Samurai Class

[Nihilanth]

I don't know how many players or DM's use samurai class, but here are few things I changed... feel free to spit on me or curse me if you like

First and foremost:

Iaijutsu abillity: Iaido is a skill of drawing a sword with extreme speed AND killing the opponent in one blow... Iaijutsu is the abilitie to draw the sword, kill the opponent and hack away at him for the next five minutes in a continuous effort, just in case the first blow doesn't kill him... So, any samurai characters that have a katana may draw her and get a free attack at their highest attack bonus.

Second:

The Kiai abillity:

As a kendoka, I came to realise that Ki is always usable and not only in special occasions and especialy not once per day... Try seven or eight times per thirty seconds... So I made it deal less damage... It is just damage + level, no charisma modifier.

Third:

The Daisho proficiency:

Not all samurai were trained in use of both Wakizashi and the katana at the same time. A lot of them used only the katana, so the two-weapon fighting feat has been removed and now must be taken as a normal feat.

Finaly:

A smaller risk has been introduced that is optional... I personaly rarely use it since it is a bit extreme....

The Shogun must always be present in every game where there is a samurai. Also, every now and then (At the DM's discression) a % die is rolled if the roll is 100%, that means that there is an attack on the Shogun. Now a d20 is rolled to see how many days will pass before a messenger from the Samurais town will come. All results under five are treated as five. The samurai must travel back to his town (same duration of days) and find the assassin of the shogun, kill the bastard and the may continue with the adventure...

-modification to the last-

If the DM chooses, there may be no shogun, but that the Samurai is called Ronin and he does not recieve the Katana or the wakizashi at the beginning of the adventure. He must find them thruout the game...

That's about it...

[Rob-hin]

Originally Posted by Nihilanth

The Shogun must always be present in every game where there is a samurai. Also, every now and then (At the DM's discression) a % die is rolled if the roll is 100%, that means that there is an attack on the Shogun. Now a d20 is rolled to see how many days will pass before a messenger from the Samurais town will come. All results under five are treated as five. The samurai must travel back to his town (same duration of days) and find the assassin of the shogun, kill the bastard and the may continue with the adventure...

Won't this slow the game down a lott?
Such cases are implemented into the story by our DM as he sees it fit. It hardly seems like something to leave up to chance.

The Daisho proficiency:

Not all samurai were trained in use of both Wakizashi and the katana at the same time. A lot of them used only the katana, so the two-weapon fighting feat has been removed and now must be taken as a normal feat.

I agree, most even fight with one katana.

The Kiai abillity:

As a kendoka, I came to realise that Ki is always usable and not only in special occasions and especialy not once per day... Try seven or eight times per thirty seconds...

Hmm... this is actually a basic thing you are changing here. Like the smite evil ability. I woudn't touch it, but you are free to do so.
It does seem a bit much though.

Iaijutsu abillity: Iaido is a skill of drawing a sword with extreme speed AND killing the opponent in one blow... Iaijutsu is the abilitie to draw the sword, kill the opponent and hack away at him for the next five minutes in a continuous effort, just in case the first blow doesn't kill him... So, any samurai characters that have a katana may draw her and get a free attack at their highest attack bonus.

Isn't this simply the quick draw feat except that it's limited to a single attack?

[Fiberfar]

Originally Posted by Nihilanth

Iaijutsu abillity: Iaido is a skill of drawing a sword with extreme speed AND killing the opponent in one blow... Iaijutsu is the abilitie to draw the sword, kill the opponent and hack away at him for the next five minutes in a continuous effort, just in case the first blow doesn't kill him... So, any samurai characters that have a katana may draw her and get a free attack at their highest attack bonus.

Well, I think you need a better descriptor on the Iaijutsu abillity if it is going to give an extra attack and not kill in one hit. since it is 300 rounds in 5 minutes, it sounds like you get 300 free attacks. But it is your choice.

[Aegis]

Iaijutsu abillity: Iaido is a skill of drawing a sword with extreme speed AND killing the opponent in one blow... Iaijutsu is the abilitie to draw the sword, kill the opponent and hack away at him for the next five minutes in a continuous effort, just in case the first blow doesn't kill him... So, any samurai characters that have a katana may draw her and get a free attack at their highest attack bonus.

The catch, though, is that Iaijutsu battles are battles of honour, and may be only entered into upon the agreement of both Samurai, with the permission of their lords. Turning this ability into a free attack completely disregards the honour aspect of the whole event. The way an Iaijutsu battle is laid out, is so that it is rarely done, but when it is done, the first hit should often be enough to take most parties to death, if not near death.

The Daisho proficiency:

Not all samurai were trained in use of both Wakizashi and the katana at the same time. A lot of them used only the katana, so the two-weapon fighting feat has been removed and now must be taken as a normal feat.

This is somewhat false. While many Samuari (in Hollywood bastardization of Samurai ) use only the KAtana, it is ceremonily to have knowledge in the use of the Wakizashi as well. Not only that, but I believe they further break it down into the clanes, with one particular clan insisting on duel weilding. Not only that, but the only Samurai class, in any system I know, that gets Two Weapon fighting as an automatic feat is the Samurai from Big Eyes Small Mouth rule set. None of the clans get Two Weapon fighting as an automatic, or even clan specific feat tree. So, to sum out, the Ancestral Daisho does not mean that they have the proficiencies to use said weapons. It just means they start with said weapons.

If the DM chooses, there may be no shogun, but that the Samurai is called Ronin and he does not recieve the Katana or the wakizashi at the beginning of the adventure. He must find them thruout the game...

A Ronin is a Samurai who has become dishonoured, and has failed his previous master. It doesn't mean they are without weapon. In fact, upon becoming Ronin, the Samurai's last shread of honour lies in their sword, and again, by removign the sword, you remove the honour of the samurai.

Noticing a trend? A lot of these rules were put in place for two reasons: Culturewise, and balancewise. When playing a Samurai, you have to look at it like playing a Paladin. Instead of maintaining truth and justice, the Samurai must maintain his honour, which is given to him through his heritage, his service, and his weapon. And like the Paladin's Smite Evil attack, the Iaijutsu is a limited use ability, not damage modifier.

[Rob-hin]

Originally Posted by Aegis

Noticing a trend? A lot of these rules were put in place for two reasons: Culturewise, and balancewise. When playing a Samurai, you have to look at it like playing a Paladin. Instead of maintaining truth and justice, the Samurai must maintain his honour, which is given to him through his heritage, his service, and his weapon. And like the Paladin's Smite Evil attack, the Iaijutsu is a limited use ability, not damage modifier.

Well put, I agree completely.

[Nihilanth]

Well... I must agree on you with all your points! Thank you! This will make any games including Samurai easier and more balanced!