Okay, so I have been playing around with a build for a couple weeks and have repeatedly hit multiple walls and am looking for some help.
To make a long story short to begin, I am attempting to create a build based on Ukyo Tachibana of Samurai Shodown fame. For anyone not familiar with the game, the following link is the guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfh_HA1jMQM
For anyone who doesn't want to watch the video or know the game, the concept is as follows: Gunpowder era (think Yojimbo or Seven Samurai or 13 Assassins)samurai duelist gentleman, well versed in calligraphy and iaijutsu. The game calls for a 20 point build and the GM has house ruled that the Aldori Dueling Sword can be used for all of the Samurai Weapon Expertise abilities.
So I have been kicking around builds on how to do this, and I keep returning to the same general thoughts.
1) Samurai (Sword Saint)/Aldori Swordlord build, where I can keep my Dex high and reap some nice benefits both to hit and for my AC.
2) Magus (Kensai) build. This one has two subdivisions.
a) Katana focus, where I would increase Str and let Dex suffer. Here I get the benefit of 18-20 crit range, but lose out on the AC I might get otherwise.
b) Aldori Dueling Sword or Wakizashi focus, where I could get the benefit of my Dex and Weapon Expertise again, but lose out on some damage and, in case of the Aldori Dueling Sword, I lose out on the 18-20 crit range.
3) Straight out Fighter with the Aldori Dueling Sword, perhaps taking the Aldori Swordlord PrC at some point.
Any help you guys and girls can provide would be welcome. I have literally five or six character sheets that are stalled and going nowhere. Any inspired thoughts or even alternative build ideas are always a help. Thanks!
