View source for Samurai, Tome (3.5e Class)

<noinclude>:''This page details the Tome Samurai. You may be looking for the Samurai found in the [[Publication: Complete Warrior|Complete Warrior]].''
{{author
|author_name=Frank and K
|date_created=2007
|status=Complete
|editing=Spelling and grammar only
|balance=Wizard
|isnotuser=true
}}
<div class="blank">
{{#set:Summary=The master of the quickdraw, whose kiai rend flesh and steel apart with equal ease. A version of the class which is actually playable.
|Length=20
|Minimum Level=1
|Base Attack Bonus Progression=Good
|Fortitude Save Progression=Poor
|Reflex Save Progression=Poor
|Will Save Progression=Good
|Class Ability=Other
|Class Ability Progression=Other
}}
{{#set:Allowed Alignments=Lawful Good}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Lawful Neutral}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Lawful Evil}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Neutral Good}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Neutral}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Neutral Evil}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Chaotic Good}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Chaotic Neutral}} {{#set:Allowed Alignments=Chaotic Evil}}
</div>

[[File:Red Warrior by NEDO.jpg|250px|thumb|right]]

==Samurai==</noinclude><includeonly>===Samurai===</includeonly>

{{quote|My ancestors had words for people who would do such a thing. They were not nice words.}}

{{quote|When you are even with an opponent, it is essential to keep thinking of stabbing him in the face with the tip of your sword in the intervals between the opponent’s sword blows and your own sword blows. When you have the intention of stabbing your opponent in the face, he will try to get both his face and body out of the way. When you can get your opponent to shrink away, there are various advantages of which you can avail yourself to win. You should work this out thoroughly.

In the midst of battle, as soon as the opponent tries to get out of the way, you have already won. Therefore it is imperative not to forget about the tactic of ‘stabbing the face.’ This should be cultivated in the course of practicing martial arts.
|orig=Miyamoto Musashi, human samurai}}


The war torn countrysides of many a land are held together with tremendous amounts of dedicated work by masters of weaponry and honor. These martial specialists represent the structure of society by their very existence, and beat the living crap out of any who would dare to stand against it.

At least, that's the idea. In truth, there are those who take upon the mantle of the Samurai only to betray its ideals. Those who trample the fabric of the social network they are supposedly sworn to protect. 

<noinclude>===Making a Samurai===</noinclude><includeonly>====Making a Samurai====</includeonly>

With your peculiar set of abilities, you are the anti-tank gun. With your Kiai! ability, you are practically gauranteed to win personal combat--as long as you have uses of it left. As you gain Samurai levels, you gain more abilities which negate defenses, allowing you to, for example, demolish the formerly-invulnerable Wall of Force and escape the almighty Forcecage. Your ability to commune with the dead gives you something to do when you're trying to find out where to go next. Your armor and HP are relatively fragile, making you something of a glass cannon--nonetheless, you will be able to reave your way through crowds of opponents, and no matter what your opponent is, you will eventually be able to hurt it.

'''Alignment:''' The Samurai can be of any alignment. All of them must maintain the veneer of honor and civility, though there is no reason that they have to actually be Lawful.

'''Races:''' The Samurai is primarily found in societies where the law of the land is held in primacy over other things. So while a Samurai himself does not have to be Lawful, Lawful races bear the vast majority of Samurai.

'''Starting Gold:''' 4d6x10 gp (140 gold), plus one [[SRD:Masterwork Weapons|masterwork weapon]].

'''[[SRD:Race Descriptions#Starting Age|Starting Age]]:''' As [[SRD:Fighter|Fighter]].

