So how would you generate a classical samurai?

[Cadfan]

Ok thanks for the help. Can't believe so many people have the books already. Still awaiting my preorder box set.

1. Some of us don't have the books, we just read the forum obsessively. There's a list of heroic feats (the short form they use for previews, not full text) bouncing around in one of the 20 post threads, and I've cut and pasted it into a text document. So that makes me sound like I know more than I do.

2. A lot of people have been illegally downloading the books.

 

[JohnBiles]

Topic.

Basically a calssic samurai who is very quick, good and fast with his katana.

From the limited information I have 2H Fighter with quickdraw feat, Warlord training feat and ranger training feat (for twf).

Is this correct? Would this accurately portray samurai coolness? Or would a pure fighter in plate just trump him?

Depends on if you want a Samurai of the Kamakura Shogunate, a Samurai of the Ashikaga Shogunate, or a Samurai of the Tokugawa Shogunate, as Samurai are somewhat different in each era.

A Kamakura-era Samurai is probably an archery-focused Ranger with the feat to wear chainmail armor.

An Ashikaga-era Samurai is probably a fighter or warlord with some ranger multi-classing to pick up Archery tricks to supplement his swordsmanship.

A Tokugawa-era Samurai is either a fighter or warlord with a bastard sword (Katana), a feat sunk into Bastard Sword proficiency, and a Shortsword (Wakizashi) that he wears to bed, uses if the Katana breaks, and uses to commit suicide or to execute downed foes. Samurai did not actually fight with both swords as Japanese swordsmanship focuses on fighting two-handed.

 

[Sadrik]

Do you want to make a duelist, a tactician, an archer, a tough guy?

Duelist- fighter with rogue multi-class for the sneak attack on the first strike

Tactician- warlord with fighter multi-class

Archer- ranger (archery)

Tough guy- fighter with no-dachi (greatsword)

Also, as the previous poster pointed out samurai fought with two hands on one sword.

Can you use a bastard sword two handed without taking the feat?

 

[Nifft]

@Andur: Thanks man. But do you need a weapon prof feat to use BS two handed? If so I will just go with a greatsword and take alertness OR action surge as a feat.

Bastard Sword requires a feat. Period.

It does the same damage as a Greatsword, but if you use it two-handed, it does +1 damage (more than a Greatsword). Also, you can use it one-handed if you want to use a shield for some reason.

Cheers, -- N

 

[hong]

Depends on if you want a Samurai of the Kamakura Shogunate, a Samurai of the Ashikaga Shogunate, or a Samurai of the Tokugawa Shogunate, as Samurai are somewhat different in each era.

A Kamakura-era Samurai is probably an archery-focused Ranger with the feat to wear chainmail armor.

An Ashikaga-era Samurai is probably a fighter or warlord with some ranger multi-classing to pick up Archery tricks to supplement his swordsmanship.

A Tokugawa-era Samurai is either a fighter or warlord with a bastard sword (Katana), a feat sunk into Bastard Sword proficiency, and a Shortsword (Wakizashi) that he wears to bed, uses if the Katana breaks, and uses to commit suicide or to execute downed foes. Samurai did not actually fight with both swords as Japanese swordsmanship focuses on fighting two-handed.

Ugh, no. A samurai is a dude in armour with a katana. That's what people understand it to be, and that's all it should be.

Default D&D makes very little attempt at historical accuracy. (You could say _no_ attempt, but I'm being generous.) All the classes are a hodgepodge of material drawn from various sources, tied together by concept and theme rather than trying to emulate any specific source. There is no reason for Asian-themed D&D to be different. In fact, trying for historical rigour just creates inconsistency within the game itself, because then you have these hodgepodge classes and historically-based classes mixed together, and messing up people's expectations.

 

[Family]

I do wonder if when 30e comes out if there will be posters on the cortex asking "hey, could you help me out with making a special forces soldier?"


---
Zoe: "Preacher, don't the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killing?
Book: "Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps."

 

[tafkamhokie]

Since 4e character classes work a bit differently than previous editions, why not start with this question:

What is a samurai's ROLE. I see suggestions of fighter, paladin, ranger, and warlord with all kinds of multiclassing options. But I think you really need to start with his role.

