Author Topic: Samurai Poll  (Read 95282 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #280 on: May 03, 2010, 03:23:03 AM »
Wait'll I finish this and do Ninja Redux  :D ;)

Flay Crimsonwind

  • Hong Kong
  • ****
  • Posts: 1310
  • Watching the World Burn in Magnificence
    • Email
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #281 on: May 03, 2010, 03:39:03 AM »
I've got another three levels before I can take it, I'll wait!  :D Pechin... like a regional samurai? Can't wait to see the twist on that one.

EDIT: ah, right, wiki article linked at the friggin top.... well, at least I learned something!  :p Why unarmed, specifically, for a pechin?
EDIT 2: Ah, unarmed ryukin samurai. I have to stop typing when I'm tired...
« Last Edit: May 03, 2010, 09:35:42 PM by Flay Crimsonwind »

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #282 on: May 04, 2010, 03:38:25 AM »
I've started editing i nthe fluff for the Pechin, but I can;t find much on them, so if I get anything wrong let me know and I will correct.

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #283 on: May 07, 2010, 03:23:57 AM »
Okay possible styles for the Pechin include (for Japan):

Sumo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumo

Jujutsu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujutsu

Taijutsu: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taijutsu

For Okinawa:

Te: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawan_martial_arts

Tegumi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegumi

I can try to do all these, or concentrate on Te for the Pechin along with maybe Taijutsu, and make the others PrC's.

Thoughts?

Flay Crimsonwind

  • Hong Kong
  • ****
  • Posts: 1310
  • Watching the World Burn in Magnificence
    • Email
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #284 on: May 07, 2010, 04:49:20 AM »
Focus on Te; taijutsu should be part of the ninja/ninjutsu spinoff, and the Sumo and jujutsu probably should be PrCs.... though I suppose it could be a pathed Te for Okinawan and Jujutsu for the mainland, making them separate by where they lived (with similar but different abilities). That can be a lot to ask for though, I wouldn't blame you for working it simpler.

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #285 on: May 08, 2010, 02:16:38 AM »
Taijutsu wasn't specific to one martial art n Japan though.  It was a set of techniques used by various schools (or so I'm led to believe).

veekie

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 9034
  • WARNING: Homing Miko
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #286 on: May 08, 2010, 05:00:27 AM »
Well, a direct translation of the term is literally Body Arts, so it'd seem to refer to martial arts in general, actually.

Just because Naruto used it doesn't mean it's related to ninjutsu beyond being sometimes practiced by the same sort of people.
The mind transcends the body.
It's also a little cold because of that.
Please get it a blanket.

I wish I could read your mind,
I can barely read mine.

"Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. At 2:15, it begins rolling up characters."

[spoiler]
"Just what do you think the moon up in the sky is? Everyone sees that big, round shiny thing and thinks there must be something round up there, right? That's just silly. The truth is much more awesome than that. You can almost never see the real Moon, and its appearance is death to humans. You can only see the Moon when it's reflected in things. And the things it reflects in, like water or glass, can all be broken, right? Since the moon you see in the sky is just being reflected in the heavens, if you tear open the heavens it's easy to break it~"
-Ibuki Suika, on overkill

To sumbolaion diakoneto moi, basilisk ouranionon.
Epigenentheto, apoleia keraune hos timeis pteirei.
Hekatonkatis kai khiliakis astrapsato.
Khiliarkhou Astrape!
[/spoiler]

There is no higher price than 'free'.

"I won't die. I've been ordered not to die."

Flay Crimsonwind

  • Hong Kong
  • ****
  • Posts: 1310
  • Watching the World Burn in Magnificence
    • Email
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #287 on: May 08, 2010, 05:12:01 AM »
I only say it because I've seen it often attributed to and combined with ninjutsu, and knowing it was a skill practiced by historic ninja, I just assumed it would fit better, but hey, there's wikipedia to fuck that assumption up. Yeah, I suppose it's more universal.

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #288 on: May 08, 2010, 02:45:38 PM »
I'll peek about and see what more i can find

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #289 on: May 14, 2010, 04:23:10 AM »
A PrC to work on whilst I stud  the martial arts for the Pechin

SABURAI


   
"Anyone can be a barbarian; it requires a terrible effort to remain a civilized man."