{| class="zebra d20"
|+
<div>{{Anchor|Table: The Samurai}}</div>
Hit Die: d8
|-
! rowspan="2" | Level
! rowspan="2" | [[BAB|Base<br/>Attack Bonus]]
! colspan="3" | [[SRD:Saving Throw|Saving Throw]]s
! rowspan="2" | Special
|-
! [[SRD:Saving Throw#Fortitude|Fort]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Reflex|Ref]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Will|Will]]
|- 
|1st|| class="left" | +1 || +0 || +0 || +2
| class="left" | [[#Ancestral Weaponry|Ancestral Weaponry]], [[#Pledge of Loyalty|Pledge of Loyalty]]
|- 
|2nd|| class="left" | +2 || +0 || +0 || +3
| class="left" | [[#Horde Breaker|Horde Breaker]]
|- 
|3rd|| class="left" | +3 || +1 || +1 || +3
| class="left" | [[#Kiai!|Kiai!]]
|- 
|4th||class="left" | +4 || +1 || +1 || +4
| class="left" | [[#Whirlwind Attack|Whirlwind Attack]]
|- 
|5th||class="left" | +5 || +1 || +1 || +4
| class="left" | [[#Ancestral Guidance|Ancestral Guidance]]
|- 
|6th||class="left" | +6/+1 || +2 || +2 || +5
| class="left" | [[#Blindfighting|Blindfighting]], [[#Terrible Blows|Terrible Blows]]
|- 
|7th||class="left" | +7/+2 || +2 || +2 || +5
| class="left" | [[#Iaijutsu|Iaijutsu]]
|- 
|8th||class="left" | +8/+3 || +2 || +2 || +6
| class="left" | [[#Parry Magic|Parry Magic]]
|- 
|9th||class="left" | +9/+4 || +3 || +3 || +6
| class="left" | [[#Subtle Cut|Subtle Cut]]
|- 
|10th||class="left" | +10/+5 || +3 || +3 || +7
| class="left" | [[#Blade of Devastation|Blade of Devastation]]
|- 
|11th||class="left" | +11/+6/+6 || +3 || +3 || +7
| class="left" | [[#Iaijutsu Focus|Iaijutsu Focus]]
|- 
|12th||class="left" | +12/+7/+7 || +4 || +4 || +8
| class="left" | [[#Cut Magic|Cut Magic]]
|- 
|13th||class="left" | +13/+8/+8 || +4 || +4 || +8
| class="left" | [[#Deny Caster Defenses|Deny Caster Defenses]]
|- 
|14th||class="left" | +14/+9/+9 || +4 || +4 || +9
| class="left" | [[#Final Cut|Final Cut]]
|- 
|15th||class="left" | +15/+10/+10 || +5 || +5 || +9
| class="left" | [[#Iaijutsu Master|Iaijutsu Master]]
|- 
|16th||class="left" | +16/+11/+11/+11 || +5 || +5 || +10
| class="left" | [[#Reflect Magic|Reflect Magic]]
|- 
|17th||class="left" | +17/+12/+12/+12 || +5 || +5 || +10
| class="left" | [[#Blade of Souls|Blade of Souls]]
|- 
|18th||class="left" | +18/+13/+13/+13 || +6 || +6 || +11
| class="left" | [[#Deny Armor|Deny Armor]]
|- 
|19th||class="left" | +19/+14/+14/+14 || +6 || +6 || +11
| class="left" | [[#Iaijutsu Grandmaster|Iaijutsu Grandmaster]]
|- 
|20th||class="left" | +20/+15/+15/+15 || +6 || +6 || +12
| class="left" | [[#Scrolls of Wisdom|Scrolls of Wisdom]]
|- class="noalt"
| colspan="42" class="skill" |
'''Class Skills ([[Skill Points::4]] + [[SRD:Intelligence|Int]] modifier per level, &times;4 at 1st level)'''<br/>
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Balance Skill|Balance}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Climb Skill|Climb}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Concentration Skill|Concentration}} ([[SRD:Constitution|Con]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Craft Skill|Craft}} ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Diplomacy Skill|Diplomacy}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Escape Artist Skill|Escape Artist}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Hide Skill|Hide}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Jump Skill|Jump}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Knowledge Skill|Knowledge}} (all skills, taken individually) ([[SRD:Intelligence|Int]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Listen Skill|Listen}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]])
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Move Silently Skill|Move Silently}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Perform Skill|Perform}} ([[SRD:Charisma|Cha]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Profession Skill|Profession}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Sense Motive Skill|Sense Motive}} ([[SRD:Wisdom|Wis]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Swim Skill|Swim}} ([[SRD:Strength|Str]]), 
{{Property Link|Skill|SRD:Tumble Skill|Tumble}} ([[SRD:Dexterity|Dex]]).
|}

