OA Samuri

[blargney the second]

One of my three players is running a samurai in my game. He wanted to play a fighter-type, but found straight fighter to be too boring. We just took the oriental flavour out of the Rokugan samurai and called him a knight. It's worked pretty well so far!

-blarg

 

[Treebore]

Iaijutsu Focua allows bonus d6's in damage (up to 9d6 in the 50+ range) based on what your modified roll is. It also acts as your initiative roll in Iaijutsu duels. In non-Iaijutsu duels it acts as bonus damage for all of your attacks versus flat-footed opponents, but you roll initiative normally. In a duel it only counts on your first strike, successful or not.

My Samurai is now a 10th level Iaijutsu master/6th level Samurai. He'll probably kill most enemies in his initial attacks, even characters monster the same level he is. In just my lst game I played him in I fought a 17th level barbarian. I killed him before he could swing, all because of my Iaijutsu focus/mastery. And crits/keen blade/high strength, and I rolled well enough to get an extra 7d6 Iaijutsu damage per attack, plus he was flat footed for all of my attacks, so they all hit. He had around 222 hit points.

yes, they get 4 + INT/level in skill points. Knowledge Ettiquette and Court is just as much of a life saver in Rokugan as being an Iaijutsu master. In court, if you make a mistake against the wrong person you can be ordered to commit Seppuku. If you are truly an honorable Samurai committed to your lord, you are dead. All in the name of honor. Since my Samurai has worked his way up to a 5 honor, such a mistake would be the death of my character.

 

[kashgar]

A Scorpion Samurai responds

If, like myself, you truly believe in Bushido, your honor is not determined by whether or not you were "caught" using a low skill or displaying fear or disobeying your daimyo. In your heart you know if you have reached the standard of honor or not.

I will not stoop to disguise. I can bluff in combat but I will not tell a lie. I am trained in diplomacy but I use these skills without transgressing the dictates of my honor.

If I must strike a foe, I do so to the best of my ability. I can strike any part of that foe including his or her vulnerable areas. The samurai school of my family taught me well. I know where to place my blows. I wield a powerful weapon.

I do not use poison unless I am given a direct command by my daimyo -- the same rule exactly holds for committing seppuku. Neither has yet been requested of me. Either command would be followed without a moment's hesitation.

Those outside my clan often think that the way of the Scorpion is easier than careful adherence to the tenets of Bushido. They are very gravely mistaken. Our way is far more complicated and difficult. The right thing is rarely the easiest option.

Bayushi Saigo
Scorpion Clan Samurai

 

[Sejs]

Iaijutsu Focua allows bonus d6's in damage (up to 9d6 in the 50+ range) based on what your modified roll is. It also acts as your initiative roll in Iaijutsu duels. In non-Iaijutsu duels it acts as bonus damage for all of your attacks versus flat-footed opponents, but you roll initiative normally. In a duel it only counts on your first strike, successful or not.

My Samurai is now a 10th level Iaijutsu master/6th level Samurai. He'll probably kill most enemies in his initial attacks, even characters monster the same level he is. In just my lst game I played him in I fought a 17th level barbarian. I killed him before he could swing, all because of my Iaijutsu focus/mastery. And crits/keen blade/high strength, and I rolled well enough to get an extra 7d6 Iaijutsu damage per attack, plus he was flat footed for all of my attacks, so they all hit. He had around 222 hit points.

Exactly why you want to leave out Iaijutsu Focus in a non-Rokugan game. If everyone can have it and it fits with the setting, fine. But if one guy has it - unbalancing and not cool.

 

[Treebore]

If I wasn't such a wimp after my Iaijutsu advantage goes away I would think it unbalancing, period. The Crab Samurai in my party is the fighting monster, just don't tell her I said so.

BTW, Bayushi Saigo, I know far more about the Scorpion Clan than I want to, or should. But now that I do I can understand and accept your clans honor. But hey, I am a Dragon, I am supposed to be strange. Plus I am an Emerald Magistrate of the Kitsuki family. We have an unusual reputation to begin with.

Kitsuki Senshi
Emerald Magistrate (Not the class, just the office)
Iaijutsu Master

 

[Sejs]

The Crab Samurai in my party is the fighting monster, just don't tell her I said so.

Heh, Crab samurai are just badasses front to back no matter how to look at it. They may not be the most refined samurai around, but if your back is to the wall there's noone better to have on your side. Hell, half the time if your back is to the wall, they are the wall.

Way of the Crab, Hida's Technique, and The Mountain Does Not Move. Heh, keep your katana sheathed for 'honorable' combats, and get yourself a good, solid working weapon. Like a tetsubo.

And then laugh heartily when your opponent finds out that a studded iron bar works just fine in an iaijutsu duel.

 

[billd91]

Screw all that. Make a Scorpion Samurai. They often sacrifice their honor for the good of the empire

For the most part though, a Scorpion who would sacrifice their honor for the good of the empire wouldn't be a samurai character class. He'd be something else, though he would be of the samurai social class.
The actual samurai character class members who are part of the Scorpion clan would probably not be the ones sacrificing their honor by doing the dirty deeds that they think need to be done. They'd be part of the public face of the Scorpion clan's honor, the ones who actually walk the walk of bushido... and there are surely some even if the clan has had to rehabilitate its honor mor often than you've had hot suppers...
While some character could be a mix of rogue and some kind of warrior class and be part of the samurai social class, there are too many features of the rogue class that don't mix well with the samurai character class. You'd have to walk that line very carefully.

 

[billd91]

Blasted slow boards. Even my first edit failed.

 

[wizardneedsfood]

A, a samurai's problem:

Honor before Duty or Duty before Honor?

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

And then laugh heartily when your opponent finds out that a studded iron bar works just fine in an iaijutsu duel.

Oh, that's just beautiful. Thank you.

Of course, you would be grievously insulting your honorable opponent, which could mean all sorts of unpleasant things.

Brad