Dragonmarked - Samurai/Ronin [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dragonmarked - Samurai/Ronin [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Delvor
11-26-04, 06:23 AM I have a fighter who I am playing as a samurai character and I would like your thoughts on if I should have him marked, either through a house or have an abberant one.

He is sort of a samurai of the forest, wearing green robes and the like and i was wondering about what type of dragonmark could be most charectfull

Thanks
nyysjan
11-26-04, 06:30 AM what do you actually mean by 'samurai'
a knight a generic fighter/warrior
what
Delvor
11-26-04, 06:52 AM As stated in first post I have a fighter

He is 3.5 edition 1st level, exwp - bastard sword, 2 weapon fighting.
nyysjan
11-26-04, 07:43 AM i meant 'what makes him a samurai' instead of generic warrior fighter or some knight

plus.
what race
from where
what's hes motivation
nick012000
11-26-04, 07:43 AM What are you talking about? There are no asian-themed places on Eberron, and, therefore, no samurai.

If your fighter is dragonmarked, I would go for House Denieth, more specifically the Blademarks.

If not, there are a variety of organizations accross Eberron that have larger numbers of fighters. Karrnath is renowned for the Rekkenmark academy. Darguun's Dakaani groups have large number of fighters as well, though they tend to focus of chained weapons. I'm sure that most of the rest of the Kingdoms have a fair number of fighters as well.
polt
11-26-04, 07:58 AM If the DM allowed him to be a Samurai, then there is samurais in Eberron.
Delvor
11-26-04, 07:58 AM He's not actually a samurai, I am just basing his character on that of one,

He uses bastard sword instead of katana, and a short sword
He has his own honour code and the like,

You can have samurai that are not neccessarily asian.

IF it will help, just think of him as a Fighter with Monk tendaces, in character not abilities.
Endless_Helix
11-26-04, 08:31 AM I don't think that a samurai needs a dragonmark, but it would make a lot of sense to have samurai-like warriors with the Dragonmarked houses. The houses are alot like the feudal clans of Japan, but they don't own the land and aren't really ruled by anything. But the houses would probably have retainers who were fighters with a large code of morals. They would probably have even a regimented code if you wanted to take the analogies even farther. Perhaps each house has a favored weapon for it's warriors to use.

like Kundarak-> Dwarven War Axe/ Hand Axe
Denieth-> Longsword and Shield
Vadalis-> Spear or some reach weapon
Tharashk-> Orc Double Axe or Great Axe
Phiarliann-> Rapier/Dagger

That all I can think of at the moment... so enjoy
Gez
11-26-04, 08:54 AM Dragonmarks are restricted by race, so, without the race, we can't tell you anything.

If your character is a gnome, for example, he has no choice in dragonmarks but the mark of Scribing. If he's a dwarf, he'll have the mark of Warding or none at all.

Here's the dragonmarks by houses, races, and guilds:

Detection Medani 1/2-Elf Warning
Finding Tharashk 1/2-Orc, humans Finders
Handling Vadalis Human Handlers
Healing Jorasco Halfling Healers
Hospitality Ghallanda Halfling Hostelers
Making Cannith Human Tinkers, Fabricators
Passage Orien Human Couriers, Transportation
Scribing Sivis Gnome Notaries, Speakers
Sentinel Deneith Human Blademarks, Defenders
Shadow Phiarian Elf Entertainers & Artisans
Shadow Thuranni Elf Shadow Network
Storm Lyrandar 1/2-Elf Windwright, Raincallers
Warding Kundarak Dwarf Banking, Warding

For a combat-oriented character, the Mark of Sentinel is the most appropriate. It requires the character to be human, and member of House Deneith.
polt
11-26-04, 08:55 AM He doesn't have to be a member of the dragonmarked house, to have the dragonmark.
Lujayne34
11-26-04, 09:07 AM He doesn't have to be a member of the dragonmarked house, to have the dragonmark.

