ASHIGARU
Japan's armies required lots of men to make up for the losses due to constant warfare, and an elite cadre of warrior nobles simply didn't fit the bill. Samurai were trained from birth, so the loss of even one took years to replace. Enter the Ashigaru, mercenaries who killed for pay (which was usually plundered from whoever their Master was fighting). Eventually to head off the mercenaries more brutal instincts and chaotic nature the government officially retained them as conscripts (along with the local peasantry). This stopped disloyalty and desertion, and allowed for the Ashigaru to finally receive formal training and equipment as opposed to simply having them steal weapons and armor off the corpses of the opposing army to use.
Eventually becoming professional soldiers the Ashigaru manned Japan's navies, and were responsible for siege equipment. Some rose from nothing to become the bodyguards of powerful Daimyo, or even Samurai. Looked down upon by the actual Samurai, they had less restrictions and weren't required to adhere to the Code of Bushido quite so fiercely. Many deserted their Lord if they weren't treated well, and signed on with his competition. But if they fought hard, and slaughtered enough people, they did have the dangling carrot of a reward of nobility hanging in front of their faces.
MAKING AN ASHIGARU If you wish to play the earlier Ashigaru, concentrate on survival. You'll need skills that let you hide or disappear since you'll be getting thrown unprepared into deadly situations you have little training or experience for. Couple that with poor quality weapons, and a nobility that expects you to lay down your lives for them, and you'll quickly see that fleeing is preferable to fighting. You're just a pawn. If you're playing one of the professional Ashigaru from later periods, desertion won't be an option. Concentrate on fighting skills to keep yourself alive.
Abilities: Given your profession, high physical stats are almost a necessity. A pretty good Wisdom score will come in handy too (and Charisma if you need to bluff your way past troops when fleeing the battle).
Races: So long as they aren't barbaric tribesman, members of any civilized race will be accepted as Ashigaru if they have someone to vouch for them that their prospective Lord trusts.
Alignment: Ashigaru may be of any Alignment, though their Lords would obviously prefer they be Lawful if possible.
Starting Gold: Same as a Fighter.
Starting Age: Same a a Fighter.
Class Skills The Ashigaru's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Geography, Local, Nobility & Royalty, War)(Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (usually Drums)(Cha), Profession (Wis), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Skills Per Day at 1st Level : (4 + int)x4
Skills Per Day at Each Additional Level : 4 + int
Hit Dice: d10
BAB Fort Ref Will Abilities
1. +1 +2 +2 +0 Military Training, Ki Pool, Ki Abilities, Samurai
2. +2 +3 +3 +0 Ambush Tactics
3. +3 +3 +3 +1 Group Tactics
4. +4 +4 +4 +1 Military Training
5. +5 +4 +4 +1 Ambush Tactics
6. +6 +5 +5 +2 Group Tactics
7. +7 +5 +5 +2 Military Training
8. +8 +6 +6 +2 Ambush Tactics
9. +9 +6 +6 +3 Group Tactics
10.+10 +7 +7 +3 Military Training
11.+11 +7 +7 +3 Ambush Tactics
12.+12 +8 +8 +4 Group Tactics
13.+13 +8 +8 +4 Military Training
14.+14 +9 +9 +4 Ambush Tactics
15.+15 +9 +9 +5 Group Tactics
16.+16 +10 +10 +5 Military Training
17.+17 +10 +10 +5 Ambush Tactics
18.+18 +11 +11 +6 Group Tactics
19.+19 +11 +11 +6 Military Training
20.+20 +12 +12 +6 Samurai
Weapon Proficiencies: Ashigaru are proficient with all Simple Weapons. They are proficient with light and medium armor, light and heavy shields, but not tower shields. Ashigaru are also proficient with any 4 other weapons representing the farming implements they substituted for actual combat weapons, or whatever they could loot from the battlefield (or occasionally were even trained to use). Usually they fought with Yari and Yumi, though eventually many were trained with the Teppo and Pike (Nagae Yari) as well. Many were allowed to carry the Wakizashi, but not until late in the period in which they thrived were they allowed Katanas.
Ki Pool (Ex): At 1st level the Ashigaru first begins to learn to channel his Ki to perform acts he would be otherwise unable to do. He may use his Ki a number of times per day equal to either his Charisma or Wisdom Modifier (whichever is greater) plus once more per day for each level of Ashigaru he takes.
