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I'm kinda hoping to see a Cavalier/Samurai archetype in the ACG or something that forsakes the animal companion. I mean I enjoy mounted combat and animal companions (Even in spite of this recent conundrum.) But I'd like to play a samurai with challenges, resolve, and banner and the like without having an animal companion. Same with the cavalier since many people have complained about his reliance on an AC.
So. What should go in place of the animal companions? I know I'd like Samurai archetypes more along the lines of fighter archetypes. Like the Polearm fighter and the Two-weapon warrior. Like making a Samurai with neat abilities with that focus on the Naginata or something. I don't really know at the moment. What do you think?
There is a samurai archetype, the sword saint, that looses the animal companion for decent attack bonuses. (in the form of iajutsu)
Once an enemy sneak attack that requires a standard action. Good at the start of the battle but not so much afterwards. Can't even vital strike it. ... Roaring Iajutsu is interesting... But the rest of it seems not so awesome...
Once an enemy sneak attack that requires a standard action. Good at the start of the battle but not so much afterwards. Can't even vital strike it. ... Roaring Iajutsu is interesting... But the rest of it seems not so awesome...
Look, it's a trade-off. There are no true equivalent exchanges out there. More choices are always nice, and I consider iaijutsu strike one that is WORSE at low level (where the mount shines most) and BETTER at high level (where the mount start falling behind CR-wise).
Iajutsu strike is not bad at levels 1 to 5 when there is no full attack (unless you twf). Once the iterative comes into action it falls behind for several levels but then when it is a standard action becomes again a good option for the opening movement.
...God forbid you have to move again...
...God forbid you have to move again...
Why exactly? you are doing the normal damage from a THF, Iajustsu strike is just a plus, not something to depend on it.
I just think there could be a better trade for an animal companion. Somehow... Just haven't found the right one yet. I mean the Mad Dog barbarian gains an AC by giving up rage levels and half his rage powers. I think the samurai should get a little more in return for one.
So the rogue gives up uncanny dodge and gets basically the same thing but able to combine it with a charge... and Spring attack at level 8... The scout's ability actually seems better...
I just think there could be a better trade for an animal companion. Somehow... Just haven't found the right one yet. I mean the Mad Dog barbarian gains an AC by giving up rage levels and half his rage powers. I think the samurai should get a little more in return for one.
No, the mad dog does that for an animal companion. You are trying to trade away a mount. There is quite a difference.
All I'm saying is this: few people would trade it away if it was something like an allosaurus with pounce or a rok with its flight. No, you get horses, or maybe a nice wolf if you play a small character.
It is better to compare it to the mounted fury, which is an archetype that gives a 'mount'. That trades away: uncanny dodges and improved uncanny dodge (funny, the same thing the scout trades). Fast movement just gets shifted around.
Your thing might be slightly more valuable, since you get it at level 1 and you have full druid levels....but it is not by much. Maybe a free feat (to similate the boon companion the mounted fury needs) to go with your trade?
And anyway, samurai are rather good as unmounted characters. Unlike the cavalier, which is tied so directly to charging and such, you get to count as a fighter for feat prerequisites for your favorite weapon. And resolve is rather nice too (preferred result rerolls on will saves for almost as often as a paladin gets lay on hands, which gets refilled sometimes when you successfully use your main combat ability? Yes please). Overall, these are rather nice abilities for a martial to have, mounted or unmounted.
I was just trying to get a basic idea of what the AC was worth. Incidentally I just remembered the wild stalker gives up it's AC for rage... So there seems to be a correlation. But rage is far from a Samurai thing in my mind.
It's not like you can use it more than once a day anyway.
Just compare it to the scout rogue, seriously.
SA is like the only way to do good damage from a rogue, not the same with sword saint.
Iajutse strike is not the best ability ever or soemthing, but it is not bad.
Also if you don't like the animal companion there's always beast rider cavalier.
So the rogue gives up uncanny dodge and gets basically the same thing but able to combine it with a charge... and Spring attack at level 8... The scout's ability actually seems better...
It's a pseudo-good archetype. At first glance it's "OH MAN FREE SNEAK ATTACK!" but then you remember you have a d8 hit die, light armor, -2 AC from charging, and the worst saves in the game.