uh...yes...he does. He might not have connections at this time. But uh only members of the families have the actual marks. So somebody in his family was a member at least at one time or another. Now if we are talking an aberrant mark....then that's a completely different color cow :cool:
polt
11-26-04, 09:48 AM Well, he could be a member of the Family, just far out, without really having any connections too that house.
debatedeus
11-26-04, 10:10 AM Well, he could be a member of the Family, just far out, without really having any connections too that house.
Manifesting a dragonmark is a special occurance. If whatever Dragonmarked House finds out that he has manifested a mark, you can bet that they will attempt to make some sort of connection with him, for ill or good. This may not happen if he only has the least Dragonmark, but given time and repeated use, he'll become a bigger blip on their radar.
dormcook
11-26-04, 10:26 AM I wouldn't get the mark, but I would link too a house.
Dragon mark houses feel alot like the clans and warlords we think of with Samuri. Why not have him serve a house. For that matter it would be possible to have it be your familes tradition to serve a praticular house. This adds that sense of family honor to it.
Zalaz Mavi
11-26-04, 10:33 AM It would be difficult to justify Ronin status if he had a full dragonmark. Unless: 1) he served House Cannith in Cyre and the Day of Mourning killed those he had pledged to; 2) he has embarked on a Warrior's Pilgrimage and can return to his house service when he is ready; or 3) he is an exile or descendent of an exile. You could use Zatoichi as inspiration here. Substitute a simple profession appropriate to his mark in place of masseuse.
An aberrant Mark would be good for a tragic epic. Your character is forced to wander the land, as the established Houses seek to destroy him because he is aberrant. He can right wrongs and restore peace, but he can never settle down and benefit from his own labors...
Twiggly the Gnome
11-26-04, 11:15 AM What are you talking about? There are no asian-themed places on Eberron, and, therefore, no samurai.

The lack of asian-themed places didn't stop the designers from including kung-fu monks in the setting. There are also no clear analogs to Carolingian France or Celtic Britain in Eberron; but Paladins, Druids and Bards are all available as player classes. Khorvaire isn't Asia or Europe, so I see no reason to exclude classes based solely on the geographical origin of the archtype.
Splendide
11-26-04, 05:50 PM Making him a member of house Orien would be interesting, I'd think. This would give you few obligations unless you inherited high levels of the mark.

As part of your family's duties, your character could see it as their duty to keep the roads of Khorvaire safe for transport, and the forests are notorious for bandits that want to upset Orien couriers.

Also, your character could be himself occasionally entrusted with delivering important items into difficult terrain...certainly the Great Druid Oalian would be less than pleased for couriers to just teleport into his presence, and of important NPCs, its unlikely that he would be alone.

So basically, as a d'Orien, you are automatically entrusted with a sacred duty - to keep communications open. I think that works well with a `samurai' code.
Ch@pel
11-26-04, 06:02 PM After reading the stuff about Deneith in the Sharn book, I'd heartily say go that way. All the different ranks and service options are pretty cool. And the honor of the House is EVERYTHING, because if they act dishonorably, they completely lose the trust of their clients and are no better than goblinoid mercenaries.
Xeraph
11-27-04, 02:00 PM Ronin?

Go Bitterblades... (Denieth fighters who have no country to fight for) yes... Go Bitterblades...

Heres some Optimiztion cheeze.
Take Shocktrooper feat from CW and take a 2 level dip in the Ronin prestige class, same book, for the Banzai charge abbility. Both abbilities Let you trade in AC bonus on charging power attacks instead of your Attack Bonus.

Example:
6th Fighter/2nd Ronin
Base Attack +8
Power Attack + Charge = -18 to AC and +18 to damage.
- Normal charge modifiers -2 AC +2 Dam
- Banzai charge modifiers -8 AC +8 Dam
- Headless charge modifiers -8 AC +8 Dam

Consider using your Bastardsword twohanded... -18 to AC +27 to Dam.
Consider taking Exotic Weapon Master's Uncanny Blow... lets you double your strength midifier while swinging your Bastard Sword twohanded.

Fits perfect. You have nothing to live for, your squadron is in ruins... you lost the war in some way... but you show your dedication/bravery/fearlessness through edgy attacks. Couldnt be more Bushido that this. :dancin:

(Not sure about the exact penalties and bonuses from the above idea, but check Player Optimization forum for more info, just take a search on Banzai Charge)

Your local Xeraphim :angelhide
nick012000
11-27-04, 08:32 PM Ummm... you math seems off...

+8 BAB
+2 Bonus to hit from charging
-8 penalty to hit from PA

-2 AC penalty from charge
-8 AC penalty from Heedless Charge
-8 AC penalty from Banzai Charge

+16 damage from PA
+8 (16?) damage from Heedless Charge
+8 (16?) damage from Banzai Charge

+Str+2 to hit, 1d10+1.5 Str+32/48 damage, -18 AC

Would be nice for a raging barbarian...

Just as a note, I don't have complete Warrior, so I'm not sure about a few things.
Sabre_Spell_Blader
11-27-04, 09:09 PM Actually, according to Keith, samurai do have a place Eberron. The Dhakaani Goblins have strange martial traditions that are appropriate for samurai and some other asian classes.

