"Challenge: Whenever a ronin is the target of a challenge, a smite, a quarry, or similar effect, and he issues a challenge against that character in return, the ronin receives a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls made against the target of his challenge and a +1 dodge bonus to his AC against attacks made by the target of his challenge. These bonuses increase by +1 for every four class levels the samurai possesses (to a maximum of +5 at 20th level)." (Ultimate Combat, 21)
I would first like to point out how awesome I think this ability is... I have heard a lot of people complain about it, and I believe this stems from a misunderstanding of how it functions. Notably, it does not replace the Samurai challenge class feature. You still get to issue a challenge, you simply get a bonus (a somewhat better one) if you happen to also be the target of the enemy you challenge.
The rules state this not only works when you are challenged, but also a ranger's quarry, or the target of a smite. I am curious to see what you all think constitutes "similar effects". Any thoughts?
I'd take it to be any ongoing effect which links the ronin with the attacker in a way that gives the attacker some sort of positive bonus against the ronin. I can't say there are any other specific effects, but the idea is it is something an attacker says "that guy right there is my target and I get bonuses for doing things to him".
I would be inclined to add Inquisitor's judgements.
I also think that this should be included... I am kinda trying to wrap my brain around a way where bane would be included as well...
I would be inclined to add Inquisitor's judgements.I also think that this should be included... I am kinda trying to wrap my brain around a way where bane would be included as well...
I don't think so. I think the examples are bonuses against a single person. Judgement/Bane is everyone in a battle/of a type.
Freebooter's Bane, maybe.