 The earliest forms of Samurai were the Saburai, mounted cavalry fighters from regional areas of Japan thought of as little more than Barbarians by the court and Emperor they were hired to protect.  There is some evidence they were schooled, but the courts writings of the time express little more than disdain.  The Saburai's title translates as "those who serve", and in general it is thought that it was not meant in a complimentary manner.

BECOMING A SABURAI
Generally start as one of the Samurai variant classes and specialize in archery and mounted combat.

 ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
   Skills:  Ride 9 ranks
   Feats:  Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat, Point Blank Shot, Ride-by Attack
   Ki Abilities:  Cavalryman, Improved Mounted Archery, Improved Point Blank Shot,
   BAB:  +6


Class Skills
 The Saburai's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Geography, History, Local, Nobility & Royalty, War)(Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Spot (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skills Points at Each  Level : 4 + int

Hit Dice: d10

Code: [Select]
[b]   BAB  Fort    Ref    Will  Abilities[/b]
1. +1    +2     +0     +2    Mounted Combat Specialist, Ki Pool
2. +2    +3     +0     +3    Archery Specialist
3. +3    +3     +1     +3    Bodyguard
4. +4    +4     +1     +4    Mounted Combat Specialist
5. +5    +4     +1     +4    Archery Specialist
6. +6    +5     +2     +5    Bodyguard
7. +7    +5     +2     +5    Mounted Combat Specialist
8. +8    +6     +2     +6    Archery Specialist
9. +9    +6     +3     +6    Bodyguard
10.+10   +7     +3     +7    Veteran

Weapon Proficiencies: A Saburai gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.
 
Ki Pool: The Saburai's class levels stack with his Samurai levels for purposes of determining how many times per day he can use his Ki Pool and for how many Ki Abilities he has learned. The Saburai also gains access to several Ki abilities not open to the Samurai (which will be detailed below).

Mounted Combat Specialist (Ex): Beginning at Level 1 you gain a +2 Competence Bonus to all attack and damage rolls while mounted.  This increases to +4 at Level 4, and +6 at Level 7.

Archery Specialist (Ex): At levels 2, 5, and 8 the Saburai may choose a Feat from the following list that he qualifies for: Able Sniper, Bowslinger, Deadeye Shot, Defensive Archery, Far Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Improved Rapid Shot, Manyshot, Penetrating Shot, Plunging Shot, Precise Shot, Ranged Weapon Mastery, Rapid Shot, Sharp-Shooting, Woodland Archery, or Zen Archery.

Bodyguard (Ex): Since they are often required to act as bodyguards the Saburai are good at reacting quickly to trouble.  At 3rd level the Saburai gains a +2 Competence Bonus to Initiative rolls and one of the following checks (which cannot be changed after being chosen): Listen, Sense Motive, or Spot Checks.  This Bonus increases to +4 at level 6, and +6 at level 9.

Veteran (Ex): Any opponents who attack you in melee range and miss provoke an Attack of Opportunity.  This does not grant you additional attacks of opportunity.


PLAYING A SABURAI
 You are meant to put down rebellions and protect the Court.  In other words you can't be adverse to killing on command or putting up with officious prigs who consider you dirt under their feet.  Patience is a virtue you will have to have a lot of, and your morality is something you will have to sometimes have the will to ignore.  
 Combat: Saburai are archers and cavalry, and you will be expected to excel at both.  You will also be expected to be observant as many of you will be bodyguards to the nobility.
 Advancement: Generally your training is less subject to the whims of your Lord and more to the military group you belong to.  Granted the military will expect you to keep up with their ideas for the combat skills you will need to have.
Resources: You may not have much in the way of support from your employer himself, but your fellow Saburai will help you if they can.  Generally you may only have what resources you can get upon your own.

SABURAI IN THE WORLD
"Wipe your feet you ignorant thug!"
 Saburai are hated and feared by everyone.  The peasant beacuse you kill them.  The nobility because they realize you work for monay and can be turned against them (at least until Bushido begins to form).
 Daily Life: You train for war or guars whatever you're assigned to.  This is life until the fighting begins, then it's time to ride out to kill what's probably a bunch of peasants with insufficient training and equipment.
 Notables: Jun Akimoto (LN Human Male Ashigaru 6/Saburai 6) is a typical Saburai ordered to guard the local Daimyo.
 Organizations: You're basically a mercenary free to be hired by whatever Lord wants you.  With any luck you'll get a competent one.

