So I recently came upon an opportunity to make a new character for a adventure path campaign (Skull and Shackles). Having re-watched an old series of mine "Peace Maker", I got the idea to base the character off the gentleman named Ryoma Sakamoto in the series. He's effectively a highly skilled samurai (or ronin, more specifically) that once was a dojo master (if I recall correctly) within his clan that was highly respected. That was true, until he left to see the world and came back with a more western mentality and intention for Japan. He was proficient with both pistols and his katana / wakazashi. For my post this is using Sakamoto's name until I come up with a more suitable name for my character.
To make things interesting I went through Ultimate Campaign and rolled up all relevant information for his starting traits and back story. My intention is an effective character for the role he'll play (front line tank type - though with his own flavor). I chose Tactician and Grief-filled traits respectively out of the myriad of results I got. The overall story from the charts is below.
Sakamoto's parents both died at an old age, having served their diamyo faithfully and looking to their two children to take up the mantle of leadership. Sakamoto's older sister, Renkai, went to serve as a cook in the daytime and as a ninja in the night.
During the year of his serving faithfully under his diamyo, Sakamoto came at odds with an artisan in the court who always seem to weasel his way to hindering any promotion of Sakamoto further. The problem was the artisan was a first cousin of the diamyo. One night, Sakamoto out of sheer desire to humiliate and at the same time entertain himself, pulled a public prank on the artisan. Humiliated before the diamyo and court, the artisan later commited suicide without speaking to anyone prior. The specifics of the event and Sakamoto's involvement have been kept hushed by Sakamoto as he is the only one aware of what took place in context. He took the steps to deny, deny, deny any involvement in the incident and it has so far kept him free and clear. Though this major event has caused Sakamoto to be paranoid that someone may know, or out to get him for his actions.
Months before the incident, Sakamoto had met with a strange foreigner from far off who sailed far and wide. The exotic contraptions called "firearms" the woman wielded fascinated the impressionable young samurai. The woman was of Taldan descent and quickly took Sakamoto under his wing as his student. It was not long after the artisan's death that Sakamoto sought escape through traveling with his new lover and mentor - Lyddia and forsook his oaths and became ronin.
His experiences in the world that brought him to the shackles was not without its trials. Lyddia had been slain during a pirate attack by Barnabus Harrigan, the infamous pirate captain.
Having almost used the last of his inheritance to seek out Harrigan to avenge his lost love, Sakamoto meets some new found potential allies that may be useful to him in his quest for Harrigan.
I've played with two different builds so far - one with dual wielding sword and pistol. The other, going for spring attack and vital strike. However, I know that I have more options(both that I can use for RP and combat effectiveness) and there are some ideas I haven't come up with yet. For this purpose I request assistance coming up with some fun builds to enjoy. The only requirement the GM appears to be giving me is no 3rd party, and multi-classing requires that the different levels (if not going for a prestige class) must be equal as often as possible. He is very much against the min-maxing idea (as I argued that it was a silly stance, but it is what he decided) of dipping into a single level of a class and no more.
Also, traveling kimono is a +2 Parade armor (+3 AC on its own) renamed in Hero Lab to allow me to make full use of my +5 dex modifier and not sound so goofy on the character sheet.
Male Human (Tian-Shu) Gunslinger 4 Samurai 4
LE Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +7; Senses Perception +15
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Defense
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AC 23, touch 17, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +5 Dex, +1 natural, +1 deflection, +1 dodge)
hp 88 (8d10+28)
Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +7
Defensive Abilities resolve (2/day), self reliant
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 Bane (Human) Katana +9/+4 (1d8+4+2d6 vs. Human/18-20/x2) and
Wakizashi +11/+6 (1d6+3/18-20/x2)
Ranged +2 Pistol +11 (1d8+2/x4)
Special Attacks ronin's challenge +4 (2/day)
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Statistics
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Str 16, Dex 20, Con 17, Int 9, Wis 18, Cha 12
Base Atk +8; CMB +11; CMD 28
Feats Gunsmithing, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Snap Shot, Sword and Pistol, Two-weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (Katana)
Skills Acrobatics +21, Climb +11, Craft (firearms) +3, Handle Animal +5, Perception +15, Profession (sailor) +8, Ride +9, Sense Motive +11, Survival +8, Swim +8; Racial Modifiers +0 ride while riding your bonded mount.
