Hey everyone, SO i have a character concept that I was thinking of making an archetype for.
Basically a samurai similar to Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin) or manji (Blade of the immortal) or like a million other things (Yojimbo comes to mind).
These are talented swordsmen who wear light or no armor. I would like to do this with the samurai class.
Now before you tell me to shuffle off to homebrew, how would you make such a character with existing rules? Multiclass, archetype ex cetera but you need to have some samurai spliced in.
Thanks for your help.
You're basically looking at kensai magus, depending on how magical you want to go.
Kenshin in particular was a Dex-based samurai with a katana, which, in game terms, won't work because without GM intervention you can't Finesse a katana.
You're basically looking at kensai magus, depending on how magical you want to go.
Kenshin in particular was a Dex-based samurai with a katana, which, in game terms, won't work because without GM intervention you can't Finesse a katana.
the swashbuckler can
Ignoring your Samurai level requirement, I'd go some combination of Flowing Monk and Swashbuckler to emulate Kenshin.
Rite Publishing Way of the Samurai (PFRPG) offers a Ranger (yojimbo) archetype.
Also from Way of the Samurai (PFRPG) we offer the Miyamoto Musashi build of a 2 weapon (katana and wakizashi) master, that requires to be lightly armored when compared to other samurai, called Nitojutsu Sensei that also might fit.
Although we haven't yet released a non-tengu version, there is also the Tengukensei a magus archetype. The changes would be subtle, but very similar, and could currently be adapted to a non-tengu race. Note: kensei is the correct spelling for what a kensai is supposed to be. This is from our In the Company of Tengu supplement.
From Way of the Yakuza we offer the Yakuza Bushi, a light armored fighter archetype, that also fits the concept of an ashigaru foot soldier.
All four fit the concept of Kenshin. Although I'd agree that Swashbukcler fits the role as well.
I'm doing that for PFS now.
Human
Daring Champion Cavalier archetype (gets me Swashbuckler Finesse at level 1, and precise strike deed at level 4 which stacks with challenge, and good Fort save which is important to me)
Order of the Hammer (acrobatics class skill that when jumping can add +Str bonus and +1/2 cavalier level; nonlethal unarmed strike damage equal to a monk; extra sunder/grapple attempt on challenged opponent)
Str 14 = I'm not finessing until level 3. So a +2 Str mod and Weapon Focus and masterwork weapon would at least allow me to have the same attack roll while finessing a non-Focused, non-finessed weapon. and Can still hold in two hands for a 1d8+3 damage.
Dex 18
Feats
1) Exotic Weapon Proficiency (katana).
1 Human Bonus) Weapon Focus (katana)
1 Tactician) Shake It Off = it's awesome
3) Slashing Grace (katana) = Can finally start finessing katana's and get Dex to damage instead of Str.
5) Power Attack or Weapon Versatility
6) Weapon Versatility or Power Attack = Undecided on order. Versatility so that I can be doing Dex-to-damage with katana for different weapon damage types. I ain't so great with non-katanas.
Actually alot more ways to tackle this then I thought. The Daring Champion definitely has potential. I also stumbled across the Ronin(swashbuckler) archetype from Everyman games which is a swashbuckler with a hint of samurai that looks pretty good as well. thanks everyone.
side question if I am a daring champion and I challenge something lets say I am level 20: am I doing precise strike and challenge damage (+40 an attack?)
Yup!
Well +40 damage.
side question if I am a daring champion and I challenge something lets say I am level 20: am I doing precise strike and challenge damage (+40 an attack?)
Yes. That being said, half of that is precision damage (precise strike), and the other half is a static damage buff. Precision damage isn't multiplied on a crit, but the challenge damage would be.
Find it interesting that nobody even mentions the sword saint archetype. Ah well guess not as powerful as the other options but does fit the theme a lot.
Iajutsu strike is a chore trying to get it to work at times. Plus doesn't help with the "wearing light armor" bit the OP wanted.
