What is your vision for him? It wasn't for PFS, but I had a lot of fun with an intimidate build on my Samurai.
A Ronin Samurai can reroll a failed will save, that alone makes it superior to multiple (well, two) core classes.
The problem with the Sword Saint is that Iaijustu Strike is pretty useless until you can use it as a standard action. Otherwise the Challenge and Ronin abilities are solid enough to be decent... no more than that, but you're at least sturdier than a Fighter.
A Samurai, particularly of the Ronin order, is really good at survivability but not so great at damage. They aren't anything special for the first several levels, but eventually you can shrug off most will and fort saves, critical hits, and the worst of the negative conditions (staggered, stunned, nauseated, etc.); not to mention the ability to remain fighting at negative HP...
Basically, they make for really good tanks but they will never get better than middle-of-the-pack in terms of damage output. If you can make a build focused on keeping the enemy's attention on you (step up chain, antagonize, trip weapons, etc.), you should have a fun time with it.
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I do not know if that works in PFS (don't know what's legal and it ignores one sentence of the fluff)
Buy a combat scabbard (not a sharpened one). That way, at the start of combat you can attack mooks with your sheathed sword and still use Iaijutsu Strike on the main foe once you reach him.
After that hold the scabbard in your off-hand and get a shield bonus to AC via the improvised defence trait.
It looks like a rule but is written in italic that normally indicates fluff. But that only applies to the second part. Attacking with the sheathed sword until you want to do the Iaijutsu Strike should definitely work.
Order of the Cockatrice + Sword Saint is pretty manly. A poor man's Paladin but with fancy intimidation techniques.
Flavor-wise, a level of Master of Many Styles monk for Crane 1 and 3 plus Crane 2 by level 7 seems ideal for a master of sword technique, fluidly changing up his grip and cutting down foes who fail to get through his considerable defenses. If your GM is down with weapons along the line of the Blade of the Sword Saint, then a Samurai/Sohei who flurries with such a weapon could be pretty cool too.
A Paladin/Sohei of Shizuru could also potentially fit the 'sword saint' concept really well, picking up Crusader's Flurry: Katana by level 5 and using a mithral medium armor.
I do not know if that works in PFS (don't know what's legal and it ignores one sentence of the fluff)
Buy a combat scabbard (not a sharpened one). That way, at the start of combat you can attack mooks with your sheathed sword and still use Iaijutsu Strike on the main foe once you reach him.
After that hold the scabbard in your off-hand and get a shield bonus to AC via the improvised defence trait.** spoiler omitted **.
It looks like a rule but is written in italic that normally indicates fluff. But that only applies to the second part. Attacking with the sheathed sword until you want to do the Iaijutsu Strike should definitely work.
Anyone who assumes the Sword Saint isn't holding his scabbard on his offhand after an Iaijitsu Strike seriously needs to watch more samurai films.
Anyone who assumes the Sword Saint isn't holding his scabbard on his offhand after an Iaijitsu Strike seriously needs to watch more samurai films.
Indeed, the hand on the scabbard is for 1.nudging the blade out of the scabbard with a thumb against the tsuba to gently get it past its resistance point, and 2.to prevent yanking the scabbard right out of its place when striking, because its attached loosely to the body.
The question is: by PF rules, are you 'carrying' the scabbard in your 'offhand' if its still attached to your body and you were just holding it in place during the strike? I would guess no.
Do not make a sword saint.
Ijiatsu strike sounds cool, but actually getting it off makes a full round sneak attack look like a sure thing. Its frustratingly out of reach.
The problem with samurai is that a lot of dungeons aren't mount friendly unless you're a small samurai. Even without the mount you can still be pretty viable with a high strength and two handed weapon.
Any eastern flavored character should try to play the quest for perfection series before you hit level 6. This goes doubly for you, trust me.
Actually they have proficiency in katanas already, so they already can use them one handed I think. Any fighter can use a katana two handed, it's pretty much the same as the bastard sword ruling.
If your going iajutsu, I would recommend getting either gauntlets or take a level in monk. This way, on your first attack you charge in and punch that sucker good. Then on your second turn if you're still next to him, do the iajutsu strike. This allows you to do something on your first turn without ruining your opportunity for an iajutsu. I've actually wanted to make a character like this for awhile, but hey life gets in the way of things.
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Do not make a sword saint.
I really hate what they did for/to the 'sword saint'. Arguably the most revered and awe-inducing bladed warrior ideograph in Japanese tradition and ... oh look, he knows a fairly basic cut-from-the-scabbard-trick, and its implemented as a really questionable ability. Joy.
wait, so their core unique combat ability requires a feat tax? (iaijutsu strike requires you have a hand free)
that is retarded.
Samurai are proficient with the Katana from level 1.
I had a hobgoblin Sword saint who died too young, but I gave him an Earth Breaker and Katana combination. He'd wade into the middle of combat and enjoy his high survivablity while cutting down mooks with the Earthbreaker, combat reflexes, and lunge if required to ensure he threatened EVERYONE. Once a path was clear, he'd approach the big bad, drop the hammer, Iajutsu strike.
If there were no mooks, he'd just go straight for the iajutsu strike and go toe-to-toe.
Never underestimate the ability to shrug off crippling effects and keep fighting despite being nearly dead. When people say he's not a high-damage dealer, it's largely because he's not a glass cannon. He won't put out 2000 damage in a round like an Archer Inquisitor, but he'll survive much, much, longer in most situations.