Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Prexx 10-22-03, 07:20 AM	Abbreviation Note: IF = Iaijutsu Focus, IM = Iaijutsu Master Pyre's "Swift Death" build V1.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Human(Scorpion Clan) Point Buy stats: 25 points Str: 8 (0) Dex: 16 (10) Con: 11 (3) Int: 10 (2) Wis: 8 (0) Cha: 16 (10) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feat/Level Progression (feats presented in parentheses are granted abilities) Chr Class Feat BAB Lvl Lvl Progression Progression 01: Rogue 1 Combat Reflexes, Quick Draw, (Sneak Attack 1d6), (Trapfinding) 02: Samurai 1 (Ancestral Daisho) 03: Samurai 2 Expert Tactician,(Weapon Focus(Katana)) 04: Rogue 2 (Evasion), +1 Cha(17) 05: Rogue 3 (Sneak Attack 2d6), (Trap Sense +1) 06: Rogue 4 Improved Initiative, (Uncanny Dodge) 07: Rogue 5 (Sneak Attack 3d6) 08: Rogue 6 (Trap Sense +2) 09: IM 1 (Weapon Finesse(Katana)), (Canny Defense), +1 Dex(17) 10: IM 2 Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Katana), (Lightning Blade) 11: IM 3 12: IM 4 (Dodge), Two Weapon Fighting, +1 Cha(18) 13: IM 5 (Strike from the Void) 14: Rogue 7 (Sneak Attack 4d6) 15: Rogue 8 Flick of the Wrist, (Improved Uncanny Dodge) 16: Rogue 9 (Sneak Attack 5d6), (Trap Sense +3), +1 Cha(19) 17: Rogue 10 (Skill Focus(Iaijutsu Focus, Hide, MoVe Silently)) 18: Rogue 11 Improved Two Weapon Fighting, (Sneak Attack 6d6) 19: Rogue 12 (Trap Sense +4) 20: Rogue 13 (Sneak Attack 7d6), (Crippling Strike), +1 Cha(20) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skill/Level Progression Skills are listed in order of ranks in IF, Hide, Move Silently, Bluff, Sense Motive, Listen, Spot, Diplomacy, Balance, Tumble 01: R1 0 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 02: S1 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 03: S2 6 4 4 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 04: R2 7 6 6 7 7 4 5 4 4 4 05: R3 8 6 8 8 8 4 6 4 4 4 06: R4 9 9 9 9 9 5 8 4 4 4 07: R5 10 10 10 10 10 6 9 4 4 4 08: R6 11 11 11 11 11 7 10 4 4 4 09: I1 12 11 11 12 12 7 10 4 5 5 10: I2 13 11 11 13 13 7 10 6 5 5 11: I3 14 11 11 14 14 7 10 8 5 5 12: I4 15 11 11 15 15 7 10 10 5 5 13: I5 16 11 11 16 16 7 10 12 5 5 14: R7 17 13 13 17 17 7 11 12 5 5 15: R8 18 15 15 18 18 7 12 12 5 5 16: R9 19 17 17 19 19 7 13 12 5 5 17: R10 20 19 19 20 20 7 14 12 5 5 18: R11 21 21 21 21 21 7 15 12 5 5 19: R12 22 22 22 22 22 7 18 12 5 5 20: R13 23 23 23 23 23 7 21 12 5 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary: BAB: +16 Fort: +8 (8 base, +0 con) Reflex: +15 (12 base, +3 dex) Will: +7 (8 base, -1 wis) Total Skill Points: 179 Total Skill Ranks: 165 Attacks: Wakazashis: +19/+19/+14/+14/+9/+4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One thing to note about this build is that it relies rather heavily on the Iaijutsu Focus skill. In a setting where this skill is unavailable this build would be invalid. This build is centered around the concept of maximizing the Iaijutsu Focus skill in combination with sneak attack. He personifies the idea of "Strike first, Strike last". With appropriate gear (+10 IF skill item and +6 cha item) and utilizing Flick of the wrist, he is able to make an Iaijutsu strike with both hands and deal 1d6 + (9d6+72) + (7d6) damage. Or roughly 131 damage per strike. He would also get several other attacks dealing approx 28 damage per hit, but the majority of his damage would come from those first strikes. I was thinking of substituting out 8 levels of rogue to bring in 8 levels of Ninja Spy. That would add in much better saves, Hide in Plain sight, Improved Evasion, Poison Immunity, and lots of other fun stuff, for the price of just 1 less sneak attack die and 2 less skill points per level. The only problem is that there is a slight ideology conflict with the Ninja/Samurai. Anyways, I really like the concept of this character, and I am looking for some ideas on how I might be able to take this build to the next level. Thanks in advance for the help! :)
PhaedrusXY 10-22-03, 10:07 AM	If you are from the Scorpion clan anyway, you can get by with having both ninja and samuri levels. It's not like ninja go around anouncing themselves. Some of them pretend to be normal samuri, and what better way to do that than actually be trained as one. If you go this route, you might consider using the Ninja core class from rokugan instead of the rogue, if it's allowed in your game.