Pummeling style. Martial versatily> Temple sword
Profit.
Can you explain that one?
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Pummeling style has been errataed to only work with unarmed strikes. Martial versatility lets you apply one feat of an specific weapon to another one of the same group. Temple sword and unarmed strike are on the monk weapon group. Hence you can apply pummeling style to temple sword and do iajitsu. There is been some complaints from people saying it doesnt let you bypass requirements, but as far as raw goes this works. I will probably make a build based on iajitsu trought this method
Pummeling style has been errataed to only work with unarmed strikes. Martial versatility lets you apply one feat of an specific weapon to another one of the same group. Temple sword and unarmed strike are on the monk weapon group. Hence you can apply pummeling style to temple sword and do iajitsu. There is been some complaints from people saying it doesnt let you bypass requirements, but as far as raw goes this works. I will probably make a build based on iajitsu trought this method
Ah well martial versatility RAW/RAI arguments aside, iaijutsi and pummeling style are both their own specific full-round actions, (kinda like Spring Attack is it's own full-round action and Vital Strike is it's own Standard), I don't believe they can be used together at the same time. Especially when iaijutsu becomes a standard action.
But if Martial Versatility + Pummeling Strike does work, can still pummel when not doing iaijutsu.
Ah ok. Yea that would be a cool visual.
if you're going specifically for kenshin, off the top of my head i'd say an order of the blue rose sword saint samurai (or daring champion cavalier) with the blade of mercy trait.
if you're just going for dex-centric-lightly-armored-combatant-with-katana, i'd say daring champion cavalier (order of the sword/dragon/cockatrice/etc. all work wonderfully) or swashbuckler if you want mundane, or kensai magus if you want magical.
or slayer. slayer's always good.
also, kenshin was freakishly strong (as was his teacher), yo. he broke the weapons and bones of his enemies with the best of them and shuffling him off to dex-only camp because he's not huge is unfair.
I'm kind of surprised nobody mentioned the possibility of using a single level of Master of Many Styles Monk to create a Crane Style swordsman. I can't think of anything that says 'legendary sword skills' more than deflecting and riposting like clockwork. It works easily with a strength or dex character, grabbing the full lineup by level 7. For example:
3 Dodge
5(MMS) Crane Style / +Crane Riposte
7 Crane Wing
The attack you choose to Wing has +9AC from using the whole chain, making a counterattack a good bet. It also gives you the possibility of going armorless if/when your Wisdom bonus can compare to whatever base-armor you were planning to use; an often overlooked benefit to Monk Wisdom is that it also adds to your CMD. Really though the larger benefit is thematic - for my money, a high-wisdom unarmored katana master is just how it's done.
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Well kenshin style was not much about deflecting attacks, sure he parried sometimes, but basically he was famous for beign incredibly fast.
Im not sure, Hiko seijuro IS like epic strong, he can stop a giants attacks with one arm. Kenshing could beat a giant but probably wouldnt be able to do that. Hiko also stated kenshin´s way of fighting is quite different to his even tought they practice the same fighting style. I would say kenshin had at leas 13 str.
I seem to recall there being humor focused around Kenshin being physically weak. The implication of bone breaking was two-fold. First the damage came from incredible skill. Second the force of the blows were multiplied many times over do to his incredible speed.
If I really wanted to do Kenshin, or any fast style samurai justice I would definitely look into 3pp.
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Well actually the Path of War has everything you need to do hitten mitsurugi, just change the manuevers names. And dreamscarred press is really really good, they did the psionic classes
I seem to recall there being humor focused around Kenshin being physically weak. The implication of bone breaking was two-fold. First the damage came from incredible skill. Second the force of the blows were multiplied many times over do to his incredible speed.
If I really wanted to do Kenshin, or any fast style samurai justice I would definitely look into 3pp.
Yeah, a major plot point when he was training with his master to beat Shishio was that he didn't have the pure strength to fully use the style, but he was indeed crazy-fast and that made up for it.