Anime Warrior: Help Needed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Anime Warrior: Help Needed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DemonDragonJ
10-23-05, 12:35 PM I am trying to create a character who embodies the archetype of the warrior from Japanese anime, such as Kenshin Himura from Ruroni Kenshin; a swift, agile fighter who wears little or no armor, carries a katana, and is incredibly skilled in melee combat. Flavor-wise, I have the character all worked out, but statistically speaking, I am having some difficulty.

What should this character's base class be? The fighter is too mundane, the samurai is not agile enough, and the monk and swashbuckler are almost perfect, except that the monk prefers to fight with its bare hands and the swashbuckler uses only light weapons, ruling out the possiblity of the katana.

Any suggestions?
Zephyrus/Sonet
10-23-05, 12:42 PM Here's what you do, take the Monk class and get Whirling Steel Strike from the Eberron Campaign setting. It let's you use a Longsword for flurry of blows. Twist your DM's arm a bit and see if he'll let you use a Bastard Sword instead.

Or

Make a Monk/Fighter and use Shou Disciple from Unapproachable East. You'll be able to use all martial weapons in flurry of blows (I think). If you use a Bastard Sword in two hands it counts as a Martial Weapon.

Congradulations, you're on the path to an Anime Samurai :)
DemonDragonJ
10-23-05, 12:48 PM Those are some interesting suggstions. I shall try them out. Thank you.
Novacat
10-23-05, 12:49 PM The problem with most anime-inspired classes is that in anime, the characters tend to be insanely powerful. Therefore it's hard to translate them into d20 system classes and maintain both game balance and coolness.
Lawrence
10-23-05, 12:54 PM I would suggest the BESM D20 if you want anime style stuff. Might serve you better in that aspect.

www.guardiansorder.com/d20
DemonDragonJ
10-23-05, 12:55 PM The problem with most anime-inspired classes is that in anime, the characters tend to be insanely powerful. Therefore it's hard to translate them into d20 system classes and maintain both game balance and coolness.

You have a good point there. I did not think of that.

By the way, how did you create that clever tongue-twister concerning the warmage in your signature?
Zephyrus/Sonet
10-23-05, 12:56 PM I managed it before. Fighter/Monk with the altered Whirling Steel Strike feat I mentioned. Got sandals of the Arachnid (same as the cloak) and ran on walls while deflecting every blow with full-out Combat Expertise.

Fun times.
DemonDragonJ
10-23-05, 12:57 PM I would suggest the BESM D20 if you want anime style stuff. Might serve you better in that aspect.

www.guardiansorder.com/d20

What does BESM stand for?
Novacat
10-23-05, 08:23 PM By the way, how did you create that clever tongue-twister concerning the warmage in your signature?

I didn't. It's an adaptation of what I saw in someone else's signature. They use "How much war could a Warforged forge..."

What does BESM stand for?

Big Eyes Small Mouth.
Ketsurui
10-23-05, 08:34 PM Gestalting is another way to do that, depending on the campaign and such. Monk, psionics, maybe sorc levels, in addition to your main class will give you an anime feel.
Nobunaga Oda
10-23-05, 08:45 PM The problem with most anime-inspired classes is that in anime, the characters tend to be insanely powerful. Therefore it's hard to translate them into d20 system classes and maintain both game balance and coolness.

Wich anime? There so many animes whith diferent styles...if I recall, Record of Lodoss War is very D&Dish, the protagonists started very weak, and started gaining strengh while the series went foward.

The ideia of getting the monk class and tweak to become a warrior is just perfect!

I just don´t get why do you think that a agile lilttle warrior is anime like...Have you ever watched, read "Berserk"?
Gats uses a pretty big sword, and he isn´t very fast ;) (And he is hit almost all the time.)
red_scare87
10-23-05, 08:54 PM Wich anime? There so many animes whith diferent styles...if I recall, Record of Lodoss War is very D&Dish, the protagonists started very weak, and started gaining strengh while the series went foward.

Man, Record of Lodoss War is a good example of how Anime and D&D can combine into one glorious amalgam of awesomeness. Too bad Parn(i think that was his name) the main character was so weak the whole series. Worst Anime main character of all time.

Anyway, to answer the OPs question:
Taking levels in monk is definitely the way to go. Monk/Fighter is the way to go as long as your DM allows it. You need the Monk levels for the FoB and the Bonus to AC for the crafty dodging. The fighter levels are obviously for the feats. (Kenshin would definitely need the quick draw feat.) Fighter is also good for the higher BaB. A Gestalt Monk/Fighter would be the best thing to represent the Anime Character style fighter guy. As long as your DM allows all this stuff. :D
feartheinvinceblehamster
10-23-05, 09:36 PM first things first. I reccomend the swashbuckler class from CW. Then, take a flaw where you have to spend at least 8 hours crying and moaning and whining every time you kill something. Then Take EWP(Bsword), WF(Bsword), and combat reflexes. you have an anime fighter.

and red_scare87, if you don't like vancian magic as your sig says, check out the links in my sig for the stafflord and blood magic. you'll like them.

