Critique my Scorpion Samurai

[Gaiden]

If you are really worried about Iaijutsu duels, there is a Scorpion PrC (in Secrets, I think) that allows you to negate a feat of your opponent's. Pick Quick Draw and/or Way of the Crane. You can't lose. I've never been a bog fan of Speed of the Kami and I love duels.

Using "low" skills will bring you dishonor if someone sees you. Some people will make an arguement that your ancestor sees you and that's where the honor loss comes from, which would be valid for an Akodo but I can't see Hiruma knocking down a Crab's honor for using Hide. Honor, unlike alignment, has a lot to do with perception. In part, that's why the L5R d10 game has the skill Sincerety. You need to be sincere, not honest, in Rokugan.

An honorable Scorpion (what are they called again?--Junshin?) can be a great concept. In fact, their former-but-still-active Champion used to be one. If there's an updated version, I'd love to see it.

I couple of changes to the character. I am going with karmic twin rather than subtle manipulator. It helps with bluff, diplomacy, intimidate, and handle animal at the loss of only a +1 to the bluff skill. Also, I am playing with only one other player and we are both going to take the feat (he is a shugenja).

I maxed out ranks also in handle animal which I did not mention above. It is interesting that this is considered a low skill when horseriding is so prestigious. I am using the handle animal for falconry. My DM already ok'ed getting the bird, but I am confused as to whether or not falconry would be considered a low skill. I woudl not think so, but who knows.

On the use of bluff, is every use of bluff a low skill. Would feinting in combat be considered a low skill or is it only the lying portion that is low. Moreover, who woudl someone know you were using it if they never found out the truth?

I lke the idea of that PrC, but unfortunately that would have to wait until epic levels. I just can't get all the feats necessary to be able to pull of the tactics this guy wants otherwise.

 

[Westwind]

I don't recall ever seeing anything about falconry in particular, but I'd let it pass as a high skill, although it would be unusual. It makes more sense in terms of theme (it's the sport of aristocrats) and the low skill aspect of Handle Animal is really about dealing with non-horse beasts of burden and the chance that you might have to touch dead flesh (a HUGE no-no).

Feinting in combat is fair most of the time. Using a feat like Quicker than the Eye to whip a knife (tanto) out of your sleeve and sneak attack your opponent would not go over well.

As for the lying dimension of Bluff, it's fair game--and part of the reason Sense Motive is really nice in Rokugan. In a classic L5R story a Scorpion will lie, use the Sincerity skill to make sure no one knows he's lying, then destroy any evidence/people who might know the truth. If he has time, he'll arrange things to look like his version of reality. And it's all good in terms of honor because his personal integrity is never called into question. Even getting accused of a crime, guilty or not, will cause a slight dip in honor. Of course, accusing people of crimes at random is a good way to meet their Kakita friend and champion...

 

[Gaiden]

I don't recall ever seeing anything about falconry in particular, but I'd let it pass as a high skill, although it would be unusual. It makes more sense in terms of theme (it's the sport of aristocrats) and the low skill aspect of Handle Animal is really about dealing with non-horse beasts of burden and the chance that you might have to touch dead flesh (a HUGE no-no).

That's pretty much what I thought.

Feinting in combat is fair most of the time. Using a feat like Quicker than the Eye to whip a knife (tanto) out of your sleeve and sneak attack your opponent would not go over well.

I think what you are getting at is that there is a difference between cunning and dirty fighting - perhaps a fine line, but a difference never the less. I believe the techniques associated with the scorpion schools are related more towards cunning than anything else.

As for the lying dimension of Bluff, it's fair game--and part of the reason Sense Motive is really nice in Rokugan. In a classic L5R story a Scorpion will lie, use the Sincerity skill to make sure no one knows he's lying, then destroy any evidence/people who might know the truth. If he has time, he'll arrange things to look like his version of reality. And it's all good in terms of honor because his personal integrity is never called into question.

That's interesting. I am going for more of an honorable bend to this Samurai so I would not want to callously go killing people just to protect my honor. However, certainly if I were to lye I would attempt to engineer it in a believable fashion.

Even getting accused of a crime, guilty or not, will cause a slight dip in honor. Of course, accusing people of crimes at random is a good way to meet their Kakita friend and champion...

NICE! I will remember that (especially if I ever have a particular Kakita I want to kill).