DnD Oriental Style

[Byronic]

I was wondering something, I have a setting idea which is heavily inspired by medieval Japan + Fantasy. I was wondering if the classes could be directly converted to more oriental styles just by changing their names and the descriptions of their powers or if they would require more work.

Paladin = Samurai

Cleric = Priest (basically the same except with new deities)

Rogue = Ninja

Ranger = Not sure. Perhaps split them into two classes (but only fluffwise), Archer and something else

Warlord = Strike Leader.

Warlock = A special kind of priest who's task it is to punish divine crimes. Probably "Inquisitor"

Fighter: Soldier/mercenary/something else

Wizard: Sage?

The names themselves aren't as important (although I would be grateful for suggestions), but can the classes simply be translated like that or do the powers need to be retooled?

 

[Oni]

Does each class need to have a specific correlation. Couldn't Samurai be from paladins/fighters/rangers Couldn't Ninja be rogues/rangers (hell maybe even warlock/wizard depending on how anime you want to be about it).

I guess what I'm trying to say wouldn't it be easier to just take the concept and then go from there and not worry about class names and the like?

 

[Kwalish Kid]

It's the social role played by the PCs that make it "oriental", not so much the fighting.

 

[smootrk]

Does each class need to have a specific correlation. Couldn't Samurai be from paladins/fighters/rangers Couldn't Ninja be rogues/rangers (hell maybe even warlock/wizard depending on how anime you want to be about it).

I guess what I'm trying to say wouldn't it be easier to just take the concept and then go from there and not worry about class names and the like?

Agreed. Let the class determine abilities (OK maybe tweak a few ability choices here and there to fit the Asian themes better), and let the name of their role be determined by background or by the character's actions.

Samurai, especially towards the end of the era, tended to be a sort of nobility title, often given to bureaucrats. I would allow really any class to become 'Samurai'. Bushi is the term for warrior from the older edition D&D books.

The old edition books had a Temple Soldier class called Sohei which is probably the best fit for the Paladin class. The priest class was called the Shukenja. The wizard class was called the Wu-Jen. There was a Yakuza class (rogue-theft,social) as well as a Ninja class (rogue-stealthy combat).

Overall though, it is really just tweaks to the flavor that makes the fighter into a Bushi, Kensai, Ronin, or Samurai.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

It's the social role played by the PCs that make it "oriental", not so much the fighting.

Don't forget to give them inferior professional soldiers and weapons