Vote On My Samurai (third edit)

[werk]

If that's true, then it should be revised again. How is it "grossly overpowered compared to Fighter?"

Without going into a lot of detail, it's min/maxed compared to the fighter. You've given him two good saves and upped his skill points and skills list, while retaining big HD and BAB, and given him a bunch of neat-o special abilities which IMO are better than the fighter bonus feats.

If you were just powering up the samurai abilities, you wouldn't be far off, but that's not what you did.

 

[Aus_Snow]

In the absence of medium saves, you could always go for a similar halfway measure. Like the Grace ability of the Swashbuckler (+1 Ref save at 2nd, 11th and 20th, I believe), but for Will. . . would that be appropriate? Or, like the Battle Fortitude ability that Scouts get, it might also add a bit to one other thing (on top of a poor save). Just a thought.

If that was the case, skill points could perhaps go back up to 4+Int, so they might actually have some points in their skills, of which there are a fair few (relative to a Fighter's, say).

I'm not sure about Deadly Strike. I'll have to give the rest a more thorough look, when I get a chance.

 

[trav_laney]

Without going into a lot of detail, it's min/maxed compared to the fighter. You've given him two good saves and upped his skill points and skills list, while retaining big HD and BAB, and given him a bunch of neat-o special abilities which IMO are better than the fighter bonus feats.

I know that the fighter class keeps coming up as the benchmark by which this class is measured, but I'd like to present a new point of view. Mechanically-speaking, my version of this class is more like the ranger than the fighter:

- good BAT like the ranger;
- two good saves like the ranger (Fort and Will, instead of Fort and Ref);
- combat styles like the ranger (but focusing on different weapons);
- Free feat at 1st level like the ranger (Weapon Proficiency instead of Track);
- Free feat at 3rd level like the ranger (Quick Draw instead of Endurance);
- Fewer class skills and skill points than the ranger (but still more than fighter);
- Smite ability instead of Favored Enemy;
- staredown, crippling strike, deadly strike, and combat style perfection instead of wild empathy, animal companion, woodland stride, swift tracker, camouflage, and hide in plain sight;
- No evasion, but can wear medium and heavy armor
- d10 hit dice.

Aside from the hit dice, this samurai is just another ranger. The increase from d8 to d10 hit dice only amounts to ~1 hit point per level...but if you think it is unbalancing, I guess I can drop the HD to d8 and bring the skill points back up. What do you think...would that work?

EDIT: Dropped the hit dice of this class to d8, and brought the skill points back up to 4. I am playing with the idea of making it 6+Int skill points per day, to match the ranger. I'll let you know.

 

[maggot]

Why remove concentration as a class skill? See monks.

Why have heavy armor proficiency?

How can we save 4+int bonus skill points per level?

 

[trav_laney]

Why remove concentration as a class skill? See monks.

Why have heavy armor proficiency?

How can we save 4+int bonus skill points per level?

1. Good point...I'm putting Concentration back in.

2. (scratching head) I dunno...I figured that the stereotypical samurai armor was bulky and heavy enough to be considered "heavy" armor. I might be wrong...what do you think?

3. How about I drop the HD down to d8? Do you think that would merit a more "skillful" fighter (ala ranger?) Or is d10 fair enough (ala paladin?)

EDIT: I went with d8 hit dice, to match the ranger. I might boost the skill points up to match the ranger as well; haven't decided yet.

 

[trav_laney]

Okay, I dropped the HD to d8, and increased the skills to 4+Int/level. Is this an improvement?

 

[Aus_Snow]

Personally, I would (if I were to use something like this) go for d10 HD, poor Will save but with the Grace-like boost to it (as mentioned previously), 4+Int skp, no Deadly Strike, perhaps add Mettle or another 'always-on' ability, also something like Fearlessness (or at least a +4 vs. fear).

Oh, and a Code of Conduct a la (classical) Bushido.

Something along those lines, I think. FWIW though, your class looks pretty cool. Different tastes and stuff, is all.

 

[trav_laney]

Personally, I would (if I were to use something like this) go for d10 HD, poor Will save but with the Grace-like boost to it (as mentioned previously), 4+Int skp, no Deadly Strike, perhaps add Mettle or another 'always-on' ability, also something like Fearlessness (or at least a +4 vs. fear).

Oh, and a Code of Conduct a la (classical) Bushido.

Something along those lines, I think. FWIW though, your class looks pretty cool. Different tastes and stuff, is all.

Good suggestions. I really like the "fearless" ability you mentioned...I don't know why I didn't think of that. It sounds like it would be a good 3rd or 4th level ability, no?

I deliberately left the "code of conduct" undefined, though. Everyone's campaign is different, and what is/is not acceptable behavior for a feudal warrior could vary from place to place. I hint at it in the Characteristics section, but maybe I should restate it near the end of the final document, sort of as a reminder that the DM will have to flesh it out a little to fit the game setting.