Post/Author/DateTime	Post
shadowninja05 03-01-07, 05:15 PM	Hi, I was interested in playing a samurai warrior class, whether its a core class or PrC. However, I'm still too new in D&D to just create one from scratch. Also, the samurai mentioned in CW seems a little lacking in flavor and abilities and I have not seen the version in OA. I was wondering if perhaps a samurai would have a honor code or alignment contstraints similar to the paladin and maybe with bonus feats or maneuvers from ToB? I'm just looking for potential feedback so any would be helpful! Thanks
mindintellect 03-01-07, 06:02 PM	You could always use ToB class and call it a samurai... give it alignment restraints and such. A character is what you make it after all.
heretic888 03-01-07, 06:49 PM	My recommendation is to play the Warblade from Tome of Battle and simply call yourself a 'samurai' in-game. As for any code of conduct, this is one in Oriental Adventures, but you can really just roleplay according to however you think your samurai character should be expected to behave. Just my two copper.
Azar_of_Faerun 03-01-07, 09:03 PM	You could play a Fighter and thematically be a samurai. An example of this is seen in Weapons of Legacy Fighter/Kensai (Complete Warrior) would be a good way to further your bond between weapon and wielder Paladin is nice if you want to lend a divine bent to your character Warblade is ideal if you wish to add a dash of anime-type maneuvers to your character
heretic888 03-01-07, 09:12 PM	Warblade is ideal if you wish to add a dash of anime-type maneuvers to your character Uhhhh.... that depends entirely on what disciplines you focus on. A samurai Warblade that focuses on the Iron Heart discipline is not "anime"-like in the slightest.
Azar_of_Faerun 03-01-07, 09:15 PM	I was merely re-iterating part of one of the sidebars (bottombars?) in the book itself that mentioned referencing anime.
heretic888 03-01-07, 09:21 PM	I was merely re-iterating part of one of the sidebars (bottombars?) in the book itself that mentioned referencing anime. On a side note, I really dislike it when people talk about "anime" as if its a genre as opposed to a medium. Many genres are represented in various anime products --- everything from comey to romance to historical fiction to fantasy to sci-fi --- so, what's with the treating of the whole medium as if its a single genre??
narukagami 03-01-07, 10:33 PM	On a side note, I really dislike it when people talk about "anime" as if its a genre as opposed to a medium. Many genres are represented in various anime products --- everything from comey to romance to historical fiction to fantasy to sci-fi --- so, what's with the treating of the whole medium as if its a single genre?? Saying anime is a genre is basically the same as saying everything made in the US thats "live action" (non-animated?) is a single genre. The whole idea is just utterly stupid and is a pet peeve of mine as well. Anyway, I agree with the idea of a warblade with Iron Heart focus, but add a dash of Diamond Mind and/or a smidgen White Raven to my vote.
Azar_of_Faerun 03-02-07, 12:18 AM	It might be stupid, but it's not really critical enough to make an issue out of it. Anyways OP, you could also try Knight Protector (another Complete Warrior PrC that came up in my mind) for a samurai with more of a guardian role (heck, even Dwarven Defender if he's a dwarf)
Lord Gwydion 03-02-07, 01:44 AM	You could always use ToB class and call it a samurai... give it alignment restraints and such. A character is what you make it after all. Emphasis added. Honest question here--why give it an alignment restriction? Why not just give the character an alignment and stick to it?
Ranger REG 03-02-07, 02:33 AM	Groans. I'm gonna hate myself in the morning. :banghead: Use the samurai class from Rokugan, which also have its own codified Honor Rank System (which expanded from the fluff OA piece).
Hochiu 03-02-07, 12:18 PM	Honestly, Reg, you don't need to hate yourself. The Rokugan samurai is, in my opinion, a good version of a samurai since it doesn't rely on alignments, is simple and can be dropped into any major campaign setting with little difficulty in regards to mechanics. It does rely on honor, which is important for it. However, like the fighter, it's fairly weak when compared to the other classes. You could feesibly take some of the abilities from the CW samurai (depending on how you want to depict it) and slap them onto the class along with the bonus feats with no problem.
Ranger REG 03-02-07, 07:25 PM	Honestly, Reg, you don't need to hate yourself. Yes, I must. Do not try to make me feel better. :noway:
Hochiu 03-03-07, 03:48 AM	I can do enough hating for the both of us. No need for you to join in on it. :rolleyes: :devil:
Rowan_Whispercloak 03-03-07, 06:29 AM	I think the idea of your character being a "samurai" in title, but your class could be more for what kind of role you wish to have in the party.