<noinclude>====Class Features====</noinclude><includeonly>=====Class Features=====</includeonly>

All of the following are class features of the Samurai.

'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' Samurai are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, as well as a single exotic weapon appropriate to the Samurai's tradition. Samurai are proficient with light and medium Armor, but not with shields of any kind.

'''{{Anchor|Ancestral Weaponry}}:''' Every culture with a Samurai tradition has a signature weapon that Samurai from that culture use. Whether it is the [[SRD:Spiked Chain|Spiked Chain]] of the Hobgoblin Khanate of Khadun or the Katana of the Human Empire of Rokugan, the weapon serves as a symbol of the office and prowess of the Samurai.

A samurai can only have one weapon designated as his Ancestral Weapon at a time, and this weapon must be a [[SRD:Masterwork Weapons|masterwork weapon]] exalted by the Samurai's warrior culture. He must perform a 24 hour ritual to call his ancestral spirits into the weapon and designate it as his Ancestral Weapon. This ritual costs 100 gp in incense and offerings, and once performed grants the following abilities:

*Counts as his Ancestral Weapon for all Samurai abilities.
*Has a minimum enhancement bonus to attack and damage equal to his level divided by three (maximum of +5 for a samurai of 20th level or lower).
*The Ancestral weapon has double HPs and +10 [[SRD:Breaking and Entering#Hardness|Hardness]], and has the [[SRD:Ghost Touch (Weapon Enhancement)|Ghost Touch]] special property.

:''Example: Bandy Humaido is a halfling samurai, and his people greatly extort the halfling skiprock as a weapon of war – but because the skiprock is thrown weapon ammunition, it is inappropriate as an Ancestral Weapon (which, of course, you could only have one of). As such, Bandy instead draws the power of his ancestors into a short sword.''

'''{{Anchor|Pledge of Loyalty}}:''' Samurai pledge their loyalty to a Lord, a figure of temporal power and head of a noble family or clan. To retain this Lord, they must follow this Lord's orders and uphold any Code of Conduct the Lord obeys. As long as a Samurai does these two things, he cannot be forced to act against his Lord or Lord's family by mind-affecting effects.

Samurai who have broken their vows to their lord are called ronin, while samurai who have never been pledged to a lord or are unwilling to do so are weaponmasters called kensai, sword saints, or simply "master swordsman" or other descriptive title. Regardless of their name, Samurai without a Lord receive a +4 bonus against mind-affecting effects.

'''{{Anchor|Horde Breaker}}:''' A Samurai gains [[Horde Breaker (3.5e Feat)|Horde Breaker]] as a bonus feat at 2nd level. If the Samurai already has this feat, he may choose a [[Tome Combat Feats|Combat Feat]] instead, but only if he meets the prerequisites of that feat.

'''{{Anchor|Kiai!}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' At 3rd level, a Samurai may convert a successful strike into a confirmed [[SRD:Critical Hit|critical hit]]. He may use this ability a number of times per day equal to his half his Samurai level + 2. This ability is a free action that is declared after the strike is rolled and confirmed as a hit, but before damage is rolled. This ability cannot be used on [[SRD:Attacks of Opportunity|Attacks of Opportunity]].