Ki Abilities (Ex): By tapping the power of his Ki a trained Ashigaru can enhance his abilities in battle, in art, and in life. An Ashigaru learns one new use for his Ki Pool at each level if he meets the prerequisites. If an Ashigaru multi classes into a PrC that allows him to continue to learn Ki Abilities, he may still choose Ki Abilities from the Ashigaru Class list if he meets the prerequisites. At 1st level he may expend up to 1 daily use of his Ki Abilities per round, and the benefits from the Ability last for 1 round. This increases to twice per round at level 6 (with a duration of the entire encounter), and 3 times per round at level 13 (with a duration of 1 day). Ki abilities are skills the Ashigaru has trained to perfection, and despite being more than natural, they are not vulnerable to Antimagic Fields and as such are Exceptional Abilities unless it is noted otherwise. They generally either reflect specific combat maneuvers from a school of martial arts, an enhanced use of a skill, or an enhanced use of a Feat. An Ashigaru may choose from the following School Ki Abilities:
Military Training (Ex): The Ashigaru is a military occupation primarily, and players can receive training at various military skills as long as they remain Ashigaru. It gives you Bonus Feats at levels 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19 from the following list (you must still meet prerequisites, your Ashigaru Levels are considered levels in Fighter for purposes of acquiring Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization, and related Feats): Canny Opportunist, Choke Hold, Close-Quarters Fighting, Combat Expertise, Combat Intuition, Combat Reflexes, Danger Sense, Defensive Sweep, Deft Opportunist, Deft Strike, Distracting Attack, Earth's Embrace, Evasive Reflexes, Expert Tactician, Far Shot, Greater Weapon Focus, Greater Weapon Specialization, Hold the Line, Improved Critical, Improved Grapple, Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Initiative, Improved Precise Shot, Improved Trip, Intimidating Strike, Kiai Shout, Martial Throw, Melee Weapon Mastery, Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat, Overwhelming Assault, Penetrating Shot, Point Blank Shot, Power Critical, Precise Shot, Prone Attack, Quick Draw, Ranged Weapon Mastery, Rapid Assault, Sharp-Shooting, Stand Still, Telling Blow, Weapon Focus, Weapon Specialization.
Samurai: For purposes of everything except Ki Ability selection Ashigaru Levels are considered to be Samurai Levels.
Ambush Tactics (Ex): Since you aren't restricted in the use of ambushes like the Samurai are, you rely on them quite heavily. Whenever you attack an opponent Denied his Dexterity Bonus to Armor Class, or whom you flank, you may use one of the following attacks (Their effects are in addition to your damage and can be used with ranged abilities if the opponent is within 30'. If used at range the Save DC's are based on Dex not Str.):
At 2nd level you gain Blinding Strike. Your opponent must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or be Blinded for 1d3 rounds.
At 5th level you gain Nauseating Blow. Your opponent must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or be Nauseated for 1d4 rounds.
At 8th level you gain Confusing Blow. Your opponent must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or be Confused for 1d6 rounds.
At 11th level you gain Despairing Strike. Your opponent must make a Willpower Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or be Panicked for 1d6 rounds.
At 14th level you gain Knockout Blow. Your opponent must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or be rendered unconscious for 1 round, and Stunned the round after.
At 17th level you gain Killing Blow. Your opponent must make a Fortitude Save (DC is 10 plus 1/2 HD plus Strength Modifier) or die immediately.
Group Tactics (Ex): Due to their lack of training (at least initially) the Ashigaru rely on masses to beat opponents.
At 3rd level you gain Combat Reflexes as a Bonus Feat
At 6th level you gain Formation Expert as a Bonus Feat.
At 9th level you gain Vexing Flanker as a Bonus Feat.
At 12th level you become Immune to Fear and Morale based Penalties as long as there is at least one Ally within 60' with at least one level of Ashigaru or Samurai.
At 15th level if you and your Allies Ready an Action to Attack the same opponent, you gain a cumulative +2 Bonus to Attack and Damage rolls for each Ally participating (yourself included).
At 18th level if you and some of your Allies are all within 15' of each other, and you all Fight Defensively that turn, your Bonus to AC increases by +2 for each Ally participating (yourself included).
Samurai (Ex): At 20th level the Ashigaru has finally succeeded in promotion and become one of the Nobility (with all the perks and limitations that bears). All allies within 60' gain a +2 Circumstance Bonus to Attack rolls (+4 if they have at least 1 level of Ashigaru). If you have the Leadership Feat your Leadership score increases by an amount equal to your Charisma Modifier, but only when it applies to Cohorts/Followers with at least 1 level of Ashigaru.
