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Message: <blockquote data-quote="trav_laney" data-source="post: 3148200" data-attributes="member: 46508">This is the second draft of the Samurai Core Class that I have been working on.  Thanks to everyone's feedback, I have fixed a lot of errors and filled in a lot of gaps in the character concept, and I am satisfied with the final product.But it is far from being finished...feedback is invited and appreciated.  With everyone's help, this could be the best one out there.-TravCore Class: SamuraiCharacteristics: What sets a samurai apart from all other classes is the code of bushido, or “way of the warrior.” Bushido is a code of conduct, a system of honor and loyalty that governs every aspect of the samurai’s life. A samurai lives only to bring honor to his lord, to his family, and to himself.Samurai are highly-trained combatants, each focusing on a particular fighting style. The stereotypical samurai is the student of the katana (bastard sword) but it is important to note that many samurai were also skilled horsemen, archers, and shock troops. Samurai were trained in the ways of kenjutsu (“sword methods,”) kyuba no machi (“the way of the horse and bow,”) and sodo (“the way of the spear.”)Game Rule InformationSamurai have the following game statistics.Alignment: any LawfulHit Dice: d10Class SkillsThe samurai’s Class Skills (and the key abilities for each) are Concentration (Con), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge [history] (Int), Knowledge [nobility] (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), and Swim (Str).Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Intelligence modifier) x 4Skill Points per Level: 4 + Intelligence modifierClass FeaturesThe following are the class features of the samurai class.Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: The samurai is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, as well as the katana (bastard sword). They are proficient with all armor, but not shields.Focused Strike (Ex): By concentrating on a chosen foe, the samurai can deliver powerful blows that deal devastating amounts of damage.To use this ability, the samurai first selects a single opponent in a space that he threatens. The samurai then makes a Concentration check (DC = selected opponent’s Armor Class). If successful, he may make a single attack against that creature with a +2 bonus to the hit and damage rolls. Using this ability is a full-round action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity.If the Concentration check is unsuccessful, the samurai may still make an attack against the target opponent, but the bonus to hit and damage does not apply. In the event of a critical hit, the extra damage from the Focused Strike is not multiplied. Creatures that are not subject to critical hits, as well as creatures whose vital areas are out of the samurai’s reach, do not take extra damage from a Focused Strike, but the bonus to the attack roll still applies.The bonuses to the attack and damage rolls improves to +4 at 5th level, and increases by +2 for every 5 levels thereafter (+6 at 10th level, +8 at 15th level, etc.) to a maximum of +10 at 20th level.Staredown (Ex): [modified from "Complete Warrior," page 10.] Beginning at 1st level, a samurai gains a +4 bonus to all Intimidate checks made to demoralize an opponent (see the Intimidate skill description in the SRD for more information).At 9th level, the samurai may demoralize all opponents within 30 feet, with a single Intimidate check as a standard action. The samurai need not threaten his opponents to demoralize them, although he must be visible to them.At 14th level, the samurai may demoralize all opponents within 30 feet with a single Intimidate check as above, but may do so as a move action.Combat Style (Ex): At 2nd level, a samurai selects one of three combat styles to pursue: kenjutsu, kyuba, or sodo. This choice affects the character’s class features, but does not restrict his selection of feats or special abilities in any way.Kenjutsu (“sword methods”) is a fighting style that focuses on using the katana. If a samurai chooses kenjutsu as his fighting style, he is treated as having the Cleave feat even if he does not have the normal prerequisite for that feat, but only while fighting with the katana.Kyuba (short for kyuba no machi or “way of the horse and bow”) is a fighting style that focuses on mounted combat and archery. If a samurai chooses kyuba as his fighting style, he is treated as having the Mounted Archery feat even if he does not have the normal prerequisites for that feat.Sodo (“way of the spear”) is a fighting style that focuses on combat with polearms. If a samurai chooses sodo as his fighting style, he is treated as having the Improved Trip feat even if he does not have the normal prerequisite for that feat, but only when fighting with a polearm. A polearm is defined as a longspear, naginata (glaive), ranseur, or yari (guisarme) for the purposes of this ability.Unlike the ranger class, a samurai retains the benefits of his combat style while wearing any kind of armor.Iaijutsu (Ex): At 3rd level, the samurai gains the Quick Draw feat for free as a bonus feat.Improved Combat Style (Ex): At 6th level, a samurai’s aptitude in his chosen combat style (kenjutsu, kyubi, or sodo) improves.If he selected kenjutsu at 2nd level, he is treated as having the Great Cleave feat, but only when fighting with the katana. If he selected kyuba, he is treated as having the Ride-By Attack feat. If he selected sodo, he is treated as having the Spring Attack feat, but only when fighting with a polearm. He gains this ability even if he does not have the normal prerequisites for that particular feat.As before, a samurai retains the benefits of his combat style while wearing any kind of armor.Damage Reduction (Ex): At 7th level, a samurai gains Damage Reduction. Subtract 1 from the damage the samurai takes each time he is dealt damage from a weapon or a natural attack. At 10th level, and every three Samurai levels thereafter (13th, 16th, and 19th level), this damage reduction increases by 1 point. Damage reduction can reduce damage to zero, but not below 0.Combat Style Mastery (Ex): At 11th level, a samurai’s aptitude in his chosen combat style (kenjutsu, kyubi, or sodo) improves again.If the samurai chose kenjutsu as his combat style, he is treated as having the Improved Critical [katana] feat. If the Samurai chose kyuba as his combat style, he is treated as having the Spirited Charge feat. If the samurai chose sodo as his combat style, he is treated as having the Whirlwind Attack feat, but only when fighting with a polearm. He gains these abilities even if he does not meet the normal prerequisites for these feats.As before, a samurai retains the benefits of his combat style while wearing any kind of armor.Perfect Strike (Ex): Once per day, the samurai may declare any successful melee attack to be an automatic threat for a critical hit.  