My hat is off to the writer.
There is a slight edge to the samurai but its a funny edge.
Skills - Same.
Weapon and armour proficiencies - more or less same, with the Samurai getting the Katana, wakazashi and naganata as well. So the Sammy gets an exotic weapon proficiency (Bastard Sword) over his 'western' brother.
The difference in the class feature is samurai resolve against the cavalier’s ability to share (more or less granting to team mates) team work tactics feats. They are good (re-roll of saves, shaking off a condition or being able to stay alive and stablise after hitting 0 or lower) but not overpowered and its 1 for first level and every 2 levels after. It has the perk of being renewable after defeating the target of their challenge, which is good as well... I'd prefer it to be non renewable but this isnt a blank cheque to keep getting points back. The teamwork feats arent great but in the right circumstances can change the tide of battle so I'd say its a decent balance.
Both share mount which is something I want to talk about later as well as some possible additions for resolve.
Level 2 has the same perk - order ability, which I wont work on here.
Level 3 gives another breakaway - the cavalier’s charge (+4 bonus on melee attack rolls on a charge while mounted and no penalty to his AC after the charge) is replaced by weapon expertise. Choice of one of the classic samurai weapons that gives fast draw for that weapon and +2 for critical confirmation rolls - nifty. The kicker is that Samurai levels stack with fighter levels for getting fighter feats... like specialisation.
*Without* the last bit the feats are so-so balanced against each other... an additional +2 bonus while charging against a weapon specific fast draw and critical confirmation hit. I love mounted combat but as it rarely happens I'd tend to give the edge slightly to the samurai class feature but the flavour is right and its on target balance wise.
Its the level stacking thing thats a bit of head scratcher... for a single level dip into fighter at level 4 the samurai gets weapon spec. I'm not sure how I stand on that. You lose the chance at the level 20 capstone feat but gain some nice stuff from going fighter for a level in addition to the weapon spec. Take that one step further? Another dip into fighter at level 12 (2nd level fighter/10 Samurai) and you can get Penetrating strike or Greater Weapon Spec. That can be a great edge.
Advantage Samurai.
The class features for level 4 is interesting. Caviliers get training (something I always thought would be better for rangers) that allows his mount to learn extra tricks and to handle the animal... against the samurai's mounted archer... which reduces firing penalties from double moving or running horses.
Not a fan of either but the Cavilier one allows him to drive his mount into fires, against dragons etc to set up his charges and this is balanced against a combat ability that allows some nifty hit and run. I could choose either way. I'd say this is another good balance between the two.
Banner at level 5 remains the same and fits the Samurai as much as the Cavilier from a thematic angle. Very well done. Greater Banner as well remains the same.
Level 9's (and I'll do level 17 as well) additional tacticial feat ability (as a swift action) for Caviliers goes against the Samurai 'Greater' resolve. Basically the ability to use resolve to cancel a critical hit. At 17th level Caviliers get an additional tactical feat but can give TWO teamwork feats. Samurai can burn all of their resolve (assuming they have more than 2 left) at 17th to avoid death and go to -1 (stable) regardless of the source of attack.
I'd give a definete edge to the Samurai at level 9 but back to the Cavilier at 17th despite the death dodger thing because the Cav ability is a great party buff at this stage. Thats just me. In any case its relatively balanced again.
Level 11 - Cavilier gets mighty charge which doubles the critical range (NICE) and allows a free combat manuever on a successful charge goes toe to toe with the samurai's honourable stand class feature. This allows the samurai to avoid fear, shaken and panic conditions and fight on at negative hitpoints and re-roll saves with a resolve point.The honourable stand is a once a day ability until 16th when its twice a day. Charge ability is every charge the Chavilier makes.
I'd give the advantage to the Chavilier here - sure, I never get as much mounted combat as I like but if it happens? Chav for the win but not obviously so - again its person preference on the flavour of the character.
Level 20 feats are so awesome on both sides that comparing them is like comparing your favourite brands of cocaine. The Cav is the king of charge doing double additional damage and landing stunned effects and the samurai, while in challenge mode takes minimal damage from non magical attacks and will not stop until allllll the way dead... we are talking beyond 0 hps.
Again, its a case of 'name your preferred flavour' - they both balance well against the other AND capture the essence of both.
All in all its a fantastic addition. I can't say enough positive things about the way this was balanced for the most part. It is still win to the Samurai but not overwhelming so.
The Samurai gets an exotic weapon more than the cavilier and the 3rd level class feature granting access to specialisation for a single level dip (and again if the Samurai wants at later levels for other feats) gives a bit of the edge there.
If I could change a few things?
The Samurai gets an exotic weapon prof' - remove shield use. While the footmen of Japan were no stranger to the shield and there are some legends and stories about warriors using tortorise shell shields, the Iconic samurai needs both hands... either to use a bow, a Naginata (or spear), to make double handed cuts with his Katana or a weapon in each hand... it balances and gives the samurai a victory or death feel and caviliers something that is standout from the Samurai.
If I could change any *one* thing? It would be to get rid of mount. Sure the samurai were good mounted warriors and archers from their roots but they don't NEED the mount like the Chavilier does. They dont really get the benefits.
I'd suggest changing it for something else... even something as vanilla as 'Mounted Combat' feat. It gives still the mounted aspect and a gateway to mounted archery and other mounted feats but horsemanship is in the warrior, not so much in the mount. And having a special mount for the mainsteam cavilier again is something that makes the Cavilier feel special against the Samurai.
I'd also recommend extending the resolve to one last thing... allow spending of a resolve point for a +4 roll to intimidate as a swift action. Legends abound of two samurai staring each other down in the street before the duel is acknowledged as lost by a nod of without drawing a blade in a silent clash of wills. It could also be used to simulate an intimidating Kiai shout to shake up his enemies. Again, classic samurai flavour.
I'd love to see Samurai get another shot at weapon expertise for a second weapon so the samurai isnt locked into a single weapon but it would need to be carefully done and I'd recommend extending the list of weapons to add Spear and possibly No Dachi (two handed sword) or Tsetubo (great club). The Yari was a popular samurai weapon - it deserves to be added.
On the level 3 thing? Remove the fighter level stacking thing... the confirmation to confirm crits is plenty nasty when added to quickdraw against a charge affect.
If you want Samurai to have Weapon Spec? Give it to them as a level 4 class feature - it doesnt allow access into the high level fighter feats that way. It beats mounted archer as a feat but it achieves what you want. Alternatively, simply allow a 2nd weapon expertise at level 4. Mounted archer could even be that feature we were looking for to replace mount and go back to use at level 1.
