D&D 5E Looking For Samurai Trope Abilities

[Yunru]

So I'm working on a Samurai subclass for the Fighter. As the thread name suggests, historical accuracy is not as important as the stereotype of a Samurai.

Problem is, I've two empty spaces and no idea what should fill them. Here's what I've got so far:

3 - Sheathed Blade: When you make an attack with a melee weapon, you may draw that weapon as part of the attack. If you do, you get a +2 bonus to the damage roll of that attack.
7: ???
10 - Rain of Blades: When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you may forgo any additional damage dice. If you do, you may make another melee weapon attack against that target.
17: ???

 

[The Crimson Binome]

"Traditionally speaking," the samurai-type fighter focuses on dual-wielding. The basic ability would be to use a longsword and a shortsword simultaneously, and the level 10 ability would let you make an off-hand attack whenever you crit with the main hand. Ignoring that, for now...

Maybe a Retort ability, that lets them attack as a reaction (possibly with a large damage bonus) when they are attacked after taking the Dodge action on their turn. Then you could have a Zantetsuken at level 17 that's capable of insta-killing anyone under 100 HP, as an action once per day.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

So I'm working on a Samurai subclass for the Fighter. As the thread name suggests, historical accuracy is not as important as the stereotype of a Samurai.

What does the "stereotype of a Samurai" mean to you?

What sort of concept are you going for? Are you talking about the mounted noble, expert in the bow and spear? The unarmoured courtier, expert of sword duels decided by a single strike?
Should they be focused towards standing up to and duelling a single opponent, or cleaving through hordes of lesser opponents? Should they have capabilities that improve their attacks? Resistances to mind-affecting effects and/or fear?

There are so many samurai stereotypes around in media etc, that they can't all fit into a single concept.

 

[Ancalagon]

I can think of two things here...

A bonus to initiative (advantage?)
Fighting unarmored. A lot of samurai movies - the later period - feature samurai essentially wearing no armor.

 

[hejtmane]

Which Samurai error matters as while what people do not realize they use to have massive two handed swords they used in battle called that basically translate to field sword, spear bow and Cavalry the Katana became the standard in fact the whole Bushido and stuff came later that was done when peace started to come about and the government needed away to control the Samurai since an era of peace.

What era are you talking about that matters because they had many weapons they trained with as while as unarmed

 

[thethain]

First, you might glance at the Unearthed Arcana version already available: https://media.wizards.com/2016/dnd/downloads/2016_Fighter_UA_1205_1.pdf

Stereotypes of samurai are discipline and honor. This could be implemented in game by granting advantage against fear, and possibly charm effects.

The other concept often associated with samurai or bushido is the concept of fighting to the death. This could be a powerful ability for 17th level, if you are reduced to 0 hitpoints you remain conscious but can only take the attack action on your turns. If you defeat an opponent you are returned to 1 hp and can act normally. Probably limit this to once per long rest.

Historically, samurai would also be trained in archery and horsemanship. Also for less combat mechanics they could be given the ability to conscript any lower class person in their kingdom to do errands and such.



As an aside, since you are allowed 1 interaction per turn, your 3rd level bonus will end up making samurai sheath their weapon at the start of each turn just to draw it on their first attack for the +2 bonus. Which is kinda comical. Even more comical is that it allows a RAW thrown weapon build, as you can unsheath as many daggers as you need now (and they all get +2 attack). You might want to change it to something like "Your first turn when not surprised" and give it a bigger bonus, which fits the idea of a samurai killing an opponent with one attack, maybe +5 attack and damage since its once per encounter. Also rain of blades is a little too powerful if combined with great weapon master.. as it means any crit will grant 1 free attack, 1 attack as a bonus action, and you will be forgoing a 2d6 to gain the chance of 2d6+15 (and a chance to proc again). At the very least it should be once per turn.

 

[nswanson27]

Maybe a bonus to attack to when in close range to more than one enemy? Or bonus action attack to a target that wasn't targeted by your first attack(s). I'm thinking Tom Cruise Last Samurai fight scene here.

 

[cmad1977]

I like the Battlemaster maneuvers.


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[MechaTarrasque]

Don't forget the greatest samurai trope of them all: when the samurai runs at the other guy dragging his sword on the ground making sparks. I am not sure what it is supposed to do mechanically, but without at least a sparking dragging sword ribbon, it is just not really a samurai.

 

[dco]

I would use the battlemaster and add/erase maneuvers you like using evocative names.