| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Wandering Sword
Wandering swords are often Samurai who have learned the way of the sword through an apprenticeship rather than from a larger organization. Rather than devoting themselves to the protection of a single state or settlement, they travel across the land searching for a worthy cause - whether it is gold, glory, or vengeance.
The Wandering Sword is an archetype for the Samurai alternate class.
Armor and Shield proficiency
Wandering swords tend to travel light and walk a fine line between honed warrior and ascetic. They are not proficient with any armor or shields.
Flexible Allegiance (Ex)
This functions as the Samurai class ability Order except in the following ways: a Wandering Sword must select Ronin/Knight Errant as his order. Beginning at 4th level, if a Wandering Sword is working with another character with the Order class feature towards a common goal (GM's discretion), he may expend one of his uses of the Challenge ability in order to gain the order abilities of their ally. This replaces the Wandering Sword's own order abilities. This change lasts until the Wandering Sword rests and regains the daily uses of his Challenge ability (at which time he may once again expend one use to change his abilities as long as he is still working on a common goal with his ally).
This ability modifies the Samurai's Order ability.
Weapon Expertise (Ex)
A Wandering Sword must select a melee weapon (the Katana, Naginata, or Wakizashi) for the bonuses of this class ability.
This modifies the Weapon Expertise Samurai class ability.
AC Bonus (Ex)
This ability functions the same way as the Monk class ability of the same name. A Wandering Sword also loses this AC bonus for 24 hours if he breaks one of his order's edicts, including those from an order which he is borrowing abilities from.
Beginning at 10th level, a Wandering Sword becomes proficient with light armor, but the max dex penalty applies against this AC bonus as well as his dexterity bonus (tthe total of both bonuses added together).
Ability replaces the Samurai's Mount ability.
Exploit Weakness (Ex)
At 4th level, a Wandering Sword uses his keen senses to strike with precision as well as to avoid being touched by dangerous foes. This ability functions as the Martial Artist (Monk) archetype ability.
This replaces the Mounted Archer Samurai ability.
Advanced Swordplay (Ex)
at 5th level, whenever he gains a feat or bonus feat, a Wandering Sword may select the Deflect Arrows, Crane Style, Crane Wing, or Crane Riposte feat, even if he does not qualify for them (but he must slect Crane Style before Crane Wing, and Crane Wing before Crane Riposte). He may only gain the benefits of these feats when he is weilding the weapon he selected for Weapon Expertise (although he need not have an empty hand as described in Deflect Arrows or Crane Wing so long as he is only weilding his selected weapon).
This ability replaces the Banner class ability.
Fatal Mistake (Ex)
At 15th level, a Wandering Sword who successfully uses Exploit Weakness on an opponent to bypass their DR may ready an action to attack the next creature who makes a melee attack roll against him. For the purposes of this attack, the Wandering Sword's weapon is treated as having the Vorpal magic weapon quality. This also applies to attacks of opportunity made with the Crane Riposte feat as long as the Wandering Sword made a successful Exploit Weakness attempt against that opponent on his last turn. If his weapon already has the Vorpal quality, he instead gains a +4 bonus to confirm the critical.
===============
So, interesting? Balanced? Easily broken? Unclear? What do you guys think?
My inspiration comes from 7 Samurai, Samurai Jack, Jin from Samurai Champloo, and a bit of real Kendo techniques.