Samurai (4e Class)

Samurai
"I hold the power of my ancestors in this blade, can you boast the same?"

Class Traits
Samurai are the elite warriors of a distant land, trained since childhood in the arts of battle. Sworn in service to the powerful nobles who govern the empire, they are expected to live and die according to their master’s command. Cultured and refined, samurai dedicate themselves utterly to the tenets of bushido, the warrior’s code that teaches that one’s life is not one’s own, and that nothing is more important than honor, obedience, and courage. Samurai are born into their class, enjoying social privileges second only to the ruling nobility. Many come from families that own land themselves, and thus grow up accustomed to a life of wealth and entitlement. The samurai’s lofty place in society sometimes leads individuals down a path of arrogance or brutality, since a samurai is above the law when dealing with those of lower station; however,true followers of bushido emphasize traits such as benevolence and politeness, as well as courage. A samurai’s training begins at a young age, when he is introduced to the rigorous demands of bushido. Young samurai are exposed to extreme heat, cold, and pain, enduring all with emotionless poise. They are steeled against the fear of death by being sent on errands through graveyards or near hangman’s gallows at night. Each samurai-in-training is taught to read and write, contemplating classics of literature,religion, and art with which to refine his mind and spirit. Finally, all are taught the martial arts for which these warriors are most well known which allow the samurai to tap into the fighting spirit of their very soul, know as Ki. Samurai heroes are expected to fight and die at their lord’s command, and their adventures reflect that. Samurai will undertake any quest their master assigns them, whether waging open war or avenging an insult to their lord’s honor; a samurai obeys without hesitation. A samurai who proves worthy of reward will be honored with lands and wealth, and, perhaps most important, the lord’s approval. This honor, and the perpetual striving toward one’s perfection of bushido, is all-important for a samurai, who will go to any length to maintain and uphold it. Should a samurai bring shame to himself or his master, he is allowed to take his own life in an act of ritualistic suicide, allowing him to die with his honor intact. For a samurai, death is preferable to dishonor.

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Samurai OVERVIEW
Characteristics: You are steadfast, strong, and willing to protect allies at any cost.

Religion: You don't really have a religion, although samurai have been found who worship most deities.

Races: Although not as dexterous as the class may want, Golaiths walk the samurai road. Kapok draconian so as well. Elves and Shifters may also find the role of samurai thrust upon them.
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Creating a Samurai
Build Options

Walker of the path of blade and steel.
You like to get up close and personal with your foes. Choose dexterity for your highest score, as it is important for all samurai. Choose Constitution as your secondary score. Wisdom is a good tertiary score.


 * Suggested Feat: Toughness (Human Feat: Action Surge)
 * Suggested Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Intimidate, Diplomacy
 * Suggested At-Will Powers: Flash Strike, Shifting Strike
 * Suggested Encounter Power: Rising Strike
 * Suggested Daily Power: Pure Strike

Walker of the Path of bow and soul
You prefer to use a ranged weapon to keep some distance from your foes, although you probably have a melee weapon if you do get dragged into melee. Make Dexterity your highest priority. Then make wisdom your Second highest score. However, Constitution is never a bad score to keep high.


 * Suggested Feat: Improved Initiative (Human Feat: Toughness)
 * Suggested Skills: Athletics, Insight, Intimidate, Perception
 * Suggested At-Will Powers: Insightful Shot, Fearsome Strike
 * Suggested Encounter Power: Two Shots
 * Suggested Daily Power: Twin Fold Strike

Samurai Class Features
All Samurai share these class features.

Ancestral Weapon
All samurai are gifted with a weapon from birth and trained to use it in battle. The Samurai gains Superior Weapon Proficiency for one weapon from the following list as a free feat: Katana(bastard sword), Nodachi(fullblade), Yari(great spear), or Yumi(greatbow). This also counts for his Ancestral Power Feature.

Ancestral Power
You can perform the Enchant Magic Item ritual. You can only use it on your Ancestral Weapon, and you can add any magical property and level you want that is capable of being placed on the type of weapon (the component cost reflects this). You must be of the appropriate level to attune you ancestral weapon with higher enchantments. For example, if you want your weapon to be a +1 Flaming weapon, you must sacrifice 360 gp and be level 1 or higher. You can also perform the Make Whole ritual, except that you can only use it on your Ancestral Weapon.

+1; 360 gp; 1st +2; 1,800 gp; 5th +3; 9,000 gp; 10th +4; 45,000 gp; 15th +5; 225,000 gp; 20th +6; 1,125,000 gp; 25th

Fighting Style
Samurai are trained to master certain fighting styles. From the list below pick one.

Niten Ichi Ryu: You wield two weapons better than most other warriors wield one. your weapons act together acting as your sword and shield if neccesary, For this you gain Two-Weapon Defense as a bonus feat, even if you don't meet the prerequisites. as long as you are wielding your ancestral weapon in one hand you gain a +1 bonus to AC and Reflex(this stacks with two weapon defense feat).

Iaijutsu: You are trained to make quick and lethal attacks by drawing your weapon from its sheath and striking in the same motion. You gain Quick Draw as a bonus feat, even if you don't meet the prerequisites. You may also sheath your weapon as a free action. As long as you are wearing cloth armor and wielding your ancestral weapon, you may add your Wisdom bonus to your AC.

Sojutsu: You excel at fighting with spears, polearms, and staffs. When making attacks with your Ancestral Weapon (it must be from the polearm,staff,or spear group), your weapon gains the Brutal 1 property (if it already has the Brutal property, increase the value by 1). You also gain Hafted Defense as a bonus feat, even if you don't meet the prerequisites.

Kyujutsu: You possess a calm mind and steady hand that wherever you aim you put an arrow there. When making ranged basic attacks you can use your Wisdom modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier for attack and damage rolls. You also gain Far Shot as a bonus feat, even if you don't meet the prerequisites.

Dauntless Gaze
Samurai possess an unnervingly calm yet fierce demeanor which they use to control their enemies' focus in battle. Every time you attack an enemy, whether the attack hits or misses, you can choose to mark that target. The mark lasts until the end of your next turn. While a target is marked, it takes a – 2 penalty to attack rolls for any attack that doesn’ t include you as a target. A creature can be subject to only one mark at a time. A new mark supersedes a mark that was already in place. You gain the Fearsome Retaliation power.

Fearsome Retaliation Samurai Feature You strike out with fearsome power and agility against a marked foe. At-Will * Ki, Weapon Immediate Reaction                 Personal Trigger: A creature marked by you shifts or makes an attack that doesnt include you. Effect: After the attack has been resolved, you can make a melee or ranged basic attack against it. The target takes a -2 penalty to defenses until the end of its next turn.

Samurai Powers
Your powers are drawn from the ki, or soul, and as such you can't quite name them, as everyone has a different soul.

Full power list here. Note: Haven't added power list yet. JackHarkness (talk) 14:42, 1 August 2014 (UTC)