'''{{Anchor|Whirlwind Attack}}:''' A Samurai gains [[Whirlwind (3.5e Feat)|Whirlwind]] as a bonus feat at 4th level.

'''''{{Anchor|Ancestral Guidance}}'' ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Spell-Like|Sp]]):''' At 5th level, a Samurai may seek guidance from his ancestors. This counts as a ''[[SRD:Commune|commune]]'' effect that can be used once a day. A samurai can also seek guidance from other peoples' ancestors if they are available. This works like a ''[[SRD:Speak with Dead|speak with dead]]'' effect that may be used once per day.

'''{{Anchor|Blindfighting}}:'''  A Samurai gains [[Blind Fighting (3.5e Feat)|Blind Fighting]] as a bonus feat at 6th level. If the Samurai already has this feat, he may choose a [[Tome Combat Feats|Combat Feat instead]], but only if he meets the prerequisites of that feat.

'''{{Anchor|Terrible Blows}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Supernatural|Su]]):''' At 6th level, a Samurai's Ancestral Weapon bypasses [[SRD:Damage Reduction|Damage Reduction]] and ignores [[SRD:Breaking and Entering#Hardness|Hardness]].

'''{{Anchor|Iaijutsu}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' When a 7th level Samurai has the [[Races of War (3.5e Sourcebook)/Advanced Combat#Base Attack Bonus and Combat Maneuvers|Edge]] on an opponent, he may take an [[SRD:Attack of Opportunity|Attack of Opportunity]] against that opponent as an [[SRD:Immediate Actions|immediate action]] at any time.

'''{{Anchor|Parry Magic}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Supernatural|Su]]):''' At 8th level, a Samurai may use his Ancestral Weapon to parry magic targeted at him. When the Samurai is targeted by a spell or supernatural ability, he may take an [[SRD:Attack of Opportunity|Attack of Opportunity]] against the [[SRD:Aiming a Spell (Spell Descriptor)|targeted]] effect. If he can make an attack roll against an AC equal to the spell or effect's DC with this Attack of Opportunity, the effect does not affect him.

'''{{Anchor|Subtle Cut}}:''' A Samurai gains [[Subtle Cut (3.5e Feat)|Subtle Cut]] as a bonus feat at 9th level. If the Samurai already has this feat, he may choose another [[Tome Combat Feats|Combat Feat]] instead, but only if he meets the prerequisites of that feat.

'''{{Anchor|Blade of Devastation}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Supernatural|Su]]):''' At 10th level, the Samurai may attack enemies within his reach through objects and walls, his Ancestral Weapon automatically destroying any unattended object or wall in the way with a [[SRD:Breaking and Entering#Hardness|Hardness]] less than 20. As a result, enemies do not gain cover bonuses against an attacking Samurai. This effect can also pierce [[SRD:Force Effect|force effects]].

As a standard action, he can also destroy unattended objects of any Hardness with a successful Ancestral weapon attack, or dispel up to a 10' by 10' section of a [force] effect.

'''{{Anchor|Iaijutsu Focus}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' At 11th level, a Samurai may make up to his per round limit of [[SRD:Attacks of Opportunity|Attacks of Opportunity]] against any opponent(s) that he threatens as an [[SRD:Immediate Actions|immediate action]].

'''{{Anchor|Cut Magic}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Supernatural|Su]]):''' At 12th level, a Samurai may attack ongoing spell effects by attacking the square they are in for [[SRD:Aiming a Spell (Spell Descriptor)|Area of Effect]] effects or the object or person for [[SRD:Aiming a Spell (Spell Descriptor)|targeted]] effects (which does damage as normal to the object or person). This attack is handled like the Samurai's [[#Parry Magic|Parry Magic]] ability, but it only dispels a 10' by 10' section of an Area of Effect spell or spell-like ability.

'''{{Anchor|Deny Caster Defenses}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' At 13th level, a Samurai attacking with his Ancestral Weapon ignores any AC bonuses on his targets that come from spells or spell-like abilities.