PLAYING AN ASHIGARU You are not expected to be capable of adhering to Bushido in the manner of your superiors. Perversely this also means you are expected to be somewhat cowardly and disloyal, and will have to strive to disprove that (unlike the Samurai who are automatically assumed to be so). You may wish to be Samurai yourself someday if it's possible, so you are actually more likely to be loyal than the real thing, as you have no reason to take your position for granted since you were born into it.
Religion: Being a commoner you're more likely to practice Pure Land Buddhism as opposed to Zen, or more likely to practice the Shinto religion. Both were more accessible to peasants than the nobles.
Other Classes: Ashigaru aren't any likelier to be accepting of Foreigners or odd individuals than the Samurai, but they do make exceptions for you if you can fight and have proven yourself to be trustworthy. After all if you're loyal and good at killing, that increases the likelihood they will survive if fighting next to you.
Combat: Military training was haphazard and varied widely among the Ashigaru until they become professional soldiers. Most relied on group tactics and massed attacks to carry the day as opposed to lifelong training honing specific combat skills (or they just attacked from surprise). You're also likely to be called upon to experiment with any new weapon or tactic the Daimyo comes up with. You are expendable after all.
Advancement: An Ashigaru who is loyal, and adheres to Bushido, can in theory rise to become a Samurai himself (though the odds of him being accepted by the other Samurai as anything other than a pretender is small). More likely is that you'll be killed and forgotten on the battlefield, or by an enraged noble on your side who needs to vent frustration.
ASHIGARU IN THE WORLD "Don't risk the Samurai testing out the new guns. Send an Ashigaru to put them through their paces. Guns do not require skill, and have no place among the nobility." You're considered vermin by the Samurai and the court, probable brigands by the peasants you normally work among, and competition by your peers. Plus all of your Clan Lords enemies are also yours by default, and you don't have the legal protections common to Samurai (at least in the early days). it will be a hard life, but great reward is possible if you're lucky and skilled enough.
Daily Life: If war isn't in the air, you're either working a farm, or perhaps building or maintaining weapons for when it does. You might also be the sandal bearer or spear bearer for the Daimyo (also implying you're his personal bodyguard). When not busy you'll be picking up training in whatever new weapon or tactic your Lord wishes to try out on the battlefield when war does come. When the era comes when you can be considered actual soldiers instead of conscripts, you'll spend your days in formal military training.
Notables: Daizu Takamatsu (N Human Male Ashigaru 12) is a loyal servant of his Daimyo, hoping to one day achieve nobility. He works tirelessly to ensure the safety of his province. On the other hand there is Motomu Suguhara (LE Human Male Ashigaru 6/Rogue 6) who is little more than a thief and a bully who uses his position to take what he wants after battles.
Organizations: All Ashigaru work for a Daimyo (at least in theory) or Samurai, and are part of their military's and farms. So technically they all belong to an organization, it's just one they don't normally feel much loyalty too (at least not until the time comes when they can be promoted to Samurai)
NPC Reaction Ashigaru are professional soldiers, or an unruly mob of unwilling fighters. Neither inspires confidence in the average citizen as their appearance means that slaughter is coming. They also know that once the fighting is done you'll be picking the bones clean like freakish humanoid crows. In other words they think of you as brigands, corpse robbers, and brutal thugs. Even though many of you are undeserving of the reputation.
ASHIGARU IN THE GAME The Ashigaru are paradoxically more and less stressful than the Samurai. they aren't bound by codes of behavior, and are thought little of so in some ways they can even screw up more. No one really expects them to be skilled, or even trust worthy. On the other hand, you're still peasants. Your Samurai commanders can murder you at will and there's nothing anyone can do about it. The constant threat of death may make this class a bit twitchy for some players.
Adaptation: The Ashigaru are designed for an oriental campaign, but they can be adapted to other campaigns. In essence they are either professional soldiers or mercenraies who are lightly armed and armored and sent forward in massive groups.
Encounters: Ashigaru can be encountered anywhere there is warfare nearby. Initially they will be peasants or mercenaries drafted into service if necessary, but eventually they will be full time soldiers. Naval encounters will also normally involve Ashigaru, and in earlier days PC's will often find them looting battlefields.
EPIC ASHIGARU Hit Die: d10
Skills Points at Each Level : 4 + int
Ki Pool The Epic Ashigaru gains 1 additional daily use of his Ki Pool for every Epic Level. He does not gain new Ki abilities except as Epic Feats.
Bonus Feats: The Epic Ashigaru gains a Bonus Feat every 3 levels higher than 20th