Peace,
Sabre
al29902
11-28-04, 09:46 AM None of the "Asian" classes are exclusive to Asian-themed campaigns. The flavor of the samurai is that of an honorable warrior, not necessarily a feudal Japanese warrior. The Samurai could potentially be used in any campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Delvor 11-26-04, 06:23 AM	I have a fighter who I am playing as a samurai character and I would like your thoughts on if I should have him marked, either through a house or have an abberant one. He is sort of a samurai of the forest, wearing green robes and the like and i was wondering about what type of dragonmark could be most charectfull Thanks
nyysjan 11-26-04, 06:30 AM	what do you actually mean by 'samurai' a knight a generic fighter/warrior what
Delvor 11-26-04, 06:52 AM	As stated in first post I have a fighter He is 3.5 edition 1st level, exwp - bastard sword, 2 weapon fighting.
nyysjan 11-26-04, 07:43 AM	i meant 'what makes him a samurai' instead of generic warrior fighter or some knight plus. what race from where what's hes motivation
nick012000 11-26-04, 07:43 AM	What are you talking about? There are no asian-themed places on Eberron, and, therefore, no samurai. If your fighter is dragonmarked, I would go for House Denieth, more specifically the Blademarks. If not, there are a variety of organizations accross Eberron that have larger numbers of fighters. Karrnath is renowned for the Rekkenmark academy. Darguun's Dakaani groups have large number of fighters as well, though they tend to focus of chained weapons. I'm sure that most of the rest of the Kingdoms have a fair number of fighters as well.
polt 11-26-04, 07:58 AM	If the DM allowed him to be a Samurai, then there is samurais in Eberron.
Delvor 11-26-04, 07:58 AM	He's not actually a samurai, I am just basing his character on that of one, He uses bastard sword instead of katana, and a short sword He has his own honour code and the like, You can have samurai that are not neccessarily asian. IF it will help, just think of him as a Fighter with Monk tendaces, in character not abilities.
Endless_Helix 11-26-04, 08:31 AM	I don't think that a samurai needs a dragonmark, but it would make a lot of sense to have samurai-like warriors with the Dragonmarked houses. The houses are alot like the feudal clans of Japan, but they don't own the land and aren't really ruled by anything. But the houses would probably have retainers who were fighters with a large code of morals. They would probably have even a regimented code if you wanted to take the analogies even farther. Perhaps each house has a favored weapon for it's warriors to use. like Kundarak-> Dwarven War Axe/ Hand Axe Denieth-> Longsword and Shield Vadalis-> Spear or some reach weapon Tharashk-> Orc Double Axe or Great Axe Phiarliann-> Rapier/Dagger That all I can think of at the moment... so enjoy
Gez 11-26-04, 08:54 AM	Dragonmarks are restricted by race, so, without the race, we can't tell you anything. If your character is a gnome, for example, he has no choice in dragonmarks but the mark of Scribing. If he's a dwarf, he'll have the mark of Warding or none at all. Here's the dragonmarks by houses, races, and guilds: Detection Medani 1/2-Elf Warning Finding Tharashk 1/2-Orc, humans Finders Handling Vadalis Human Handlers Healing Jorasco Halfling Healers Hospitality Ghallanda Halfling Hostelers Making Cannith Human Tinkers, Fabricators Passage Orien Human Couriers, Transportation Scribing Sivis Gnome Notaries, Speakers Sentinel Deneith Human Blademarks, Defenders Shadow Phiarian Elf Entertainers & Artisans Shadow Thuranni Elf Shadow Network Storm Lyrandar 1/2-Elf Windwright, Raincallers Warding Kundarak Dwarf Banking, Warding For a combat-oriented character, the Mark of Sentinel is the most appropriate. It requires the character to be human, and member of House Deneith.
polt 11-26-04, 08:55 AM	He doesn't have to be a member of the dragonmarked house, to have the dragonmark.
Lujayne34 11-26-04, 09:07 AM	He doesn't have to be a member of the dragonmarked house, to have the dragonmark. uh...yes...he does. He might not have connections at this time. But uh only members of the families have the actual marks. So somebody in his family was a member at least at one time or another. Now if we are talking an aberrant mark....then that's a completely different color cow :cool:
polt 11-26-04, 09:48 AM	Well, he could be a member of the Family, just far out, without really having any connections too that house.
debatedeus 11-26-04, 10:10 AM	Well, he could be a member of the Family, just far out, without really having any connections too that house. Manifesting a dragonmark is a special occurance. If whatever Dragonmarked House finds out that he has manifested a mark, you can bet that they will attempt to make some sort of connection with him, for ill or good. This may not happen if he only has the least Dragonmark, but given time and repeated use, he'll become a bigger blip on their radar.