Is a samurai a noble-born battlefield general? If so, he is a warlord.

Is a samurai a whirling dervish of katana-full deathness? If so, he is a striker, most likely a ranger.

Is a samurai an honor-bound protector of his lord's lands and residents? If so, he is a defender...and I would personally start with a paladin instead of fighter and thematically replace all of the divine and radiant descriptions with honor challenges and ki shouts.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't most of a samurai's armor made of toughened leather? Sure they have the metal "fish scale" armor over vital areas, but I thought all-metal armor was too restrictive and cumbersome for a samurai. I think they would be wearing the best light armor available in the game...in this case, it is called Hide in the PHB (but again, thematically, you can call it whatever you want as long as the stats are the same).

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

Since 4e character classes work a bit differently than previous editions, why not start with this question:

What is a samurai's ROLE. I see suggestions of fighter, paladin, ranger, and warlord with all kinds of multiclassing options. But I think you really need to start with his role.

Is a samurai a noble-born battlefield general? If so, he is a warlord.

Is a samurai a whirling dervish of katana-full deathness? If so, he is a striker, most likely a ranger.

Is a samurai an honor-bound protector of his lord's lands and residents? If so, he is a defender...and I would personally start with a paladin instead of fighter and thematically replace all of the divine and radiant descriptions with honor challenges and ki shouts.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't most of a samurai's armor made of toughened leather? Sure they have the metal "fish scale" armor over vital areas, but I thought all-metal armor was too restrictive and cumbersome for a samurai. I think they would be wearing the best light armor available in the game...in this case, it is called Hide in the PHB (but again, thematically, you can call it whatever you want as long as the stats are the same).

You sir, win this thread

Really guys, when it comes to martial characters, forget about the names! Pick a role instead of a class and you'll see how everything fits.

See the "trenchcoat and katana" and the "no duelist" threads

 

[Sitara]

Hmm, from what I gather the ranger powers focus on either archery or twf. So basically, if I choose a 'striker' role the only martial striker class, the ranger, is all-fitting.

Anyhow, from what I have gethered I think the FIghter suggestion + a multi feat is the best. Once i get the book sI'll decide which to multi into. (the ranger can work as a multi apparently, due to powers like careful strike)

 

[melon-neko]

So, I made a samurai type. I did not go with a 2 handed sword, because, while a katana may often be wielded 2 handed, it is not a greatsword and does not have the weight behind it. As well, katana's can be weilded 1 handed as well. A longsword or bastard sword is the best weapon for them, but I chose a scimitar. My reasoning was I liked the high crit, and that I was making a fighter that relies on speed, not strength, and thus wielding the weapon 2 handed was more for control than putting more power behind the strike.

Race: Elf; Class: Fighter; Level: 5; HP:52;
AC:19 (Hide armor); Fort:16; Ref:16; Wil:13
Initiative: 12
S: 14 C:13 D:18 I:11 W:12 C:12
Base attack - Scimitar: +6 vs ac, d8+2 damage, high crit
Feats: Improved initiative, quick draw, weapon focus (heavy blade)
At will - Cleave, sure strike
Encounter - Passing attack, sweeping blow
Utility - No opening
Daily - Villains menace, Rain of steel

So, she excels against hordes, but can also dish out a lot of damage against tougher foes. She doesn't have any of the 2[w] strikes though.

In a tough, climatic fight with lots of minions, she would move 7 into contact with a minion, quick draw and passing strike. So she kills the minion, then shifts forward and strikes another. Then, since she drew as a free actions, she activates rain of steel, killing any minions that start the turn adjacent to her. Sweeping blow is also useful for clearing out 3 foes at a time.

Against tougher foes her combat challenge, villains menace, sure strike and elven accuracy allow her to hit often, and do decent damage (although its easy to make fighters that deal more damage).
Combined with her 19 ac is pretty solid as well.

I didn't add any magic weapons though, at 5th lvl she might have some.

Disclaimer: I don't try to break the game, it doesn't interest me. I just like thematic characters.