Post/Author/DateTime	Post
bulletprooffox 11-07-07, 12:32 PM	I had orginally placed this thread in the skills and feats section of the forum, but I suppose it would do better in the house rules, as I got no responses in the other one Hello, I'm somewhat new to the forum, but I've been looking at the various posts on samurai characters. I had a series of feats that I created for a samurai style character (or simple a speed based swordsman using only a single blade) and I thought I'd submit them to see what others might think. While I realize that the Warblade and Iaijutsu Master have a serious leg-up on this type of style, I created this before the Tome of Battle came out and I created it for games focusing more on the standard classes in the PHB. Improved Weapon Finesse Prerequisites: Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (one-handed (non-light) slashing weapon), Combat Expertise Benefit: Through long exposure to the selected Weapon, you are able to move far more fluidly with the blade and can use your dexterity modifier instead of strength modifier for attack rolls with any one-handed slashing weapons for which you possess the Weapon Focus feat. Draw Cut Prerequisites: Improved Weapon Finesse, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (slashing weapon), Weapon Specialization (slashing weapon), Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes Benefit: Through constant battle and mastery of your blade, you have learned to utilize your finesse over your strength to deal more damaging blows. Your style involves drawing the slashing part of your weapon across your opponent to slide it deeper into their flesh rather than simply bashing the edge into them. Any melee slashing weapon that you are able to use your dexterity modifier for attack rolls with and you possess both the Weapon Focus and Specialization feats for, you are now able to apply your dexterity modifier to damage instead of strength as well. Sword and Sheathe Style Prerequisites: Improved Weapon Finesse, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (any single-handed sword), Weapon Specialization (any single-handed sword), Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Draw Cut, Quick Draw Benefit: This style grants the following benefits whenever you fight with the selected single-handed sword and sheath (for which you met the Prereqs). Scabbard Guard: Using this style with the weapon grants you +1 shield bonus to AC as you instinctively block with your sheathe. Pomel Thrust: Through quickly drawing out your sword partially, you are able to strike an opponent off-guard and land a blow with the base of your sword. You gain a version of the stunning-fist ability that only works with your swords in this style. Improved Sword and Sheathe Style Prerequisites: Improved Weapon Finesse, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (any single-handed sword), Weapon Specialization (any single-handed sword), Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Draw Cut, Quick Draw, Improved Initiative, Sword and Sheathe Style Benefit: Using this style grants the following benefits Improved Scabbard Guard: Your shield bonus to AC when fighting this way increases to +2. Subduing Strike: By keeping the blade sheathed, you can deliver non-lethal damage with a strike at no penalty to attack or damage rolls. Stance of Perpetual Refusal: If you opt to take the total defense action you gain the ability to make counter attacks as the opponent leaves himself vulnerable when attacking. When attacking you in melee, opponents draw attacks of opportunity from you (this does not allow you to make more than one attack of opportunity on the same opponent in a round nor does it grant more attacks of opportunity than you are normally allotted). Greater Sword and Sheathe Style Prerequisites: Improved Weapon Finesse, Weapon Finesse, Weapon Focus (any single-handed sword), Weapon Specialization (any single-handed sword), Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Draw Cut, Quick Draw, Improved Initiative, Flick of the Wrist, Sword and Sheathe Style, Improved Sword and Sheathe Style Benefit: Using this style grants the following benefits Greater Scabbard Guard: Your shield bonus to AC when fighting this way increases to +3. Draw Past: When attacking, once per attack, you may opt to move past your opponent into the square on the direct opposite of the opponent without provoking attacks of opportunity. You can use this to continue past multiple opponents, but you cannot move more than your speed in a round when doing so.
trapspringer 11-08-07, 08:24 PM	Why would I need to take improved weapon finesse to gain access to draw cut? What if I want to draw-cut with light slashing weapons? You need to re-write most of this. You assumed a lot in your rules. I know this stuff is obvious, but you need to specify that you can only use pommel thrust (and rename that ****, let's go with pommel strike, 'k?) can only be used with an undrawn sword, and really it oughta be only on round one if youw ant some iajitsu stuff goin' on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeT0H8urFxs Sword-and-sheathe style should specify that, to make use of the feat, you must possess a scabbard of an appropriate size for your sword. Yea, it's obvious, but right now a naked guy with a sword could... well, you get the idea. Other thing: BaB requirements. Use 'em. As it stands now, a level one human fighter with two flaws will start the game with five feats. That means at level three he can get stunning fist. That's not cool, man. Fighters get stunning fist at level eight normally, and even then only if they are built oddly. If you think there are sufficiently stringent feat requirements to prevent this already, then what's the harm in slappin' a +4 BAB on something? I think you've got a really concise and focused picture in your head how this will work, and I think you've got a really great grasp on the feel you want to achieve. Frankly, they're great feats with excellent fluffy-ness. Fill in the crunchiness and lawyer-ese it out a bit to prevent stupidity and I think you'll have an excellent addition to your game.