dormcook 11-26-04, 10:26 AM	I wouldn't get the mark, but I would link too a house. Dragon mark houses feel alot like the clans and warlords we think of with Samuri. Why not have him serve a house. For that matter it would be possible to have it be your familes tradition to serve a praticular house. This adds that sense of family honor to it.
Zalaz Mavi 11-26-04, 10:33 AM	It would be difficult to justify Ronin status if he had a full dragonmark. Unless: 1) he served House Cannith in Cyre and the Day of Mourning killed those he had pledged to; 2) he has embarked on a Warrior's Pilgrimage and can return to his house service when he is ready; or 3) he is an exile or descendent of an exile. You could use Zatoichi as inspiration here. Substitute a simple profession appropriate to his mark in place of masseuse. An aberrant Mark would be good for a tragic epic. Your character is forced to wander the land, as the established Houses seek to destroy him because he is aberrant. He can right wrongs and restore peace, but he can never settle down and benefit from his own labors...
Twiggly the Gnome 11-26-04, 11:15 AM	What are you talking about? There are no asian-themed places on Eberron, and, therefore, no samurai. The lack of asian-themed places didn't stop the designers from including kung-fu monks in the setting. There are also no clear analogs to Carolingian France or Celtic Britain in Eberron; but Paladins, Druids and Bards are all available as player classes. Khorvaire isn't Asia or Europe, so I see no reason to exclude classes based solely on the geographical origin of the archtype.
Splendide 11-26-04, 05:50 PM	Making him a member of house Orien would be interesting, I'd think. This would give you few obligations unless you inherited high levels of the mark. As part of your family's duties, your character could see it as their duty to keep the roads of Khorvaire safe for transport, and the forests are notorious for bandits that want to upset Orien couriers. Also, your character could be himself occasionally entrusted with delivering important items into difficult terrain...certainly the Great Druid Oalian would be less than pleased for couriers to just teleport into his presence, and of important NPCs, its unlikely that he would be alone. So basically, as a d'Orien, you are automatically entrusted with a sacred duty - to keep communications open. I think that works well with a `samurai' code.
Ch@pel 11-26-04, 06:02 PM	After reading the stuff about Deneith in the Sharn book, I'd heartily say go that way. All the different ranks and service options are pretty cool. And the honor of the House is EVERYTHING, because if they act dishonorably, they completely lose the trust of their clients and are no better than goblinoid mercenaries.
Xeraph 11-27-04, 02:00 PM	Ronin? Go Bitterblades... (Denieth fighters who have no country to fight for) yes... Go Bitterblades... Heres some Optimiztion cheeze. Take Shocktrooper feat from CW and take a 2 level dip in the Ronin prestige class, same book, for the Banzai charge abbility. Both abbilities Let you trade in AC bonus on charging power attacks instead of your Attack Bonus. Example: 6th Fighter/2nd Ronin Base Attack +8 Power Attack + Charge = -18 to AC and +18 to damage. - Normal charge modifiers -2 AC +2 Dam - Banzai charge modifiers -8 AC +8 Dam - Headless charge modifiers -8 AC +8 Dam Consider using your Bastardsword twohanded... -18 to AC +27 to Dam. Consider taking Exotic Weapon Master's Uncanny Blow... lets you double your strength midifier while swinging your Bastard Sword twohanded. Fits perfect. You have nothing to live for, your squadron is in ruins... you lost the war in some way... but you show your dedication/bravery/fearlessness through edgy attacks. Couldnt be more Bushido that this. :dancin: (Not sure about the exact penalties and bonuses from the above idea, but check Player Optimization forum for more info, just take a search on Banzai Charge) Your local Xeraphim :angelhide
nick012000 11-27-04, 08:32 PM	Ummm... you math seems off... +8 BAB +2 Bonus to hit from charging -8 penalty to hit from PA -2 AC penalty from charge -8 AC penalty from Heedless Charge -8 AC penalty from Banzai Charge +16 damage from PA +8 (16?) damage from Heedless Charge +8 (16?) damage from Banzai Charge +Str+2 to hit, 1d10+1.5 Str+32/48 damage, -18 AC Would be nice for a raging barbarian... Just as a note, I don't have complete Warrior, so I'm not sure about a few things.
Sabre_Spell_Blader 11-27-04, 09:09 PM	Actually, according to Keith, samurai do have a place Eberron. The Dhakaani Goblins have strange martial traditions that are appropriate for samurai and some other asian classes. Peace, Sabre
al29902 11-28-04, 09:46 AM	None of the "Asian" classes are exclusive to Asian-themed campaigns. The flavor of the samurai is that of an honorable warrior, not necessarily a feudal Japanese warrior. The Samurai could potentially be used in any campaign.