Languages Common, Tien
SQ animal companion link, bane (human), deed: deadeye, deed: gunslinger initiative, deed: gunslinger's dodge (+2 ac), deed: pistol-whip, deed: quick clear, deed: utility shot, grit, mounted archer, orders (ronin), weapon expertise (katana)
Other Gear Traveling Kimono, +1 Bane (Human) Katana, +2 Pistol, Wakizashi, Amulet of natural armor +1, Belt of mighty constitution +2, Boots of elvenkind, Cloak of resistance +1, Ring of protection +1, Gunslinger's kit, Whetstone, 613 GP, 9 SP, 8 CP
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TRACKED RESOURCES
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Grit (4/day) - 0/4
Resolve (2/day) (Ex) - 0/2
Ronin's Challenge +4 (2/day) (Ex) - 0/2
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Special Abilities
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+0 Ride while riding your bonded mount. (Ex) Cancel your armor check penalty of -0 while riding your mount.
Animal Companion Link (Ex) You have a link with your Animal Companion.
Bane (Human) +2 & +2d6 damage vs chosen type
Deed: Deadeye (Ex) Use 1 grit per extra range increment to make a touch attack beyond the first.
Deed: Gunslinger Initiative (Ex) While have Grit, can use a free hand to draw a non-hidden firearm as part of the initiative check.
Deed: Gunslinger's Dodge (+2 AC) (Ex) Use 1 grit, immediately move 5 ft/drop prone to gain 1x/2x bonus to AC vs ranged attack.
Deed: Pistol-Whip (Ex) Use 1 grit, melee attack with firearm gains enh. bonus and free CMB check to knock prone.
Deed: Quick Clear (Ex) While have grit, remove the effects of a misfire. Use 1 grit to do as move action.
Deed: Utility Shot While have grit, gain a variety of useful tricks with a firearm.
Grit (Ex) Gain a pool of points that are spent to fuel deeds, regained on firearm crit/killing blow.
Gunsmithing You can use a gunsmithing kit to craft/repair firearms and ammo.
Mounted Archer (Ex) At 4th level, the samurai becomes skilled at firing ranged weapons while mounted. A samurai only takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls with ranged weapons while his mount takes a double move. This penalty increases to –4 while his mount is running.
Point Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Rapid Shot You get an extra attack with ranged weapons. Each attack is at -2.
Resolve (2/day) (Ex) Starting at 1st level, the samurai gains resolve that he can call upon to endure even the most devastating wounds and afflictions. He can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day for every two samurai levels beyond
Ronin's Challenge +4 (2/day) (Ex) +4 to damage target, -2 AC vs. others when used, +2 attack/dodge AC vs challenger when returning a challenge
Self Reliant (Ex) At 2nd level, the ronin learns to rely solely on himself, even in the most difficult of times. Whenever the ronin fails a Will saving throw against an effect with a duration greater than 1 round, he can attempt another saving throw at the end of the
Snap Shot Threaten squares within 5 feet of you when wielding a ranged weapon
Sword and Pistol Firearm/crossbow attacks don't provoke AoO from foes you threaten with a melee weapon.
Weapon Expertise (Katana) (Ex) You can quick draw the chosen weapon, and gain +2 to confirm critical hits.
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Pathfinder® and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC®, and are used under license.
Male Human (Tian-Shu) Gunslinger 4 Samurai 4
LE Medium Humanoid (human)
Init +11; Senses Perception +15
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Defense
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AC 24, touch 18, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +5 Dex, +1 natural, +1 deflection, +2 dodge)
hp 88 (8d10+28)
Fort +12, Ref +11, Will +7
Defensive Abilities resolve (2/day), self reliant
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee +1 Bane (Human) Katana +6/+1 (1d8+4+2d6 vs. Human/18-20/x2) and
Wakizashi +11/+6 (1d6+3/18-20/x2)
Ranged +2 Pistol +5 (1d8+2/x4)
Special Attacks ronin's challenge +4 (2/day)
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Statistics
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Str 16, Dex 20, Con 17, Int 9, Wis 18, Cha 12
Base Atk +8; CMB +11; CMD 29
Feats Dodge, Gunsmithing, Improved Initiative, Mobility, Point Blank Shot, Spring Attack, Vital Strike
Skills Acrobatics +21, Climb +11, Craft (firearms) +3, Handle Animal +5, Perception +15, Profession (sailor) +8, Ride +9, Sense Motive +11, Survival +8, Swim +8; Racial Modifiers +0 ride while riding your bonded mount.
Languages Common, Tien
SQ animal companion link, bane (human), deed: deadeye, deed: gunslinger initiative, deed: gunslinger's dodge (+2 ac), deed: pistol-whip, deed: quick clear, deed: utility shot, grit, mounted archer, orders (ronin), weapon expertise (katana)
Other Gear Traveling Kimono, +1 Bane (Human) Katana, +2 Pistol, Wakizashi, Amulet of natural armor +1, Belt of mighty constitution +2, Boots of elvenkind, Cloak of resistance +1, Ring of protection +1, Gunslinger's kit, Whetstone, 613 GP, 9 SP, 8 CP
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TRACKED RESOURCES
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Grit (4/day) - 0/4
Resolve (2/day) (Ex) - 0/2
Ronin's Challenge +4 (2/day) (Ex) - 0/2
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Special Abilities
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+0 Ride while riding your bonded mount. (Ex) Cancel your armor check penalty of -0 while riding your mount.
