonus (usually +5) to the result like other skill rolls, while rolling a natural 1 is always a failure. Rolling a natural 20 does not qualify a combat maneuver for additional damage, the bonus to the result is what you get.
  • Even though they use Skill rolls instead of Attack rolls, Maneuvers are capable of combat effectiveness. As a result, they can inflict damage (although this is entirely optional; you may always choose not to deal damage with a combat maneuver). However, unlike attacks, they may not be used to add any types of precision damage, such as a rogue's Sneak Attack, ranger's Quarry, etc., or to apply any effects that rely upon an attack, like a paladin's Smite Enemy, a prowler's Encroaching Jolt, or a fighter's Challenge.
  • This is worth repeating: DAMAGE FROM A COMBAT MANEUVER IS ALWAYS OPTIONAL. If the Brawler wants to Grapple an NPC to prevent them from running away, or use Bull Rush to clear a door blocked by an innocent bystander, you can totally do that without breaking their bones.
  • Maneuvers do not benefit from bonuses to hit, such as flanking bonuses or a Warlord's Battle Standard any more than any other skill does. Maneuvers do benefit from bonuses to skill rolls, such as a Bard's ability to grant re-rolls, or magic items that boost Skill rolls.
  • If you are performing a full attack action, and use a maneuver that only requires an attack action to perform, you can perform it with your worst remaining attack action at any point during your full attack action (that is, you don't need to use up your best attack actions before trading away your worst one to perform the maneuver, you can do the maneuver early, then finish up your remaining attack actions, exactly like trading away your worst attack action for a bonus 5-foot step). Of course, if you are not performing a full attack action, then the attack action requires your standard action to perform.
  • Only one combat maneuver may be attempted per round, and only during your turn. The exception to this rule being when you spend an action point to gain an action type sufficient to perform the maneuver again, or you have some ability that specifically lets you break this rule. (Fighters. Sheesh, those guys...)
  • Combat maneuvers may never be performed as part of an attack of opportunity. Skills can't be used for attacks of opportunity, sorry.
  • If your target is helpless, unconscious, or otherwise unable to perform any actions, your maneuver automatically succeeds, as if you rolled a natural 20 on the skill roll. This allows you to drag or reposition unconscious creatures automatically, for example.
  • If your target is suffering any condition that denies it an action of any type (such as Rattled), you receive a +4 bonus on your skill roll to perform a maneuver against it.
  • If the target creature has concealment (partial or total), cover, or otherwise inflicts penalties on attacks made against it, those same penalties are also applied to the skill check you make to perform combat maneuvers against it.
  • Monsters can perform combat maneuvers just like players can, except that monster combat maneuvers never inflict damage; they only inflict the associated condition (if successful).
  • Some monsters have special abilities that include combat maneuvers. In these cases, the special ability language supersedes the above; if the special ability states that the combat maneuver also inflicts damage, it inflicts damage as listed.

Maneuver Offense

Maneuver offense is a generic term for a skill check to perform a combat maneuver. The combat maneuvers and their associated skill checks are:
Combat Maneuver Skill Action Required Description
Bull Rush Might Attack Action Shove an enemy away from you
Charge Movement Standard Action Move directly up to a foe and attack them
Clamber Movement Attack Action Crawl underneath, or climb on top of a foe
Cleave Might Attack Action Attack a foe adjacent to a foe you just attacked
Demoralize Intimidate Attack Action Shake the confidence of a foe
Dirty Trick Sleight of Hand Attack Action Discombobulate your foe using an unconventional attack
Disarm Sleight of Hand Attack Action Strip a weapon out of the hands of your foe
Dismantle Trap Disable Device Attack Action Deal siege damage to a trap
Drag Might Attack Action Pull yourself and a foe backwards
Feint Bluff Attack Action Make your foe drop their guard momentarily
Grapple Might Standard Action Tackle your foe and wrestle them into submission
Overrun Movement Standard Action Run through an enemy's space and knock them prone
Reposition Sleight of Hand Attack Action Shove an enemy into the space of your choosing
Shield Bash Might Attack Action Rattle an opponent by hitting them with your shield
Steal Sleight of Hand Attack Action Why wait until they're dead to loot them?
Subdue Sleight of Hand Attack Action Incapacitate your foe instead of killing them
Sunder Might Attack Action Destroy your foe's weapon or shield
Trip Sleight of Hand Attack Action Sweep the leg, and lay them out flat
Tumble Acrobatics Move Action at half speed Get yourself into a bad situation, hopefully unscathed
Withdraw Movement Standard Action Get yourself out of a bad situation, hopefully unscathed


Combat maneuvers are performed by making a skill check with the appropriate skill, versus a DC of the target creature's Maneuver Defense. If the check equals or exceeds this target DC, the maneuver is successful. Refer to the individual maneuvers to resolve the outcome of this success.

