(Another) Samurai Core Class

[trav_laney]

I wouldn't worry about Mighty Cleave. There was some concern over it from Sword and Fist (when it was called Supreme Cleave), but it turns out that was mostly misinterpretation. With great cleave and a non-reach weapon, you can potentially kill 8 medium enemies, if you're surrounded. With Mighty/Supreme Cleave, you can make a 5' step and get only 3 more. That's best-case. But it does let you cleave into someone you could not have reached before. Plus, if you make it a feat it still takes 3 regular feats to get to it, and you'd be giving it at 17th level even as a virtual feat, so IMO no biggie.

Hmm...that doesn't sound too unbalancing. At least not for a 17th level ability...

 

[Kularian]

Holy crap, that is an awesome idea! I thought the damage reduction was a bit too high, and this is the perfect way to fix it. I think I will give special combat abilities at 17th level instead of high-end feats, however...special attacks and methods that cannot be learned by other classes. Thanks for the input!

No problem I'm a fan of OA, so any attempt to work on that era is fine by me, hehe. I've also done a lot of custom work on races/classes for my homebrews, so I can kind of eyeball a class and see what should be/could be changed, *nod*

Wait until Monday before you roll him (or her) up. I'm incorporating everyone's suggestions into it, and will post the "final draft" version after the weekend.

Works for me! I'll be sure to whip one up once you've posted the final version.


Now, for more of my comments:

Though Supreme/Mighty Cleave is pretty cool, the anime attack that is often done is pretty sweet. I.E. The samurai prepares to draw his weapon, then is suddenly behind his target, sheathing the katana. I can't think of a way to make that work properly off-hand, (or on-hand for that matter.) But I like the ideas coming out, and if you need any help, lemme know, and I'll see what I can do.

 

[trav_laney]

I have an idea for your focused strike ability. Change the name to Iaijutsu. Make it an opposed concentration check. Then, have the winner add an initiative bonus, to hit bonus and damage bonus to their role. This ability only functions in a "duel" or in a pre-initiative situation. So basically their first strike is always going to be really good. In a duel with another samurai it will be decent.

I don't think this is the mechanic I want to use. I'd like it to be something that can be used multiple times in a battle, similar to the Favored Enemy bonuses that rangers get. Of course, Ranger bonuses are only to damage...but they don't require Concentration checks to use. So it seems to even out.

It also might make sense to not have them be raw numbers. For instance:
if you win the concetration check by...

An interesting effect...but far too math-heavy for my particular gaming group. These folks think that turning the undead is far too much work, and nobody has the patience to learn the rules for jumping. I imagine that this method would cause their heads to explode.

Bonus Samurai Feats
Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Mighty Cleave, Two-Weapon Fighting, Dual Strike, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting, Mounted Archery, Ride-By Attack, Improved Mounted Archery*, Spirited Charge, Improved Critical: Katana, Exotic weapon Proficiency: Katana,

+ More Feats

I don't like bonus feats. Far too often, whenever someone runs out of ideas for a new class, they "fill in the gaps" with a list of bonus feats. And that's fine, I suppose. But I would much rather give the class some special abilities that only samurai could learn...it makes the class more interesting and useful from a roleplaying standpoint as well as on the battlefield.

But that's where I am stuck. Samurai were technically "just fighters," from a D20 System point of view...it would not be hard to build a very playable (and colorful) samurai-type character by just rolling up a human fighter, choosing feats that improve combat with the katana, and soak some skill points into Knowledge (nobility) and Profession (soldier).

You could do the same for a ranger, I suppose. But I digress.

Exempt suggested that I add special effects to the Focused Strike ability. That might be the best way to add "that special samurai flava" I am looking for, without copying someone else's recipe. How about these ideas:

First, Focused Strike becomes an ability that may be used only (3 + Charisma modifier) times per day. Then, as the samurai gains levels, he may do other things with his Focused Strike...like:

Stun: an opponent struck by a Focused Strike is stunned for one round. (The samurai must state that he wishes to use this ability before making the attack roll, miss ruins the attempt, save throw, yadda yadda...) (low to mid level)

Knockdown: An opponent struck by a Focused Strike must make a Reflex save or be knocked prone. (low level)

Weaken: opponents struck by the samurai's Focused Strike take 2 points of temporary Strength damage. (mid level)

Confuse: opponents struck by the samurai's Focused Strike must make a Will save or become confused (as the spell) for one round per samurai level. (mid level)

Terror: opponents struck by the Focused Strike must make a Will save or become panicked. (low level)

Death: an opponent struck by the Focused Strike must make a Fortitude save or die from massive damage. (high level)

Wounding: opponent continues to take 2 points of damage per round from blood loss until healed. (mid to high level)

These are just ideas that I am kicking around at the moment. And naturally, all of them would have applicable save throws, and the whole "a missed attack ruins the attempt" verbage that I omitted. If you can think of other ones, let me know.

 

[Kularian]

So would all of these abilities gained be in addition to the + to hit and damage? Or would they be separate?

Example: A 10th level samurai decides to use Focused Strike on an opponent. He uses the weaken option. Does he still receive the +6 to hit/damage?

Or can he use as many Focused Strike attempts as he wishes in a round to produce several effects? That would be interesting, hehe. Burning FS attempts like a Paladin burns Turning attempts? I dunno, just a thought.

 

[trav_laney]

So would all of these abilities gained be in addition to the + to hit and damage? Or would they be separate?

You know, the more I look into this, the less I like it. The Focused Strike ability is a good idea, and having special attacks that are useable only a certain number of times per day is also a good idea...but combining them isn't balancing very well.

So I think I am going to leave Focused Strike alone, and write in a handful of key abilities that the samurai gains at higher levels, each useable once per day...sort of like a monk's "abundant step" and "quivering palm" abilities. It's a little more work, but might be interesting.

 

[Kularian]

You know, the more I look into this, the less I like it. The Focused Strike ability is a good idea, and having special attacks that are useable only a certain number of times per day is also a good idea...but combining them isn't balancing very well.

So I think I am going to leave Focused Strike alone, and write in a handful of key abilities that the samurai gains at higher levels, each useable once per day...sort of like a monk's "abundant step" and "quivering palm" abilities. It's a little more work, but might be interesting.

I really like that idea. *thumbs up* That seems to fit the flavor a lot better. Also, the more I look at Focused Strike, the more I can see use for it, so I don't think it's underpowered in the least, if that's your worry.

 

[trav_laney]

Revised Samurai has been Posted

The new version of my samurai core class has been posted. You can find it at this thread.