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
[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 AkimotoLN Human Male Ashigaru 6/Saburai 6
Init +6,
Senses: Listen +14, Spot +10
Languages Common
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AC , touch , flat-footed (+2 Dex, )
hp 78 (12 HD)
Fort +11,
Ref +7,
Will +13
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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
PossessionsEPIC 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