Maneuver Damage

Combat maneuvers can inflict some damage when performed, in addition to the other effects of the maneuver in question. This damage is optional; the character performing the maneuver may elect not to inflict damage while still inflicting the other effects (assuming the maneuver is successful). Damage from combat maneuvers is less than the damage the character would do with a normal attack, but is still based on the primary weapon the character is wielding. A character's exact Maneuver Damage is determined using the following formula:
(Primary Weapon's Base Damage (Dice Only) x Level Damage Multiplier) + Weapon Quality + Feat Bonus + Class Feature + Racial Trait + Other
  • Primary Weapon's Base Damage (Dice Only): Maneuvers deal original base weapon damage of the weapon you are wielding, not including any adders, such as enhancement bonuses, STR modifiers, feats, spell effects, precision damage, bonus damage, etc. This is just the base weapon damage dice of the weapon.
  • Level Damage Multiplier: Base weapon damage increases at each experience tier above courageous (i.e. at 6th level, 11th level, 16th level, 21st level, 26th level, and at 31st level). As these increases occur, they increase maneuver damage accordingly.
  • Weapon Quality: Some weapons possess qualities which directly improve the damage of one or more combat maneuvers, when that weapon is wielded as your primary weapon. Typically, weapon qualities only apply to a particular maneuver (or set of maneuvers).
  • Class Feature: Some class features grant a bonus to combat maneuver damage, or to damage dealt when performing particular maneuvers.
  • Racial Trait: Some racial traits grant a bonus to combat maneuver damage, or to damage dealt when performing particular maneuvers.
  • Other: Other bonuses may grant increases to damage dealt by combat maneuvers. These could come from magic items, magic weapon properties, or permanent boons from a powerful entity. Oftentimes, such bonuses will only increase the damage to a particular maneuver (or set of maneuvers).
If you have natural or class-based non-weapon attacks (e.g. Brawler or Monk), you may roll just the dice you would normally roll for an attack you are allowed to make during an attack of opportunity at your current class level for that class, not including any adders (such as enhancement bonuses, STR modifiers, feats, spell effects, precision damage, bonus damage, etc).
Example: a 5th level fighter would roll just the dice from their +1 longsword (1d8), while a 5th level Monk would roll just the dice of their Echoing Strike attack (2d8), and a 5th level Brawler would roll just the dice of their Cross attack (also 2d8).
Combat maneuvers can gain the skill critical bonus effect on a roll of a natural 20 (usually +5 to the total result), which can result in a greater effect from the combat maneuver, but maneuvers never inflict additional damage due to a critical hit, and therefore do not require a critical confirmation roll.

Maneuver Defense

Each character and creature has a Maneuver Defense value that represents its ability to resist combat maneuvers such as Trip, Overrun and Bull Rush, among many other uses. Maneuver Defense can be thought of as a general statistic used to represent how well a character or creature can handle rough physical treatment. It is related to but different than Armor Class, and is derived in a different way. Maneuver Defense is based on a character's overall experience with the school of hard knocks; the physical size, power, and deftness of the character, combined with their ability to dodge or deflect events. A player character's exact Maneuver Defense is determined using the following formula:
10 + ½ Character Level (round down, min 0) + Size Modifier + STR modifier + DEX modifier + Dodge AC + Natural Armor Bonus + Shield AC + Shield Enhancement Bonus + Miscellaneous + Penalties
  • Size Modifier: Fine -4, Diminutive -3, Tiny -2, Small -1, Medium +0, Large +1, Huge +2, Gargantuan +3, Colossal +4, Titanic +5.
  • Dodge AC: This typically comes from feats, such as the Dodge feat, but can also come from class features, racial traits, etc. Unlike most bonus types, dodge bonuses stack (are added together) with other dodge bonuses.
  • Natural Armor Bonus: This nearly always comes from a magic item, such as an Amulet of Natural Armor, but it can sometimes be gained through other means, such as class features or racial traits. Natural armor bonuses do not stack; only the highest available bonus is used.
  • Shield AC: This is the bonus to AC provided by the shield itself, typically ranging from +1 (a buckler) to +4 (a tower shield).
  • Shield Enhancement Bonus: This is a magic bonus applied to the shield, in the form of plusses. For example, a +3 shield is "plus three" because it has a +3 shield enhancement bonus, which adds to the AC granted by the shield and also contributes to the maneuver defense of the wearer, while the shield is being actively wielded or worn.
  • Miscellaneous Modifiers: Some feats and abilities grant a bonus to your Maneuver Defense when resisting specific things.
  • Penalties: Any penalties to a creature's AC also apply to its Maneuver Defense for physical attacks. For example, a flat-footed creature suffers the same -4 penalty to its Maneuver Defense as it does against its AC.
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