Animal Companion Link (Ex) You have a link with your Animal Companion.
Bane (Human) +2 & +2d6 damage vs chosen type
Deed: Deadeye (Ex) Use 1 grit per extra range increment to make a touch attack beyond the first.
Deed: Gunslinger Initiative (Ex) While have Grit, can use a free hand to draw a non-hidden firearm as part of the initiative check.
Deed: Gunslinger's Dodge (+2 AC) (Ex) Use 1 grit, immediately move 5 ft/drop prone to gain 1x/2x bonus to AC vs ranged attack.
Deed: Pistol-Whip (Ex) Use 1 grit, melee attack with firearm gains enh. bonus and free CMB check to knock prone.
Deed: Quick Clear (Ex) While have grit, remove the effects of a misfire. Use 1 grit to do as move action.
Deed: Utility Shot While have grit, gain a variety of useful tricks with a firearm.
Grit (Ex) Gain a pool of points that are spent to fuel deeds, regained on firearm crit/killing blow.
Gunsmithing You can use a gunsmithing kit to craft/repair firearms and ammo.
Mobility +4 to AC against some attacks of opportunity.
Mounted Archer (Ex) At 4th level, the samurai becomes skilled at firing ranged weapons while mounted. A samurai only takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls with ranged weapons while his mount takes a double move. This penalty increases to –4 while his mount is running.
Point Blank Shot +1 to attack and damage rolls with ranged weapons at up to 30 feet.
Resolve (2/day) (Ex) Starting at 1st level, the samurai gains resolve that he can call upon to endure even the most devastating wounds and afflictions. He can use this ability once per day at 1st level, plus one additional time per day for every two samurai levels beyond
Ronin's Challenge +4 (2/day) (Ex) +4 to damage target, -2 AC vs. others when used, +2 attack/dodge AC vs challenger when returning a challenge
Self Reliant (Ex) At 2nd level, the ronin learns to rely solely on himself, even in the most difficult of times. Whenever the ronin fails a Will saving throw against an effect with a duration greater than 1 round, he can attempt another saving throw at the end of the
Spring Attack You can move - attack - move when attacking with a melee weapon.
Vital Strike Standard action: x2 weapon damage dice.
Weapon Expertise (Katana) (Ex) You can quick draw the chosen weapon, and gain +2 to confirm critical hits.
Hero Lab® and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Pathfinder® and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC®, and are used under license.
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What are you suggesting BBT??? I like the OP's concept but mechanically it needs better flow imo. I feel the Samurai was one of the biggest letdowns of UC in general and well I love playing that katana toting kimono wearing badass as much as everyone else but the way it is written now does it no justice so I would like to see what you have in mind.
I've read a bit about Sakamoto. I wouldn't make him a Gunslinger. (You don't need the class to be proficient with guns.)
I would go all fighter (or samurai) and spend a feat or two on being proficient in guns. Or maybe the swashbuckler (Sakamoto was supposed to be a genius). There were ashigaru who would be far better with guns. (Actually, I thought ashigaru didn't exist in his time period, but a few sources suggest they made a comback.)
Spring Attack doesn't really belong to a "tank". In fact, given the time period, this guy was a "bathrobe samurai" and so couldn't be a tank. He's more of a skirmisher. That would make Spring Attack a good feat choice, but it also means you're not a tank.
I agree with tactician feat choices. I've only read two stories about him, but in at least one he was a competent combat leader (and his background showed the same thing).
Kimera = The Sakamoto I would be based off is specifically the Peace Maker anime version of him where he does tote a gun. Became very western (I know this is probably very far off but has great flavor) and had his own motives for things. I wanted to keep him very much a skirmish for the spring attack side of things for flavor certainly. The idea would be I take swings at the mooks on the way to the big guy.
I did not necessarily want a big brute samurai who trugs into melee and sits there with mooks because he'd be ineffective making it to the big bad. This isn't set in stone, obviously.
BBT = I wouldn't be against an alternate class to get the specific flavor I am going for. I like the resolve and various aspects the Ronin school and samurai class give that is more directly built to be "samurai" but I am not tied to it in total.
KrythePhreak = A mixture of sword play and a pistol, though not necessarily requiring uber ability with the pistol side of things. The restriction that multiclassing must be the same level as often as possible (therefore, having to be samurai 4, gunslinger 4, for instance due to the restrictions). Otherwise I would have done it much differently.