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An optimized Samurai

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
hemophiliac42
Jan 22, 2010 23:06:08 A friend of mine really wants to play a samurai. Our campaign is currently at 6th level and none of us have experience with a samurai but i think i remember seeing a thread about it a while back. Does anyone have a reference to it?
#2
jeriah
Jan 23, 2010 0:44:12 Samurai are only slightly worse off than the NPC Warrior class. If he wants to be a Samurai, let him play a Fighter or something similar and use a Katana and shortsword (just call it a wakizashi) and take the TWF feats.

If he really wants to use the class, he's going to be pretty bad off. The class abilities only really work on things much lower level than yourself. As a samurai, it's basically your only option to run around slaying goblins and kobolds while the rest of the party is fighting the dragon/evil wizard/whatever. The level 20 capstone ability only works on things with 4HD or less, since anything 5HD or more is basically immune.
#3
gorfnad_the_shiznit
Jan 23, 2010 2:30:59 Samurai 1 (or 2 for TWF)/ Warblade or Swordsage (possibly unarmed variant with VoP for that Samurai Jack feel) X focusing on Diamond Mind could work. Otherwise see if you can get the OA Samurai instead since that version is actually useful.

Or if you just need a laugh here is a build that throw katanas
Factotum 8/ Swordsage 2/ Master Thrower 2/ Iajustu Master 2/ Warblade 1/ Bloodstorm Blade 4/ Master Thrower 1
#4
aelryinth
Jan 23, 2010 22:53:46 Pick up a copy of Oriental Adventures and use the samurai out fo there, not hte PRC. Otherwise, just call fighters 'samurai', give them good Will saves, and you're pretty much done.

==Aelryinth
#5
death_isthe_begining
Jan 24, 2010 4:35:04 In case the OP is confused, there was a samurai class in Complete Warrior and it sucks.
#6
streamofthesky
Jan 25, 2010 1:56:55
In case the OP is confused, there was a samurai class in Complete Warrior and it sucks.

I still think/hope that the entry was actually a joke, and the writers didn't seriously think that was playable...

When I made my Samurai, I used Warblade, with Iron Heart and Diamond Mind. He was the leader of his clan (Toyotomi), so I smattered in a little White Raven, too. I think DM and IH combo makes for a good representation of a Samurai as portrayed in anime and other media. But the other disciplines can work, too. Another player made a Warblade "Samurai" as his friend and bodyguard, of the Shimazu clan. Being more wild and with a penchant for ambushes, he used mostly Tiger Claw and Stone Dragon.
#7
Jarveiyan
Jan 25, 2010 3:22:41
Pick up a copy of Oriental Adventures and use the samurai out fo there, not hte PRC. Otherwise, just call fighters 'samurai', give them good Will saves, and you're pretty much done.

==Aelryinth

This is what I suggest, I looked at the CW samurai and said no right off the bat(thats not a samurai it's a 2 weapon brute).
#8
NiteCyper
Jan 25, 2010 3:41:23 Oh god, I remember when I first played and revered the (CW) Samurai (played by the DM's brother who is an acquaintance of mine). I was envious of his damage dealt because I was playing a Rogue 5/Assassin 3. XD
#9
hemophiliac42
Jan 26, 2010 22:17:59 I guess what she is thinking of doing so far is the OA samurai and then do iajutsu master and get a couple MW katanas so she gets the bonus damage. Any way to really maximize this?
#10
phaedrusxy
Jan 26, 2010 23:32:12 Maybe check out the first build here and see if it interests you. It isn't really 100% optimized around Iaijutsu damage so much, even though it takes IM levels.
#11
aelryinth
Jan 28, 2010 20:34:17
I guess what she is thinking of doing so far is the OA samurai and then do iajutsu master and get a couple MW katanas so she gets the bonus damage. Any way to really maximize this?

Just realize that the Iajitsu rules were updated by AEG to be a full-round action, not suprise attacks. The damage is supposed to apply only after great concentration, and thus only in a formal duel or against objects (board-breaking uses the same rules).

It's not a substitute for sneak attack, and really doesn't transfer well to Western Culture.

As for maximizing it, anything that ups your IF skill ups your bonus.

==Aelryinth
#12
snakeman830
Jan 28, 2010 20:38:10
I guess what she is thinking of doing so far is the OA samurai and then do iajutsu master and get a couple MW katanas so she gets the bonus damage. Any way to really maximize this?

