In further development of my Kaidan: a Japanese Ghost Story setting. I wanted to include a counter-spelling caster class somewhere in the setting. At first I thought to add it a high level samurai class feature, but then I developed a strictly martial class with some ki powers and left that feature out of the samurai.
Next idea is to introduce a Counter Spell caster class as part of the Emishi barbarian clans of the wilderness regions of Kaidan.
Emishi barbarians are primarily light cavalry fighters with skills in long bow and yari spear as mounted combatants, using straight bladed long and great swords in infantry melee only. Mounted on hardy mountain horses capable of traveling through more difficult terrain and steep grades bearing fully equipped riders than most horses of Kaidan. The Emishi fight as hit and run skirmishers, reserving their rage features in melee combat on foot when that becomes necessary. They range in hills, forests and highlands. Spell casters among them include Gakushi (Bard), Miko (Oracle), and a Counter Spell caster class ???.
One thought was to go with a Emishi sorcerer bloodline, while the other is to create a unique type of Advanced Player class. Not sure which way to go.
The features I think I need: general arcane caster up to 4th level spells (all schools available), then 5th level and above spell list limited to disspell, absorption, reflection, effect removal and counter spell effects.
I want to introduce a "flavor item" for this class using a rigid type of paper hand fan wielded like a shield that is used to perform the counter spell functions, and also would not disrupt somantic spell components (may even be used in place of somantic components).
I might even add a type of visual long distance semaphore communication using the fan or fans that this spellcaster can use to contact distant party members and communicate limited signal messages. At 8th level works like a sending spell, can be used any number of times, 1/round and 1 target at a time as an at will ability. Shouldn't take the full 10 minute casting time as per spell.
As a 20th level capstone ability, use fan as a Ring of Spell Reflection/Turning or something like that.
Not sure which way to go, thoughts?