AFTERTHOUGHT: multiclass into kensai ASAP

ANOTHER AFTERTHOUGHT: that warmage tongue-twister is a variation of the famous eberron board tongue-Twisters:

How much change could a changeling change if a changling could change change?

AND

How much war could a warforged forge if a warforged could forge war.
runestar
10-24-05, 04:26 AM The closest I can think of is to incorporate the exalted feats from BOED. Even with armour, your character is still going to get hit very often, so maybe take VOP and houserule/create a custom feat that lets you use your katana with VOP.
But you have more work cut out for you flavourwise.

Plus kenshin was never a samurai. I was thinking a fighter/psychic warrior multiclass. The few powers can be used to emulate those physics-defying stunts they keep pulling in the show.
Rowan_Whispercloak
10-24-05, 05:43 AM I would go with the swashbuckler, but get a copy of OA and take the iaijutsu master (IM) presitge class if the DM allows it. You will probably need to find a way to be able to iaijutsu focus as a class skill so multiclassing samurai (out of the OA) is the best way. The first level of IM lets you use weapon finesse on a katana and then you get the best out of you swashbuckler.

Barring that the dervish out of complete warrior might be what you are looking for.
periscope
10-25-05, 08:20 PM You could ask your DM if you could get something similar to a monk but uses swords instead of fists.

For the whole no armor thing, Ive seen a couple feats that you might like.

Ancestor Fetish: you carry with you a pouch that contains things that your ancestors treasured in life (a lucky coin, shard of a weapon, their favorite quill, etc.). Through this link they protect you.

You gain a luck bonus to your ac equal to your hit dice (maximum +10). This only works if you wear no armor and do not use a shield (with the exception of using a tower shield for cover, ring of force shield, and bracers of armor). If you wear armor or use a shield you lose the benefit of this feat until you gain and atonement spell. You also suffer from a curse (as described in the Bestow curse spell) with no save until you atone.

CANNY DEFENSE [Fighter] [General]
You have been trained to fight smarter not harder.
Prerequisites: BAB +1, Int of 13+
Benefit: You may add your Int mod as a competence bonus to your AC.
Special: You can only benefit from this feat in light or no armor.

MADCAP DODGE
You jump and giggle and stick out your tongue while enemies swing futilely at you with mounting frustration.
Prerequisites: BAB +1, Cha of 13+
Benefit: You may now add your Cha mod as a morale bonus to Armor class.
Special: You benefit from this only when wearing light or no armor (Your already so skilled, you dont need anything heavier).

ZEN AWARENESS [Fighter][General]
You intuition guides your movements so as to avoid harm
Prerequisites: BAB+1, Wisdom of 13+.
Benefit: You add your Wisdom bonus to your AC as an Insight bonus.
Special: You can only benefit from this feat when wearing light or no armor.

SELF-DEFENSE [Fighter] [General]
You can dodge all attacks about which you are aware.
Prerequisites: Dexterity 18, Alertness feat or 2 ranks in both Spot and Listen, Dodge feat
Benefit: The dodge bonus granted by the Dodge feat or any other dodge feat now applies to all attacks made against you. When you are denied your Dexterity bonus to AC, you lose the benefit of Self-Defense. Self-Defense only applies to the benefit of the Dodge feat and does not apply to Improved Dodge or subsequent Dodge feats or to feats that enhanced Dodge in other ways, such as Distracting Dodge or Zen Defense. For the purposes of those feats, you must still designate the target of Dodge.

IMPROVED DODGE [Fighter] [General]
You can dodge enemies more effectively than before.
Prerequisites: Dexterity 15, Dodge feat.
Benefit: The dodge bonus of the Dodge feat increases to +2. You may designate a single opponent or divide the bonus among multiple designated opponents.