Just realize that the Iajitsu rules were updated by AEG to be a full-round action, not suprise attacks. The damage is supposed to apply only after great concentration, and thus only in a formal duel or against objects (board-breaking uses the same rules). It's not a substitute for sneak attack, and really doesn't transfer well to Western Culture. As for maximizing it, anything that ups your IF skill ups your bonus. ==Aelryinth

Don't forget that AEG is third-party material. Yes, I know Oriental Adventures was a joint project between WotC and AEG. The fact remains that AEG is NOT WotC, so the books are likely to not be allowed.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 hemophiliac42 Jan 22, 2010 23:06:08	A friend of mine really wants to play a samurai. Our campaign is currently at 6th level and none of us have experience with a samurai but i think i remember seeing a thread about it a while back. Does anyone have a reference to it?
#2 jeriah Jan 23, 2010 0:44:12	Samurai are only slightly worse off than the NPC Warrior class. If he wants to be a Samurai, let him play a Fighter or something similar and use a Katana and shortsword (just call it a wakizashi) and take the TWF feats. If he really wants to use the class, he's going to be pretty bad off. The class abilities only really work on things much lower level than yourself. As a samurai, it's basically your only option to run around slaying goblins and kobolds while the rest of the party is fighting the dragon/evil wizard/whatever. The level 20 capstone ability only works on things with 4HD or less, since anything 5HD or more is basically immune.
#3 gorfnad_the_shiznit Jan 23, 2010 2:30:59	Samurai 1 (or 2 for TWF)/ Warblade or Swordsage (possibly unarmed variant with VoP for that Samurai Jack feel) X focusing on Diamond Mind could work. Otherwise see if you can get the OA Samurai instead since that version is actually useful. Or if you just need a laugh here is a build that throw katanas Factotum 8/ Swordsage 2/ Master Thrower 2/ Iajustu Master 2/ Warblade 1/ Bloodstorm Blade 4/ Master Thrower 1
#4 aelryinth Jan 23, 2010 22:53:46	Pick up a copy of Oriental Adventures and use the samurai out fo there, not hte PRC. Otherwise, just call fighters 'samurai', give them good Will saves, and you're pretty much done. ==Aelryinth
#5 death_isthe_begining Jan 24, 2010 4:35:04	In case the OP is confused, there was a samurai class in Complete Warrior and it sucks.
#6 streamofthesky Jan 25, 2010 1:56:55	In case the OP is confused, there was a samurai class in Complete Warrior and it sucks. I still think/hope that the entry was actually a joke, and the writers didn't seriously think that was playable... When I made my Samurai, I used Warblade, with Iron Heart and Diamond Mind. He was the leader of his clan (Toyotomi), so I smattered in a little White Raven, too. I think DM and IH combo makes for a good representation of a Samurai as portrayed in anime and other media. But the other disciplines can work, too. Another player made a Warblade "Samurai" as his friend and bodyguard, of the Shimazu clan. Being more wild and with a penchant for ambushes, he used mostly Tiger Claw and Stone Dragon.
#7 Jarveiyan Jan 25, 2010 3:22:41	Pick up a copy of Oriental Adventures and use the samurai out fo there, not hte PRC. Otherwise, just call fighters 'samurai', give them good Will saves, and you're pretty much done. ==Aelryinth This is what I suggest, I looked at the CW samurai and said no right off the bat(thats not a samurai it's a 2 weapon brute).
#8 NiteCyper Jan 25, 2010 3:41:23	Oh god, I remember when I first played and revered the (CW) Samurai (played by the DM's brother who is an acquaintance of mine). I was envious of his damage dealt because I was playing a Rogue 5/Assassin 3. XD
#9 hemophiliac42 Jan 26, 2010 22:17:59	I guess what she is thinking of doing so far is the OA samurai and then do iajutsu master and get a couple MW katanas so she gets the bonus damage. Any way to really maximize this?
#10 phaedrusxy Jan 26, 2010 23:32:12	Maybe check out the first build here and see if it interests you. It isn't really 100% optimized around Iaijutsu damage so much, even though it takes IM levels.
#11 aelryinth Jan 28, 2010 20:34:17	I guess what she is thinking of doing so far is the OA samurai and then do iajutsu master and get a couple MW katanas so she gets the bonus damage. Any way to really maximize this? Just realize that the Iajitsu rules were updated by AEG to be a full-round action, not suprise attacks. The damage is supposed to apply only after great concentration, and thus only in a formal duel or against objects (board-breaking uses the same rules). It's not a substitute for sneak attack, and really doesn't transfer well to Western Culture. As for maximizing it, anything that ups your IF skill ups your bonus. ==Aelryinth
#12 snakeman830 Jan 28, 2010 20:38:10	I guess what she is thinking of doing so far is the OA samurai and then do iajutsu master and get a couple MW katanas so she gets the bonus damage. Any way to really maximize this? Just realize that the Iajitsu rules were updated by AEG to be a full-round action, not suprise attacks. The damage is supposed to apply only after great concentration, and thus only in a formal duel or against objects (board-breaking uses the same rules). It's not a substitute for sneak attack, and really doesn't transfer well to Western Culture. As for maximizing it, anything that ups your IF skill ups your bonus. ==Aelryinth Don't forget that AEG is third-party material. Yes, I know Oriental Adventures was a joint project between WotC and AEG. The fact remains that AEG is NOT WotC, so the books are likely to not be allowed.