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modern samurai

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
glnn
Aug 24, 2008 3:15:01 I need some help making a d20 samurai. I have made a few classes but they never come out right. please help.
#2
j0lt
Aug 24, 2008 3:35:32 That's all very vague, but I'll give it my usual first response:

There is no "modern samurai". You want to be a martial artist focusing on swinging katanas around, that's one thing. I'd probably recommend the Strong Hero basic class followed by one of Cyber_Dave's homebrew advanced classes (do a search for Kenjutsu Master, Iaijutsu Master, or Cyber_Dave's revised Martial Artist). Any of those three advanced classes would work perfectly for the concept you're looking for, in so far as I can tell.
#3
rappy_dup
Aug 24, 2008 5:30:35 In addition, the Archaic Weaponmaster advanced class (Urban Arcana) with a specialty in the katana or the Coreline campaign setting's Street Samurai might work well. In the end, it is up to you which one you wish to use.
#4
tema69
Aug 24, 2008 6:38:58 I recommend CyberDave's stuff for your samurai.
#5
faghter_hero
Aug 25, 2008 1:13:51 Samurai could work well as a prestige class for Strong/Dedicated Heroes (but Dedicated/Charismatic Heroes or straight Dedicated might also work). The Dilettante profession (or Aristocrat if you're using d20 Past) can represent Samurai lineage. For an advanced class, Soldier and Negotiator are Samurai-like choices, though Investigator isn't a bad option either, since Samurai families tend to be well connected. Martial Artist is an interesting choice, if you replace moves like flying kick or iron fists with equivalent weapon attacks, and take Judo oriented throws for bonus feats (Combat Throw, Improved Combat Throw, and Imbalance Opponent come to mind).

D20 Past has some good prestige class abilities from the Musketeer and the Frontier Marshall that could work with a Samurai. The Musketeer has a few Intelligence based abilities which could be swapped for Wisdom (combat awareness/fighting spirit) or Charisma (ki) to make precise, deadly attacks. The Frontier Marshall has Unflappable Calm and Favored Enemy, which both seem suited to Samurai types, as well as his weapon focus abilities if he works with swords instead of guns.
#6
layla_minogue
Aug 29, 2008 3:56:55
In addition, the Archaic Weaponmaster advanced class (Urban Arcana) with a specialty in the katana or the Coreline campaign setting's Street Samurai might work well. In the end, it is up to you which one you wish to use.

This brings up a point of contention for me. One of the requirements for an Archaic Weaponmaster in Urban Arcana is, of course, that they take the Archaic Weapon Proficiency feat. The katana would be perfect, except that it's listed as an Exotic weapon. For my games, I've allowed Exotic Weapon Proficiency as a substitute for AWP, as a workaround for this obvious oversight in the rules. Same deal with the Swashbuckler not being allowed to use a rapier (which isn't a light weapon, if I remember right.) Not that this has anything to do with the OP's question, I just wanted to get that out.
#7
rappy_dup
Aug 29, 2008 10:36:29 Argh, terribly sorry for that oversight. I have a homebrew rule for an Exotic Weaponmaster as well, and I'm not exactly perfect at remembering what I do. :embarrass
#8
layla_minogue
Aug 29, 2008 11:42:06
Argh, terribly sorry for that oversight. I have a homebrew rule for an Exotic Weaponmaster as well, and I'm not exactly perfect at remembering what I do. :embarrass

I'm glad we agree that Wizards must have just forgotten to include these handy exceptions in the rules. Yeah, that must be the explanation...
#9
rappy_dup
Aug 29, 2008 12:25:23
I'm glad we agree that Wizards must have just forgotten to include these handy exceptions in the rules. Yeah, that must be the explanation...