GREATER DODGE [Fighter] [General]
You can dodge enemies even more effectively than before.
Prerequisites: Dexterity 17, Dodge feat, Improved Dodge feat.
Benefit: The dodge bonus of the Dodge feat increases to +4. You may designate a single opponent or divide the bonus among multiple designated opponents

COMBAT PARRY [Fighter] [General]
You are skilled at deflecting melee attacks with your own weapon.
Prerequisites: BAB +4, Weapon Finesse feat.
Benefit: When holding a light or one-handed melee weapon in your main hand, you can use the weapon to deflect melee attacks made against you, gaining a +2 deflection bonus against such attacks to AC by taking a –1 penalty to all your attack rolls that round. When denied your Dexterity modifier to AC, you lose the ability to parry in combat. This stacks with the effects of the Combat Expertise feat.
simon_tage
10-25-05, 08:34 PM I would go with rowan's suggestion. Rather than trying to get the DM to allow you to take Iaijutsu focus as a class skill I would invest in a feat that allows it (even if they are world specific they might be more palatable as you are giving up something i.e. a feat, for the right).

As for the feats listed, what the heck are they from?
DyloniusFunk
10-25-05, 08:40 PM Man, Record of Lodoss War is a good example of how Anime and D&D can combine into one glorious amalgam of awesomeness. Too bad Parn(i think that was his name) the main character was so weak the whole series. Worst Anime main character of all time.

Apparently the Record Of Lodoss War sereis was based on an actual roleplaying camapgin. So that might be why the characters seem like they are similar to D&D characters. I don't know what system they wer eusieng but if it was D&D then it was probably 2nd Edition.
feartheinvinceblehamster
10-25-05, 09:39 PM Those 3 feats would be great for a swashbuckler. Though I'd be worried about a wizard taking all of them and having a first level AC of 21 or such. Or a cleric with a 1st Level AC of 26
Seeker of Undeath
10-26-05, 01:12 AM I am trying to create a character who embodies the archetype of the warrior from Japanese anime, such as Kenshin Himura from Ruroni Kenshin; a swift, agile fighter who wears little or no armor, carries a katana, and is incredibly skilled in melee combat. Flavor-wise, I have the character all worked out, but statistically speaking, I am having some difficulty.

What should this character's base class be? The fighter is too mundane, the samurai is not agile enough, and the monk and swashbuckler are almost perfect, except that the monk prefers to fight with its bare hands and the swashbuckler uses only light weapons, ruling out the possiblity of the katana.

Any suggestions?I thought a Crane Clan Samurai (OA) could learn Weapon Finesse (Katana). That going into Iaijutsu Master paints Kenshin/Shinta rather well. As for the quick and carry a big sword type, you'll just have to suffer with balancing strength and dexterity.