'''{{Anchor|Final Cut}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' At 14th level, a Samurai's Ancestral Weapon gains the Vorpal special quality, even if it is not a slashing weapon.

'''{{Anchor|Iaijutsu Master}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' At 15th level, any enemy struck by a Samurai's [[SRD:Attacks of Opportunity|Attacks of Opportunity]] must make a Fortitude save against a DC equal to 10 + {{1/2}} the Samurai's HD + the Samurai's Wisdom bonus or be [[SRD:Dazed|dazed]] for one round. A successful save against this effect makes the enemy immune to this effect for five rounds.

'''{{Anchor|Reflect Magic}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Supernatural|Su]]):''' At 16th level, an spell effect that would be dispelled by a successful use of the Samurai's [[#Parry Magic|Parry Magic]] ability can instead be reflected back on the caster, as per a ''[[SRD:Spell Turning|spell turning]]'' effect.

'''{{Anchor|Blade of Souls}}:''' At 17th level, any enemy killed by a Samurai's Ancestral Weapon has his soul sucked into it, and this enemy cannot be [[SRD:Raise Dead|raised]], [[SRD:Resurrection|resurrected]], or otherwise returned to life until the Ancestral Blade is broken. Each time the Ancestral Weapon takes a soul, the Samurai gains a single bonus use of his [[#Kiai!|Kiai!]] ability that must be used before the next sunrise.

'''{{Anchor|Deny Armor}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Supernatural|Su]]):''' At 18th level, a Samurai attacking with his Ancestral Weapon ignores any AC bonuses on his targets that come from [[SRD:Armor Bonus|armor]] or [[SRD:Natural Armor|natural armor]].

'''{{Anchor|Iaijutsu Grandmaster}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' At 19th level, any [[SRD:Attack of Opportunity|Attack of Opportunity]] made by the Samurai is automatically a [[SRD:Critical Hit|confirmed critical hit]].

'''{{Anchor|Scrolls of Wisdom}}:''' At 20th level, the Samurai has reached the pinnacle of his art, and he may compose a treatise of his collected wisdom. If he spends one month composing this treatise, he may distribute it and spread his wisdom. Anyone who reads this treatise gains a +2 competence bonus to attack characters with Samurai levels, but a -8 penalty to attack the writer of the treatise.

In addition, a Samurai who writes his treatise no longer takes ability penalties for aging as long as one copy of the treatise exists.

<noinclude>
----
{{3.5e Races of War Breadcrumb}} &rarr; [[Races of War (3.5e Sourcebook)/Warriors with Class|Warriors with Class]]<br/>
{{3.5e Base Classes Breadcrumb}}
[[Category:3.5e]]
[[Category:User]]
[[Category:Tome]]
[[Category:Class]]
[[Category:Base Class]]
</noinclude>

{{Navboxes}}
Allowed Alignments	Lawful Good +, Lawful Neutral +, Lawful Evil +, Neutral Good +, Neutral +, Neutral Evil +, Chaotic Good +, Chaotic Neutral + and Chaotic Evil +
Article Balance	Very High +
Base Attack Bonus Progression	Good +
Class Ability	Other +
Class Ability Progression	Other +
Fortitude Save Progression	Poor +
Identifier	3.5e Class +
Length	20 +
Minimum Level	1 +
Rated By	Hmanamegorog +
Rating	Rating Pending +
Reflex Save Progression	Poor +
Skill	Balance +, Climb +, Concentration +, Craft +, Diplomacy +, Escape Artist +, Hide +, Jump +, Knowledge +, Listen +, Move Silently +, Perform +, Profession +, Sense Motive +, Swim + and Tumble +
Skill Points	4 +
Summary	The master of the quickdraw, whose kiai rend flesh and steel apart with equal ease. A version of the class which is actually playable. +
Title	Samurai, Tome +
Will Save Progression	Good +