"Generic" samurai from OA?

[Arnwyn]

To make a samurai in OA, it looks like the feats are based on what Clan you take. What if I want to create a "generic" samurai that does not depend on the Clans? (I do use the Clans, but they are from a specific region in my campaign - however, I have two other regions that also have samurai - but do not have the Clans. These regions require a "generic" samurai that does not have anything to do with the Clans.)

Alternately, I was thinking about introducing two new regions (as noted above) to be used for the samurai (for those who are interested, it is a Kara-Tur game, and the two additional regions are Wa and Kozakura). Does anyone have any suggestions as to what feats should be made available?

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions.

 

[mikebr99]

WOTC's Complete Warrior splat book has a core class Samurai.... YMMV


Mike

 

[Arnwyn]

WOTC's Complete Warrior splat book has a core class Samurai.... YMMV

Yeah, I saw that one... but I much prefer the one in OA. Thanks for the heads-up, though.

 

[Taluron]

In the OA Samurai it states that if a samurai is not from one of the Major Clans simply choose a clan style and use it..

 

[Nightfall]

Yep, and I like OA samurai myself instead of this two weapon fighter guy.

 

[Arnwyn]

In the OA Samurai it states that if a samurai is not from one of the Major Clans simply choose a clan style and use it..

Unfortunately, that doesn't work for me - since I do have Clans as well as non-Clan regions IMC.

Simply choosing whatever style they want would diminish the "uniqueness" (sorry, vocabulary is failing me right now) of the Clans (which they can also choose).

So, the feat selection for these non-Clan samurai must be different from the Clan samurai...

 

[Arc]

Do it this way: The clanless samurai doesn't have access to the feats of the clans, unless he takes Know the School. Samurai is pretty nifty without clan specifics, and if you really feel like it, make up some new feats to make up for his loss. It's not going to be that big of a problem (as far as I can tell)

 

[Ranger REG]

Unfortunately, that doesn't work for me - since I do have Clans as well as non-Clan regions IMC.

Simply choosing whatever style they want would diminish the "uniqueness" (sorry, vocabulary is failing me right now) of the Clans (which they can also choose).

So, the feat selection for these non-Clan samurai must be different from the Clan samurai...

The feat list for each Rokugan clan is based on the school (dojo) endorsed by their clan and promote the fighting style (ryu). Crane emphasize quick strike (iai-do), Dragon emphasizes two-weapon fighting (niten-ryu).

Knowing that, you'll have to create up new lists that would best representing a unique swordfighting technique, or an lance/spear technique, or an achery technique. You can also develop a feat list that would make a samurai more political and cultured while a feat list represent martial (called bun-bu-ichi).

I suggest you research as there are several martial techniques in historical Japan.

 

[hong]

I'd just choose a collection of feats that the "non-clan" samurai can take as bonus feats. The point of the restriction, from a flavour point of view, is that it provides a theme for a character. In Rokugan, Crab samurai are brawny; Crane samurai are fast, graceful and iaijutsu specialists; Dragon samurai do the TWF thing; etc. You can do the same for your own setting. Just decide what sort of theme the non-clan areas have (tough? flexible? cunning? etc) and run with it.

 

[Arnwyn]

I'd just choose a collection of feats that the "non-clan" samurai can take as bonus feats.

That's pretty much my plan, I think.

I was hoping that somebody might have done such a thing... ah well.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!