On the other hand, Guts from Berserk makes a FUN Barbarian/Fighter/FrenziedBerserker.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DemonDragonJ 10-23-05, 12:35 PM	I am trying to create a character who embodies the archetype of the warrior from Japanese anime, such as Kenshin Himura from Ruroni Kenshin; a swift, agile fighter who wears little or no armor, carries a katana, and is incredibly skilled in melee combat. Flavor-wise, I have the character all worked out, but statistically speaking, I am having some difficulty. What should this character's base class be? The fighter is too mundane, the samurai is not agile enough, and the monk and swashbuckler are almost perfect, except that the monk prefers to fight with its bare hands and the swashbuckler uses only light weapons, ruling out the possiblity of the katana. Any suggestions?
Zephyrus/Sonet 10-23-05, 12:42 PM	Here's what you do, take the Monk class and get Whirling Steel Strike from the Eberron Campaign setting. It let's you use a Longsword for flurry of blows. Twist your DM's arm a bit and see if he'll let you use a Bastard Sword instead. Or Make a Monk/Fighter and use Shou Disciple from Unapproachable East. You'll be able to use all martial weapons in flurry of blows (I think). If you use a Bastard Sword in two hands it counts as a Martial Weapon. Congradulations, you're on the path to an Anime Samurai :)
DemonDragonJ 10-23-05, 12:48 PM	Those are some interesting suggstions. I shall try them out. Thank you.
Novacat 10-23-05, 12:49 PM	The problem with most anime-inspired classes is that in anime, the characters tend to be insanely powerful. Therefore it's hard to translate them into d20 system classes and maintain both game balance and coolness.
Lawrence 10-23-05, 12:54 PM	I would suggest the BESM D20 if you want anime style stuff. Might serve you better in that aspect. www.guardiansorder.com/d20
DemonDragonJ 10-23-05, 12:55 PM	The problem with most anime-inspired classes is that in anime, the characters tend to be insanely powerful. Therefore it's hard to translate them into d20 system classes and maintain both game balance and coolness. You have a good point there. I did not think of that. By the way, how did you create that clever tongue-twister concerning the warmage in your signature?
Zephyrus/Sonet 10-23-05, 12:56 PM	I managed it before. Fighter/Monk with the altered Whirling Steel Strike feat I mentioned. Got sandals of the Arachnid (same as the cloak) and ran on walls while deflecting every blow with full-out Combat Expertise. Fun times.
DemonDragonJ 10-23-05, 12:57 PM	I would suggest the BESM D20 if you want anime style stuff. Might serve you better in that aspect. www.guardiansorder.com/d20 What does BESM stand for?
Novacat 10-23-05, 08:23 PM	By the way, how did you create that clever tongue-twister concerning the warmage in your signature? I didn't. It's an adaptation of what I saw in someone else's signature. They use "How much war could a Warforged forge..." What does BESM stand for? Big Eyes Small Mouth.
Ketsurui 10-23-05, 08:34 PM	Gestalting is another way to do that, depending on the campaign and such. Monk, psionics, maybe sorc levels, in addition to your main class will give you an anime feel.
Nobunaga Oda 10-23-05, 08:45 PM	The problem with most anime-inspired classes is that in anime, the characters tend to be insanely powerful. Therefore it's hard to translate them into d20 system classes and maintain both game balance and coolness. Wich anime? There so many animes whith diferent styles...if I recall, Record of Lodoss War is very D&Dish, the protagonists started very weak, and started gaining strengh while the series went foward. The ideia of getting the monk class and tweak to become a warrior is just perfect! I just don´t get why do you think that a agile lilttle warrior is anime like...Have you ever watched, read "Berserk"? Gats uses a pretty big sword, and he isn´t very fast ;) (And he is hit almost all the time.)
red_scare87 10-23-05, 08:54 PM	Wich anime? There so many animes whith diferent styles...if I recall, Record of Lodoss War is very D&Dish, the protagonists started very weak, and started gaining strengh while the series went foward. Man, Record of Lodoss War is a good example of how Anime and D&D can combine into one glorious amalgam of awesomeness. Too bad Parn(i think that was his name) the main character was so weak the whole series. Worst Anime main character of all time. Anyway, to answer the OPs question: Taking levels in monk is definitely the way to go. Monk/Fighter is the way to go as long as your DM allows it. You need the Monk levels for the FoB and the Bonus to AC for the crafty dodging. The fighter levels are obviously for the feats. (Kenshin would definitely need the quick draw feat.) Fighter is also good for the higher BaB. A Gestalt Monk/Fighter would be the best thing to represent the Anime Character style fighter guy. As long as your DM allows all this stuff. :D
feartheinvinceblehamster 10-23-05, 09:36 PM	first things first. I reccomend the swashbuckler class from CW. Then, take a flaw where you have to spend at least 8 hours crying and moaning and whining every time you kill something. Then Take EWP(Bsword), WF(Bsword), and combat reflexes. you have an anime fighter. and red_scare87, if you don't like vancian magic as your sig says, check out the links in my sig for the stafflord and blood magic. you'll like them. AFTERTHOUGHT: multiclass into kensai ASAP ANOTHER AFTERTHOUGHT: that warmage tongue-twister is a variation of the famous eberron board tongue-Twisters: How much change could a changeling change if a changling could change change? AND How much war could a warforged forge if a warforged could forge war.
runestar 10-24-05, 04:26 AM	The closest I can think of is to incorporate the exalted feats from BOED. Even with armour, your character is still going to get hit very often, so maybe take VOP and houserule/create a custom feat that lets you use your katana with VOP. But you have more work cut out for you flavourwise. Plus kenshin was never a samurai. I was thinking a fighter/psychic warrior multiclass. The few powers can be used to emulate those physics-defying stunts they keep pulling in the show.
