L5R 3.5 samurai as cavalier archetype?

[DMSorinS]

I'm thinking of running a d20 L5R game, and my group and I have converted to pathfinder 3.5. I wanted to revise the samurai class to make it a fun and viable option standing alongside the newly revised base classes, and the idea was pitched to me of modeling the samurai as a cavalier archetype but substituting the orders for the eight great clans of Rokugan and coming up with some cool clan based mechanics in place of the order abilities. I have already decided to drop the special mount in favor of the ancestral daisho, but not sure what to do with any subsequent levels that the cavalier improves his mount's abilities. Any suggestions for these ideas? I am also thinking of buffing up the shugenja, but that's a whole 'nuther discussion, hehe!

[Foghammer]

Brandon Fann wrote:

... substituting the orders for the eight great clans of Rokugan and coming up with some cool clan based mechanics in place of the order abilities. I have already decided to drop the special mount in favor of the ancestral daisho, but not sure what to do with any subsequent levels that the cavalier improves his mount's abilities.

Cool idea with the clans. Could you not give gradual enhancement bonuses to the daisho instead of mount improvements, since that's what you traded it out for? IIRC, the daisho can be enhanced with special ceremonies, etc and some form of sacrifice... been years since I looked at the book though.

[Grey Lensman]

Look at the playtest Magus for ideas on Ancestral Diasho. They get something similar. The Cavalier's mount improves at almost every level (7 is an exception, and possibly another one or two at higher levels), so that really isn't a good idea to base the weapon off of. Or you could look at the weapon abilities the paladin can get in exchange for his bonded mount. I'd take a look at them both, personally. Neither one is likely a perfect fit, but a blend of the two might be a good skeleton for the feature.

The Shugenja can be easily built off of the oracle as a base, just take a look at the elemental mysteries.

[Bard-Sader]

Cockatrice = the Spider Clan!

[DMSorinS]

Bard-Sader wrote:

Cockatrice = the Spider Clan!

I hadn't thought of that, but that does make sense. So far, I think the Order of the Dragon= Crab Clan, Cockatrice= Crane Clan (emphasis on one on one duels), Lion= Lion Clan, Star= Phoenix (Shiba family), Sword= no idea, and Shield= no idea :P I do like the idea of substituting the paladin's weapon version of Divine Bond in place of the cavalier's special mount abilities for the daisho.

[Spiral_Ninja]

Brandon Fann wrote:

Bard-Sader wrote:

Cockatrice = the Spider Clan!

I hadn't thought of that, but that does make sense. So far, I think the Order of the Dragon= Crab Clan, Cockatrice= Crane Clan (emphasis on one on one duels), Lion= Lion Clan, Star= Phoenix (Shiba family), Sword= no idea, and Shield= no idea :P

[Me, Spiral_Ninja] Hm, interesting suggestion. I hadn't thought of that, but it might just work.

I do like the idea of substituting the paladin's weapon version of Divine Bond in place of the cavalier's special mount abilities for the daisho.

This I wholeheartedly agree with. In fact, I'd been thinking of something similar myself.

[DMSorinS]

Spiral_Ninja wrote:

Brandon Fann wrote:

Bard-Sader wrote:

Cockatrice = the Spider Clan!

I hadn't thought of that, but that does make sense. So far, I think the Order of the Dragon= Crab Clan, Cockatrice= Crane Clan (emphasis on one on one duels), Lion= Lion Clan, Star= Phoenix (Shiba family), Sword= no idea, and Shield= no idea :P

[Me, Spiral_Ninja] Hm, interesting suggestion. I hadn't thought of that, but it might just work.

I do like the idea of substituting the paladin's weapon version of Divine Bond in place of the cavalier's special mount abilities for the daisho.

This I wholeheartedly agree with. In fact, I'd been thinking of something similar myself.

I believe the samurai should still begin play with a katana and wakizashi (masterwork bastard sword and masterwork shortsword), and I think the cavalier's bonus feats would need to be chosen from the clan specific feats from previous source materials

[Name Violation]

i had similar thoughts about using the cavalier as a samurai.

I think trading the mount for the pally weapon bond, adding a good will save, and letting the character use the mounted charging abilities (Mighty, Supreme, some order abilities) while non-mounted by changing Cavalier’s Charge to Banzai Charge and have it only work non mounted (possibly only on the target of their challenge). The expert trainer ability can be replaced with a bonus to diplomacy and/or knowledge (nobility and royalty).

some minor tweaks my be needed, like Order of the Sword's Mounted Mastery (Ex) could become:

Movement Mastery (Ex): At 8th level, the samurai ignores the speed penalty of any armor when charging and not mounted. Whenever he makes a charge attack while not mounted, he receives a +4 dodge bonus to his AC to avoid attacks set against his charge. When making such an attack, he can add double his Strength bonus to the damage roll. He also receives a bonus feat, chosen from the following list: Fleet, Nimble Moves, Skill Focus (any class skill), Acrobatic Steps, Dodge, or Mobility. He must qualify for the feat selected.

[Robert Shenk]

Or the order of the Sword could be based of the unicorn clan and they could have the mount ability from the cavalier class, Cab are also less relient on their dieshio* (sorry can't spell) and tend to use heavy weapons.

[DMSorinS]

Robert Shenk wrote:

Or the order of the Sword could be based of the unicorn clan and they could have the mount ability from the cavalier class, Cab are also less relient on their dieshio* (sorry can't spell) and tend to use heavy weapons.

Good, idea, Order of the Sword does strike me as the most "Unicorn" just needs a few modifications...