Prexx 10-22-03, 04:38 PM	Originally posted by PhaedrusXY If you are from the Scorpion clan anyway, you can get by with having both ninja and samuri levels. It's not like ninja go around anouncing themselves. Some of them pretend to be normal samuri, and what better way to do that than actually be trained as one. If you go this route, you might consider using the Ninja core class from rokugan instead of the rogue, if it's allowed in your game. That is a good point. As long as I take it develop this character as a ninja/assassin type who simply has some minor samurai training to bolster his knowledges, the ninja spy levels would fit right in. As for taking levels in rokugan ninja, I don't have that sourcebook, but from what I've heard, the class is really pretty awesome. Maybe in my v1.5 build I'll replace those rogue levels. One question would be if the rokugan ninja has the evasion class feature. Otherwise I would not be able to qualify for ninja spy.
goblinhero 10-22-03, 07:55 PM	your IF skill ranks are off by my count. Rogue doesn't have it as a class skill so at level 4 you can only take it as a cross class (ie 1rank per 2 levels) but if you take your second Sam level at 8 and dump all your skill points into IF then, you'll have enough to enter IM at 9. *shrugs* thought I'd point that out. and I've been advocating a Ninja 8/Sam 2/IM 10 build which is a viable class combo if roleplayed properly (there are even Sam/Ninja NPC's in the Rokugan book) build for months now but no one else seems to like the idea.
PhaedrusXY 10-22-03, 11:31 PM	The Rokugan Ninja can be found here (http://www.legendofthefiverings.com/rpg/rokugan_ninja.pdf). It doesn't have evasion, but you can get that from two levels of monk. I am a big fan of two levels of monk. :cool:
Lago AM3P 10-22-03, 11:32 PM	I am a big fan of two levels of monk. Who isn't? 2 levels of monk and 2 levels of something with good saves in two other categories gives you comparible saves to a monk for the rest of your career, even if you single class.
Prexx 10-23-03, 06:46 PM	Originally posted by goblinhero your IF skill ranks are off by my count. Rogue doesn't have it as a class skill so at level 4 you can only take it as a cross class (ie 1rank per 2 levels) but if you take your second Sam level at 8 and dump all your skill points into IF then, you'll have enough to enter IM at 9. *shrugs* thought I'd point that out. and I've been advocating a Ninja 8/Sam 2/IM 10 build which is a viable class combo if roleplayed properly (there are even Sam/Ninja NPC's in the Rokugan book) build for months now but no one else seems to like the idea. I'm pretty sure I am within the rules, but I may be wrong. Here is my understanding. Once I take a level of Samurai, my character then has the capability of gaining full ranks of IF. If I take points of IF as a rogue, I pay 2 skill points per rank. But the max ranks are determined by checking if any classes have IF as a class skill.