Ok this was a thought I had early this morning. A Samurai or at least Swordsmen with only one arm.
It would be a Gestalt build because I simply prefer that style of game.
Samurai//Swashbuckler seems to be the best idea currently.
Sword Saint Archetype on the Samurai half.
As I said in my other thread we use 3.5 when it works. Hermean's blood is generic enough to allow to add any skills so long as they both relay on the same ability. So I was thinking of adding Iaijutsu focus, as it fits with the Sword Saint archetypes theme.
I may give him the flaw to -2 to hit with a melee weapon or enhance Shaky's -2 to a inability to use ranged weapons period (As he cannot use a bow or the like, and shuriken will likely never come up.)
But suffice it to say I will take two flaws and so thus have more feats.
He would be a human so a total of 4 feats at level one. Which feats should these be if I am focusing on a Samurai using a Katana in one hand.
Edit: Also I need a way to get people Flat-Footed as often as possible.
Taking drawbacks doesn't give you feats. It gives you additional traits. And you can only take 1 drawback and get one extra trait. Unless there is some weird gestalt or other home rule I'm unaware of.
So, no 4 feats.
Also, Sword Saint is a terrible archetype. Iaijutsu strike is terrible because the sword must be sheathed (it is a move action to sheath the weapon if it is out) and then it requires a full round action to perform the strike. You get your normal weapon damage once, and then the precision damage dice on top. Which caps at 10d6 at level, which only gives you an average of 35 damage. The damage is not multiplied on a critical. And the ability can only be used once per opponent per day.
At pretty much every level once you get an iterative attack Iaijutsu strike actually deals less damage than just making a full attack. And having to be adjacent to your enemy with your sword sheathed means your not doing damage otherwise on the round before so you could attempt to set this up.
It's a terrible ability.
Don't get bogged down by the words "Samurai" for class. Most of what a samurai is, is about being a noble land-owner with certain rights and entitlements. They were typically renowned as strong warriors and followed a code that guided their actions. They are the Japanese equivalent of Knights. But they can be played by any class, though martial classes tend to fit the theme better.
Being restricted to one arm...I think swashbuckler is probably your best bet. As a magus you wouldn't have the free hand to supply somatic or material components for spells. I can't think of anything else that would work that well one-armed.
What good do you think getting people flat-footed will do? Iaijutsu strike isn't sneak attack, it doesn't allow you to use it against them.
Flaws not Drawbacks, 3.5 rule.
And yes I know it is a bit odd.
Iaijutsu Focus
These seem to be multiplied on Critical hit.
I think I am sort of forced to take
Weapon Focus (Katana)
Slashing Grace (To use deeds)
I am thinking of taking Power Attack to help offset damage with only one hand. Maybe take Quickdraw to give that quick kill and then sheath mechanic
And Maybe Combat Expertise to set up for Improved Fient and the like.
My DM is considering House ruling Iaijutsu focus to work on foes denied their Dex rather then Flat-Footed.
Samurai gets the Katana and such as well, and Samurai also gets the Cavalier stuff too. Challenges and the like.
But I will look into that build, and yes I confirmed with the DM.
No real inspiration just this idea of a one armed Samurai.
Ninja just seems odd because of the sneak attack, it doesn't fit the theme since thats not really a straight honorable tactic, though totally useful. I could see it maybe but it just requires a few tweeks in the idea.
Well Iaijutsu Focus or Iaijutsu Strikes are meant to be a quick sword drawing attack against a foe you are facing off with. In fact Iaijutsu focus comes with full rules on how to duel someone using Iaijutsu Focus as your initiative.
This was another reason I wanted to use this for a build that actually involved the Challenge ability as it could be reworked as a duel. (For them it would be an untrained skill check.)
Since you desire all the cool tricks with ki serving your one-armed samurai, why don't you build a kensai magus, instead, and have access to a lot more tricks in the form of full arcane spells. Kensai gives you proficiency to one exotic weapon of choice - thus katana, or any other best weapon choice for you.
You could still call him a samurai, afterall its more a social caste you are born into than necessarily a word for one specific player class. If your kensai is honorable and serves a lord, isn't that a samurai?