NPC Reaction
 NPC's are terrified of Saburai, whom they consider little more than uneducated raiders who murder for pay.  The Lord points at someone and orders you to kill and you do so like a dog.  There's a lack of respect I guess I'm saying but there's plenty of fear.

SABURAI IN THE GAME
 This class kind of assumes you're a servant.  You may have a lot of time away from your lord fighting, but when he's around your the rug underneath his feet.  Make sure players understand this before taking the PrC.
 Adaptation: This is for an early Heian period Japan setting.  It can be adapted to other campaigns but will need a little tweaking.
 Encounters: Saburai are most often found murdering rebellious villagers, guarding nobles, or doing whatever hired enforcers do.

Sample Encounter
EL 12: Several assassination attempts have been made against a local Lord, and many of his guards are dead.  Small wonder since they are cavalry and archer specialists as opposed to expert Yojimbo.  The PC's have been asked to find out what force is ripping them apart in the night.


Jun Akimoto
LN Human Male Ashigaru 6/Saburai 6
Init +6, Senses: Listen +14, Spot +10
Languages Common
------------------------------------------------
AC , touch , flat-footed   (+2 Dex, )
hp 78 (12 HD)
Fort +11, Ref +7, Will +13  
------------------------------------------------
Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee
Base Atk +12, Grp +14
Atk Options Imposing Presence, Ki Pool 13/day, Mounted Combat Specialist +4, Bodyguard +4 (Listen checks)
Combat Gear
-----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 14, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8
SQ
Feats Far Shot, Improved Mounted Archery, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Ride-by Attack, Spirited Charge, Indomitable Soul (B), Iron Will (B), Mounted Archery(B), Mounted Combat (B), Precise Shot (B), Rapid Shot (B)
Skills Bluff +4, Climb +7, Intimidate +15, Knowledge (Local, Royalty, War) +2, Listen +14, Ride +20, Spot +10
Possessions



EPIC SABURAI

Hit Die: d10
Skills Points at Each  Level : 4 + int
Mounted Combat Specialist At Level 21 and every 3 levels thereafter the Saburai's Mounted Combat Bonus increases by an additional +2.
Archery Specialist At Level 22 and every 3 levels thereafter the Saburai may choose an additional Feat from his list or from the following list of Epic Feats: Combat Archery, Distant Shot, Swarm of Arrows.
Bodyguard At level 23 and every 3 levels thereafter the Saburai's Bodyguard Bonus increases by an additional +2.
Bonus Feats: The Epic Saburai gains a Bonus Feat every 5 levels higher than 20th
« Last Edit: June 05, 2010, 01:01:04 AM by bhu »

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #290 on: May 15, 2010, 04:00:36 AM »
Anyone knowledgeable about weapons and armor in 7th-9th century Japan?

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #291 on: May 20, 2010, 01:01:10 AM »
Okay initially I'd figured the Saburai were mounted archers but stuff I've been reading seems to contradict that.  Was there mounted archery in Japan?  If not I need to tweak things a little for the classes.

Flay Crimsonwind

  • Hong Kong
  • ****
  • Posts: 1310
  • Watching the World Burn in Magnificence
    • Email
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #292 on: May 20, 2010, 01:13:59 AM »
Okay initially I'd figured the Saburai were mounted archers but stuff I've been reading seems to contradict that.  Was there mounted archery in Japan?  If not I need to tweak things a little for the classes.
Specifically mounted cavalry? I don't know, not to my (rather limited) knowledge, but I know that people on horseback might use shortbows. I'm probably confusing it with the Mongols, but still.

veekie

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 9034
  • WARNING: Homing Miko
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #293 on: May 20, 2010, 05:09:49 AM »
^^
It's fairly common sense for most light cavalry to have shortbows to take advantage of their mobility, particularly when metal armor isn't as common(which need the greater power you can get out of standing longbows).
The mind transcends the body.
It's also a little cold because of that.
Please get it a blanket.

I wish I could read your mind,
I can barely read mine.

"Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. At 2:15, it begins rolling up characters."