Midnight_v 03-06-07, 04:03 PM	That is exactly like this! Who needs samurai levels....http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0209.html
Darth Sephiroth 03-06-07, 07:43 PM	Warblade/Diamond Samurai (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=803468)
Azzy 03-06-07, 08:09 PM	That is exactly like this! Who needs samurai levels....http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0209.html That was great. :)
The_Shaman 03-11-07, 03:43 PM	Yeah, it can be very annoying when people equate character class and character concept.
Deus_Proelii 03-12-07, 11:08 AM	Here's my idea for a remodeled samurai class - taking the CW Samurai and giving it an alternative class feature. This might be easier than convincing a DM to allow ToB. Single Weapon Style The CW Samurai represents one style of fighting. A more traditional style, however, was used by the majority of historical samurai, focusing on the two-handed use of the katana. Class: Samurai Level: 2nd Replaces: If you select this class feature, you do not gain Two Swords as One, Improved Two Swords as One or Greater Two Swords as One. Benefit: When wielding a katana in both hands, you gain a +2 shield bonus to AC. At 11th level, this shield bonus goes up to +3. In addition, you may add twice your strength modifier to damage rolls when wielding a katana in both hands (as opposed to 1.5 times your strength modifier). At 16th level, this shield bonus goes up to +5. In addition, a magical or magically-enhanced (such as through the Magic Weapon spell) katana is considered to have the defending property when you wield it in both hands.
narukagami 03-12-07, 02:19 PM	Here's my idea for a remodeled samurai class - taking the CW Samurai and giving it an alternative class feature. This might be easier than convincing a DM to allow ToB. Single Weapon Style The CW Samurai represents one style of fighting. A more traditional style, however, was used by the majority of historical samurai, focusing on the two-handed use of the katana. Class: Samurai Level: 2nd Replaces: If you select this class feature, you do not gain Two Swords as One, Improved Two Swords as One or Greater Two Swords as One. Benefit: When wielding a katana in both hands, you gain a +2 shield bonus to AC. At 11th level, this shield bonus goes up to +3. In addition, you may add twice your strength modifier to damage rolls when wielding a katana in both hands (as opposed to 1.5 times your strength modifier). At 16th level, this shield bonus goes up to +5. In addition, a magical or magically-enhanced (such as through the Magic Weapon spell) katana is considered to have the defending property when you wield it in both hands. What about archer, polearm weilding, and mounted samurai? See, thats the problem with the CW abomination, sorry, "samurai". It doesn't allow for one to specialize in anything else that a samurai actually specialized in. Don't get me wrong, your alternate class feature is still a grand improvement. But the "two swords as one" ability should really instead be replaced by some form of martial focus tree with an array of options to start with, akin to the Ranger's choice of fighting style except with more than 2 choices, to allow for a broader spectrum of samurai.
Deus_Proelii 03-12-07, 08:19 PM	What about archer, polearm weilding, and mounted samurai? See, thats the problem with the CW abomination, sorry, "samurai". It doesn't allow for one to specialize in anything else that a samurai actually specialized in.Don't get me wrong, your alternate class feature is still a grand improvement. But the "two swords as one" ability should really instead be replaced by some form of martial focus tree with an array of options to start with, akin to the Ranger's choice of fighting style except with more than 2 choices, to allow for a broader spectrum of samurai. Sounds like a plan. Let's see it you implement it as an alternative class feature then. :D
jcintro2 03-12-07, 09:10 PM	Hi Everyone A while back, i had an idea for a class (it was for an Egyptian themed campaign but could just as easily translate into an Asian setting). The class was a lot like the Samurai, but the idea i had was akin to the Ranger's combat styles. One combat style was the dreaded "Two Swords As One" (which i am not a fan of the CW samurai, the OA one is much better thematically and mechanically). The samurai i see would have a total of three different combat styles. The 2nd style would emphasize archery and would give the pertinent archery bonus feats at 2nd, 6th, and 11th level (Rapid Shot, Manyshot, and Improved Precise Shot). The 3rd style would emphasize the 2-handed style of the Katana, and would be more of a brutal style emphasizing Power Attack and the like. This, to me, gives the Samurai more options instead of "Oh I am just a 2 weapon fighter and that's it. Just a suggestion, take it for what it is worth. But in my opinion both as a player and a DM, play the OA samurai. You'll be glad you did. If you've at least looked into playing a Kensai, then the OA samurai is like that, more or less.