This threat for a critical hit is then confirmed normally.  Items and attacks that are triggered by critical hits (such as icy burst or vorpal weapons) do not function with this ability, although the weapon still scores critical damage if confirmed.Crippling Strike (Ex): Once per day, the samurai may use his Focused Strike ability to deal a powerful blow that drains his foe’s strength.  The samurai must state that he wishes to use this ability before making the attack roll (thus, a failed attack ruins the attempt).  If the Focused Strike is successful and the attack hits, his opponent takes damage as normal and also suffers 1d10 points of temporary Strength damage.  Lost strength returns at the rate of 1 point per hour.  This ability cannot reduce an opponent’s strength score below 1, and creatures with no strength scores (such as incorporeal creatures) are not affected by this ability.Combat Style Perfection (Ex): At 17th level, the samurai has become the unequalled master of his chosen combat style (kenjutsu, kyubi, or sodo).If the samurai chose kenjutsu as his combat style, he gains the Supreme Cleave ability.  This ability allows the samurai to take a single five-foot step between cleave attacks, while using his Greater Cleave ability.  These five-foot steps count towards the samurai’s allowable movement for the round, and are subject to all normal rules of movement (such as provoking attacks of opportunity, unsure footing, and difficult terrain). As with all kenjutsu abilities, the Mighty Cleave may only be used when the Samurai is fighting with the katana.If the samurai chose kyuba as his combat style, his mounted archery achieves perfection, allowing him to make ranged attacks while mounted almost as well as he can when standing on the ground.  The samurai no longer suffers any penalties for ranged attacks made from the back of a mount moving at its normal speed, and takes only a -2 penalty to ranged attacks made from the back of a running (or charging) mount.If the samurai chose sodo as his combat style, he gains a special Lunging Strike ability.  This ability allows the samurai to attack adjacent foes as well as foes who are 10 feet away, when fighting with a polearm.   As with all sodo abilities, the Lunging Strike may only be used when the samurai is fighting with a longspear, naginata (glaive), ranseur, or yari (guisarme).A Samurai retains the benefits of his combat style while wearing any kind of armor.Deadly Strike (Ex): Once per day, the samurai may use his Focused Strike ability to slay an opponent in a single blow.  The samurai must state that he wishes to use this ability before making the Focused Strike (thus, a failed Concentration check or a failed attack roll ruins the attempt for the day).  If the Focused Strike is successful, the opponent takes damage as normal and must make a Fortitude save (DC = 10 + ½ Samurai level + Samurai’s Charisma modifier) or die from massive damage.Multiclassing Note: Like a member of any other classs, a samurai may be a multiclass character, but multiclass samurai face a special restriction. A samurai who gains a new class level or (if already multiclass) raises another class by a level may never again raise his samurai level, though he retains all of his samurai abilities.Ex-Samurai (ronin): A samurai who willfully commits an act against his lord, who grossly violates the code of bushido, who ceases to be lawful in alignment, or is released from service by his lord (often when the samurai's lord dies or is removed from power) cannot continue to gain levels as a samurai. Such samurai are known as ronin.Ronin retain all class abilities of his samurai class, but cannot gain further levels as a samurai until he has properly atoned for his misdeeds. Due to the nature of his offense or release, this could be as simple as a public apology, or as dire as ritualistic suicide. Ronin are able to advance in levels of other classes (becoming multiclass characters), but if they choose to do so, they may never again return to the path of samurai (see Multiclassing Note, above.)Core Class: SamuraiLv...BAT.............Fort...Ref...Will...Special1....+1...............+2....+0....+2.....Focused Strike +2, Staredown2....+2...............+3....+0....+3.....Combat Style3....+3...............+3....+1....+3.....Iaijutsu4....+4...............+4....+1....+45....+5...............+4....+1....+4.....Focused Strike +46....+6/+1............+5....+2....+5.....Improved Combat Style7....+7/+2............+5....+2....+5.....Damage reduction 1/-8....+8/+3............+6....+2....+69....+9/+4............+6....+3....+6.....Staredown (30’ range)10...+10/+5...........+7....+3....+7.....Focused Strike +611...+11/+6/+1........+7....+3....+7.....Combat Style Mastery, DR 2/-12...+12/+7/+2........+8....+4....+8.....Perfect Strike13...+13/+8/+3........+8....+4....+8.....14...+14/+9/+4........+9....+4....+9.....Staredown (move action), Crippling Strike15...+15/+10/+5.......+9....+5....+9.....Focused Strike +8, DR 3/-16...+16/+11/+6/+1....+10...+5....+10....17...+17/+12/+7/+2....+10...+5....+10....Combat Style Perfection18...+18/+13/+8/+3....+11...+6....+11....Deadly Strike19...+19/+14/+9/+4....+11...+6....+11....DR 4/-20...+20/+15/+10/+5...+12...+6....+12....Focused Strike +10</blockquote>

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