[spoiler]
"Just what do you think the moon up in the sky is? Everyone sees that big, round shiny thing and thinks there must be something round up there, right? That's just silly. The truth is much more awesome than that. You can almost never see the real Moon, and its appearance is death to humans. You can only see the Moon when it's reflected in things. And the things it reflects in, like water or glass, can all be broken, right? Since the moon you see in the sky is just being reflected in the heavens, if you tear open the heavens it's easy to break it~"
-Ibuki Suika, on overkill

To sumbolaion diakoneto moi, basilisk ouranionon.
Epigenentheto, apoleia keraune hos timeis pteirei.
Hekatonkatis kai khiliakis astrapsato.
Khiliarkhou Astrape!
[/spoiler]

There is no higher price than 'free'.

"I won't die. I've been ordered not to die."

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #294 on: May 21, 2010, 03:22:17 AM »
Saburai updated

Flay Crimsonwind

  • Hong Kong
  • ****
  • Posts: 1310
  • Watching the World Burn in Magnificence
    • Email
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #295 on: May 23, 2010, 02:13:26 AM »
Watching Sanjuro, awesome "sequel" to Yojimbo, and immediately remembered that I didn't link to the possible samurai magic items here.

So, here it is, over in the campaign thread. If you'd like me to repost 'em here, I totally can too.

EDIT: Reposted!
-Ki Smite (+2 weapon bonus) - You can spend one daily use of ki power to grant yourself a bonus on your next melee attack roll equal to your Wisdom bonus. You also deal extra damage equal to your ki-pool granting class levels plus your current pool of ki power uses (not counting the ki use spent to activate this feat).

-Karmic Healing (+2 armor bonus) - You can spend one daily use of ki power to heal yourself a number of hit points equal to half your ki-pool granting class levels (minimum 1) multiplied by your Wisdom bonus. Alternatively, you may instead spend one daily use to remove the fatigue condition or reduce the exhausted condition to fatigued.

-Blessed Juzu: A form of japa mala, Eastern prayer beads, compared to western rosaries in their use. Either on bracelets with a number of beads divisible by three, or on necklaces of 111 beads, these have been blessed to focus one's internal energy, allowing priests and warriors alike to center themselves.

The bearer of a bracelet of mala beads adds four extra uses of ki to their daily ki pool, and the item does not use up an item slot on the body. If the bearer has a necklace of beads, by attuning themselves with five minutes of meditation or prayer in the morning, they add four extra uses of ki to their daily ki pool, and may once a day pray or meditate for ten minutes to regain six uses of ki (may not bring total above one's normal ki-pool); the necklace is worn in the neck space. A wearer may only attune themselves to one string of beads per day. (Bracelet: 7,500 gp, Necklace: 15,000 gp)

-Wolves Tasuki: A chord wrapped around the torso so as to keep the sleeves from interfering with ones task, these were implemented in uniforms by the Shinsengumi, known as the "Wolves of Mibu." Just wearing one can help the wearer focus on their task, and can help any swordsman by stopping the sleeves from restricting their movement. As a free action, by expending a daily use of ki, the wearer may reroll any attack roll, damage roll, or skill check once per round. 10,000 gp?
« Last Edit: June 13, 2010, 12:29:24 AM by Flay Crimsonwind »

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #296 on: May 23, 2010, 03:07:19 AM »
Repostin' is fine :D

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #297 on: May 24, 2010, 02:18:00 AM »
Anyone know if the early Sabura were granted nobility for services rendered?  I'm trying to decide on the capstone.

bhu

  • Organ Grinder
  • *****
  • Posts: 6783
  • Convincing the rich whale fat enemas are healthy
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #298 on: May 27, 2010, 01:57:42 AM »
Would you prefer the martial arts for the Pechin as ToB style maneuvers, feats, ki abilities, or some mix of the above?  I was thinking of making them a mix of stances and maneuvers you perform by expending uses of your ki pool.

Flay Crimsonwind

  • Hong Kong
  • ****
  • Posts: 1310
  • Watching the World Burn in Magnificence
    • Email
Re: Samurai Poll
« Reply #299 on: May 27, 2010, 02:01:10 AM »
Would you prefer the martial arts for the Pechin as ToB style maneuvers, feats, ki abilities, or some mix of the above?  I was thinking of making them a mix of stances and maneuvers you perform by expending uses of your ki pool.
I like this idea, especially since it differentiates itself from the samurai class, whose styles all are revolving around feats and minor maneuvers with ki points.