Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Feyd Rautha 11-11-03, 12:17 AM	In my new evil campaign set in Thay I have a player who wants to play a Master Samurai. I was thinking of granting his request as one of the zulkirs could have set up a beneficial trade agreement with the lands of Kara-Tur. The feudal lord gave one of his Master Samurai to the zulkir in question in exchange for the support the zulkir could provide (probably magical item shipments). He would be a rarity, but he would be part of an elite force that the zulkir in question used as a personal guard of sorts. What does everyone think about this idea? If you are against the idea then what do you suggest for him to play that is more in line with the Western realms? Are there any concerns you have or questions I should consider? Please respond, Feyd
the_heart 11-11-03, 05:00 AM	excellent idea! only problem(read RP opportunity :smirk: ) is cultural clashes. will he accept the Zulkiirs rule? if the Zulkiir asks him to do something he finds distasteful, can he refuse/return to his lord or is seppuku his only recourse? will he have access to upgraded equipment without resorting to looting bodies?(big no no for many oriental types), basic equipment shouldn't be a big problem with thesk not to far away. all i can think of OTOH.
Cunning Linguist 11-11-03, 06:47 AM	Also, he would be non-mulan, and should treated as such. He may be the Zulkirs pet, but the other players would look down there nose on him. There is also a problem that he can never rise above the rank of Zulkirs Pet, so real power would be given to the other players, while this guy would still be a hired goon. (A really good hired goon, but nothing more)
Pystian 11-11-03, 07:24 AM	I think that sounds like an awesome idea. As long as everything is role-played well, it should be a lot of fun.
thalious 11-11-03, 08:21 AM	seems like a good idea. which Zulkir would the Samuria serve? As for the caste issues, being a pet has it's advantages, as well possibility the game play will lead out of Thay at some point.
Nainoa 11-11-03, 09:38 AM	One thought that comes to mind, which you could use for role playing depth... What if he's like "Stands with a Fist" from the movie "Dances with Wolves"... Say back in the Tuigan invasion days, for whatever reason, this six year old boy was taken, for whatever reason... Brought to Kara Tur, when the Nomad army disbanded... He was given to the local Samurai guild (Whatever the technical term is.) They train him in the tradition of the Samurai... But all these years he's been curious to persue the memories of his Childhood in Thay... To learn more about "His People." So when his training is complete, and his master releases him out into the world... He beats it for Thay... Only to find that things are different than the memories his parents put in his head. Now he's hooked up with a group of adventurers, fighting by their side, while learning about his homeland. And for extra spice I would somehow tie him into whoever the BBEG is... Perhaps his parents died, but the BBEG is actually his Grandfather... Who's value system totally clashes with his Samurai code... And then you've got a conflict of emotion to draw role playing opportunities from. Just my two copper... Nainoa
Feyd Rautha 11-11-03, 10:50 AM	First, thanks for the responses... Posted by the_heart only problem(read RP opportunity ) is cultural clashes. will he accept the Zulkiirs rule? if the Zulkiir asks him to do something he finds distasteful, can he refuse/return to his lord or is seppuku his only recourse? will he have access to upgraded equipment without resorting to looting bodies?(big no no for many oriental types), basic equipment shouldn't be a big problem with thesk not to far away. Who will accept the zulkirs rule? If it is the samurai from Kara-Tur then that will be something I just mysteriously work out. The zulkir will be LE so he will be able to grasp the issues surrounding the samurai's code. As for the PC samurai, I don't see anything in the code that is necessarially a wrench in otherwise normal function for a honorbound fighter. Two things come up when comparing him to "true" samurai. First off, he is not the samurai from Kara-Tur... he is the samurai's student. He does not have the restrictions that an oriental samurai would have. Secondly, he's been in training with his zulkir and his "pet" samurai for most of his life. He is fanatically devoted as a result that is why he was chosen as part of the "samurai" core. I'm sorry if I confused everyone about the origins of the character. This is a Thayan that has been trained as a samurai. He is not using the OA rules so don't worry about that whole can of beans. He's been trained as a fighter and then been permitted to train with the master samurai using the prestige class from SaF after he declared his dedication to said zulkir. Depending on the party makeup he could be from a noble house or he could even be a bastard son of the zulkir or one of its allies. Posted by thalious: seems like a good idea. which Zulkir would the Samuria serve? As for the caste issues, being a pet has it's advantages, as well possibility the game play will lead out of Thay at some point. Well I'm still waiting on word for the zulkir. Since we have a red wizard in our ranks his choice of specialization will lead to determining which zulkir is being used. I know it's kind of forcing things on the players due to the will of one player, but they don't care since I've talked to them about it. As for the "pet" factor this isn't the samurai, but a member of an elite core of newbie samurai. He will be treated more like a soldier than anything else. Oh and Nainoa...its BBGG as we are *puts pinky to the side of his mouth* Eeeevillll. Thanks for all the suggestions and feel free to post more! Feyd
Feyd Rautha 11-12-03, 12:18 PM	Mythrell'aa is the zulkir of choice apparently. The Red Wizard of the party chose illusion as his specialty. Ideas on why the most reclusive of the zulkirs would make an agreement with a feudal overlord from Kara-Tur to get a samurai to train her elite guard? Maybe she admired the samurai discipline to fight and die without questions to bother her? She fashioned herself as similar to their reclusive and never seen Emperor and decided that the samurai code could serve her ends better than mercenaries constantly seeking pay, religous troops whose ideals sometimes conflicted with what she wanted, or her own army whose generals would always be asking her questions and offering advice. With the samurai she can give orders to her lieutenants and they can instruct the troops and there will be no questioning (or if there is they'll solve the problem themselves faster than you can say Seppeku). We seem to be forming up, but I still have two PC's who I haven't heard from, but hopefully I will soon! Thoughts and ideas? Feyd