Rowan_Whispercloak 10-24-05, 05:43 AM	I would go with the swashbuckler, but get a copy of OA and take the iaijutsu master (IM) presitge class if the DM allows it. You will probably need to find a way to be able to iaijutsu focus as a class skill so multiclassing samurai (out of the OA) is the best way. The first level of IM lets you use weapon finesse on a katana and then you get the best out of you swashbuckler. Barring that the dervish out of complete warrior might be what you are looking for.
periscope 10-25-05, 08:20 PM	You could ask your DM if you could get something similar to a monk but uses swords instead of fists. For the whole no armor thing, Ive seen a couple feats that you might like. Ancestor Fetish: you carry with you a pouch that contains things that your ancestors treasured in life (a lucky coin, shard of a weapon, their favorite quill, etc.). Through this link they protect you. You gain a luck bonus to your ac equal to your hit dice (maximum +10). This only works if you wear no armor and do not use a shield (with the exception of using a tower shield for cover, ring of force shield, and bracers of armor). If you wear armor or use a shield you lose the benefit of this feat until you gain and atonement spell. You also suffer from a curse (as described in the Bestow curse spell) with no save until you atone. CANNY DEFENSE [Fighter] [General] You have been trained to fight smarter not harder. Prerequisites: BAB +1, Int of 13+ Benefit: You may add your Int mod as a competence bonus to your AC. Special: You can only benefit from this feat in light or no armor. MADCAP DODGE You jump and giggle and stick out your tongue while enemies swing futilely at you with mounting frustration. Prerequisites: BAB +1, Cha of 13+ Benefit: You may now add your Cha mod as a morale bonus to Armor class. Special: You benefit from this only when wearing light or no armor (Your already so skilled, you dont need anything heavier). ZEN AWARENESS [Fighter][General] You intuition guides your movements so as to avoid harm Prerequisites: BAB+1, Wisdom of 13+. Benefit: You add your Wisdom bonus to your AC as an Insight bonus. Special: You can only benefit from this feat when wearing light or no armor. SELF-DEFENSE [Fighter] [General] You can dodge all attacks about which you are aware. Prerequisites: Dexterity 18, Alertness feat or 2 ranks in both Spot and Listen, Dodge feat Benefit: The dodge bonus granted by the Dodge feat or any other dodge feat now applies to all attacks made against you. When you are denied your Dexterity bonus to AC, you lose the benefit of Self-Defense. Self-Defense only applies to the benefit of the Dodge feat and does not apply to Improved Dodge or subsequent Dodge feats or to feats that enhanced Dodge in other ways, such as Distracting Dodge or Zen Defense. For the purposes of those feats, you must still designate the target of Dodge. IMPROVED DODGE [Fighter] [General] You can dodge enemies more effectively than before. Prerequisites: Dexterity 15, Dodge feat. Benefit: The dodge bonus of the Dodge feat increases to +2. You may designate a single opponent or divide the bonus among multiple designated opponents. GREATER DODGE [Fighter] [General] You can dodge enemies even more effectively than before. Prerequisites: Dexterity 17, Dodge feat, Improved Dodge feat. Benefit: The dodge bonus of the Dodge feat increases to +4. You may designate a single opponent or divide the bonus among multiple designated opponents COMBAT PARRY [Fighter] [General] You are skilled at deflecting melee attacks with your own weapon. Prerequisites: BAB +4, Weapon Finesse feat. Benefit: When holding a light or one-handed melee weapon in your main hand, you can use the weapon to deflect melee attacks made against you, gaining a +2 deflection bonus against such attacks to AC by taking a –1 penalty to all your attack rolls that round. When denied your Dexterity modifier to AC, you lose the ability to parry in combat. This stacks with the effects of the Combat Expertise feat.
simon_tage 10-25-05, 08:34 PM	I would go with rowan's suggestion. Rather than trying to get the DM to allow you to take Iaijutsu focus as a class skill I would invest in a feat that allows it (even if they are world specific they might be more palatable as you are giving up something i.e. a feat, for the right). As for the feats listed, what the heck are they from?
DyloniusFunk 10-25-05, 08:40 PM	Man, Record of Lodoss War is a good example of how Anime and D&D can combine into one glorious amalgam of awesomeness. Too bad Parn(i think that was his name) the main character was so weak the whole series. Worst Anime main character of all time. Apparently the Record Of Lodoss War sereis was based on an actual roleplaying camapgin. So that might be why the characters seem like they are similar to D&D characters. I don't know what system they wer eusieng but if it was D&D then it was probably 2nd Edition.
feartheinvinceblehamster 10-25-05, 09:39 PM	Those 3 feats would be great for a swashbuckler. Though I'd be worried about a wizard taking all of them and having a first level AC of 21 or such. Or a cleric with a 1st Level AC of 26
Seeker of Undeath 10-26-05, 01:12 AM	I am trying to create a character who embodies the archetype of the warrior from Japanese anime, such as Kenshin Himura from Ruroni Kenshin; a swift, agile fighter who wears little or no armor, carries a katana, and is incredibly skilled in melee combat. Flavor-wise, I have the character all worked out, but statistically speaking, I am having some difficulty. What should this character's base class be? The fighter is too mundane, the samurai is not agile enough, and the monk and swashbuckler are almost perfect, except that the monk prefers to fight with its bare hands and the swashbuckler uses only light weapons, ruling out the possiblity of the katana. Any suggestions?I thought a Crane Clan Samurai (OA) could learn Weapon Finesse (Katana). That going into Iaijutsu Master paints Kenshin/Shinta rather well. As for the quick and carry a big sword type, you'll just have to suffer with balancing strength and dexterity. On the other hand, Guts from Berserk makes a FUN Barbarian/Fighter/FrenziedBerserker.