I like to think so. It doesn't make much sense that they would go out of their way for a sidebar that basically says "You can change the allegiance meter of the Holy/Unholy Knight" and ignore the other class options, right? ;)

Back to the subject at hand, though, I forgot the Swordplay school from Game Mechanics' Martial Arts Mayhem. While not technically a class, if you meet the prerequisites, you can gain some bonuses that sort of emulate a samurai-like proficiency in the blade (and allows you to take Weapon Finess with the katana. Fancy, huh?) This is a potential option for those who wish to keep on their chosen class path, but would still like a samurai flair.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 glnn Aug 24, 2008 3:15:01	I need some help making a d20 samurai. I have made a few classes but they never come out right. please help.
#2 j0lt Aug 24, 2008 3:35:32	That's all very vague, but I'll give it my usual first response: There is no "modern samurai". You want to be a martial artist focusing on swinging katanas around, that's one thing. I'd probably recommend the Strong Hero basic class followed by one of Cyber_Dave's homebrew advanced classes (do a search for Kenjutsu Master, Iaijutsu Master, or Cyber_Dave's revised Martial Artist). Any of those three advanced classes would work perfectly for the concept you're looking for, in so far as I can tell.
#3 rappy_dup Aug 24, 2008 5:30:35	In addition, the Archaic Weaponmaster advanced class (Urban Arcana) with a specialty in the katana or the Coreline campaign setting's Street Samurai might work well. In the end, it is up to you which one you wish to use.
#4 tema69 Aug 24, 2008 6:38:58	I recommend CyberDave's stuff for your samurai.
#5 faghter_hero Aug 25, 2008 1:13:51	Samurai could work well as a prestige class for Strong/Dedicated Heroes (but Dedicated/Charismatic Heroes or straight Dedicated might also work). The Dilettante profession (or Aristocrat if you're using d20 Past) can represent Samurai lineage. For an advanced class, Soldier and Negotiator are Samurai-like choices, though Investigator isn't a bad option either, since Samurai families tend to be well connected. Martial Artist is an interesting choice, if you replace moves like flying kick or iron fists with equivalent weapon attacks, and take Judo oriented throws for bonus feats (Combat Throw, Improved Combat Throw, and Imbalance Opponent come to mind). D20 Past has some good prestige class abilities from the Musketeer and the Frontier Marshall that could work with a Samurai. The Musketeer has a few Intelligence based abilities which could be swapped for Wisdom (combat awareness/fighting spirit) or Charisma (ki) to make precise, deadly attacks. The Frontier Marshall has Unflappable Calm and Favored Enemy, which both seem suited to Samurai types, as well as his weapon focus abilities if he works with swords instead of guns.
#6 layla_minogue Aug 29, 2008 3:56:55	In addition, the Archaic Weaponmaster advanced class (Urban Arcana) with a specialty in the katana or the Coreline campaign setting's Street Samurai might work well. In the end, it is up to you which one you wish to use. This brings up a point of contention for me. One of the requirements for an Archaic Weaponmaster in Urban Arcana is, of course, that they take the Archaic Weapon Proficiency feat. The katana would be perfect, except that it's listed as an Exotic weapon. For my games, I've allowed Exotic Weapon Proficiency as a substitute for AWP, as a workaround for this obvious oversight in the rules. Same deal with the Swashbuckler not being allowed to use a rapier (which isn't a light weapon, if I remember right.) Not that this has anything to do with the OP's question, I just wanted to get that out.
#7 rappy_dup Aug 29, 2008 10:36:29	Argh, terribly sorry for that oversight. I have a homebrew rule for an Exotic Weaponmaster as well, and I'm not exactly perfect at remembering what I do. :embarrass
#8 layla_minogue Aug 29, 2008 11:42:06	Argh, terribly sorry for that oversight. I have a homebrew rule for an Exotic Weaponmaster as well, and I'm not exactly perfect at remembering what I do. :embarrass I'm glad we agree that Wizards must have just forgotten to include these handy exceptions in the rules. Yeah, that must be the explanation...
#9 rappy_dup Aug 29, 2008 12:25:23	I'm glad we agree that Wizards must have just forgotten to include these handy exceptions in the rules. Yeah, that must be the explanation... I like to think so. It doesn't make much sense that they would go out of their way for a sidebar that basically says "You can change the allegiance meter of the Holy/Unholy Knight" and ignore the other class options, right? ;) Back to the subject at hand, though, I forgot the Swordplay school from Game Mechanics' Martial Arts Mayhem. While not technically a class, if you meet the prerequisites, you can gain some bonuses that sort of emulate a samurai-like proficiency in the blade (and allows you to take Weapon Finess with the katana. Fancy, huh?) This is a potential option for those who wish to keep on their chosen class path, but would still like a samurai flair.