Samurai on the Sword Coast

[Lanzlo]

OK folks, could use a critique of my proposed build here. Was going for the classic samurai style, as close as I could get in BGTSCC.

The build is here: http://nwn2db.com/build/?237581

Fighter (15), Weapon Master (7), Tempest (5), Monk (3)

Any suggestions or fine tuning would be appreciated. Skills are not filled out, but they will generally be similar to what I have set up. Except for Open Locks/Disable Device and Lore.

[Theodore01]

If you want to use two katanas - you need Oversized Two Weapon Fighting,
take Weapon mastery slashing, Switch Fighter15 for WM8.

An other good build is F12,WM5,Dervish10,Rogue3 (/Monk3) This one should get PA + IPA.

Or if twoweaponfighting that one is nice: F12,Temp5,Dervish10,Rogue3 (/Monk3)

[Uncleboffo]

I went another way with mine

Replace WOD with AK

http://nwn2db.com/build/?198194

[zyztem]

OK folks, could use a critique of my proposed build here. Was going for the classic samurai style, as close as I could get in BGTSCC.

The build is here: http://nwn2db.com/build/?237581

Fighter (15), Weapon Master (7), Tempest (5), Monk (3)

Any suggestions or fine tuning would be appreciated. Skills are not filled out, but they will generally be similar to what I have set up. Except for Open Locks/Disable Device and Lore.

Just gonna talk a bit about samurai, pls bear with me because its not gonna be anything about the build.

The common misconception about samurai is that they are lightly armored masters of katanas, it far from truth.

Firstly, katana is a samurai's side arm. Their main weapon is a spear/naginata for close combat and a Yumi(longbow) for ranged combat.

Secondly, they usually wear a set of Dō, which is less restrictive but less protective than plate armor, but its heavy armor nonetheless.

The main advantage of a samurai is their efficiency in every aspect of combat. They can fight on foot, they can fight and shoot on horse back. They can sprint as fast as not wearing any armor, and unlike western knights, they can put their armor on and take it off all by himself(which means a samurai can be an efficient one man unit).

However, they are not without shortcomings. They are not as good as their western counterpart at fighting armored opponents, and they are less protected in a Dō than in a full plate armor.

So my idea of a samurai is actually more of a generalist than a focused weapon master, and he wears heavy armor in combat.

[chad878262]

If you wanted you could go F12/WM7/T5/M6 and get Improved Knock Down for free... Though truth be told your strength is a bit low, 26 where you will be w/ +3 item should still knock down spell casters fine.

[Lanzlo]

OK, thanks for the feedback.

zyztem: I know that samurai were not lightly armored masters of the sword. My samurai is wearing full plate armor. The monk levels were originally there for flavor, not for any huge mechanical benefit. Still, I figured that she'd hold on to the main thing that came from home-her katana.

I originally thought about OTWF... but then discarded it in favor of preserving the daisho, the long and the short. From what I understand (this may be in error) the wakizashi was rarely used to attack; hence the two weapon defense feats. I could not justify going higher in that tree without shooting myself in the foot.

I have reworked the build to a Fighter (12), Weapon Master (7), Monk (6), Tempest (5), gaining Improved Knockdown for free, and swapped out Expose Weakness for Melee Weapon Mastery (Slashing). A lot of that, however, is late build changes and gains. Strength is still low (26 with a +3) but as chad stated, it should be enough to knock spell casters on their butts.

[Steve]

Never pass on Expose Weakness!

[tankteddy]

Takeo Yamada, 1 katana with light armor and 3dex bracers is all you need for this build. Rogue could be swapped with monk if you want but I like the skills.

IPA and ICE, build can get close to 45-55 AC with full gear. His damage is only dropped by about 4-8 from a full str build. High bab with 20 in Dex gets you an ok range attack with good melee attacks. Expose weakness, evasion, about a +48-55 chance to hit or more. Give it a shot let me know if you like it.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?231891

Note: this build can also work with great swords and such.

[zyztem]

Takeo Yamada, 1 katana with light armor and 3dex bracers is all you need for this build. Rogue could be swapped with monk if you want but I like the skills.

IPA and ICE, build can get close to 45-55 AC with full gear. His damage is only dropped by about 4-8 from a full str build. High bab with 20 in Dex gets you an ok range attack with good melee attacks. Expose weakness, evasion, about a +48-55 chance to hit or more. Give it a shot let me know if you like it.

http://nwn2db.com/build/?231891

Note: this build can also work with great swords and such.

How about starting with 16 str and 12 con, and get shadow dancer instead of rogue?
that way you lose 1 str but get Hips, good trade?

[chad878262]

Never pass on Expose Weakness!

QFT

EW is the best feat, especially for a build that crits like a weapon master. -15 AC will allow confirmation of a lot more crits, after all.

[Lanzlo]

Never pass on Expose Weakness!

QFT

EW is the best feat, especially for a build that crits like a weapon master. -15 AC will allow confirmation of a lot more crits, after all.

All right, then. What feat should I drop, then, to get it? 1 point of strength (Great Strength), +2 to hit with katanas (Epic Weapon Focus), +2 to damage with katanas (Epic Weapon Specialization), or Melee Weapon Mastery (Slashing). Feats are a bit of a tight squeeze...

[chad878262]

Your build still shows fighter 15 so not sure, but if you still have power critical I would drop that (i would almost always drop that) if you drop a great strength you can use a +2 item and have a buddy cast bulls when grouping up...

[Lockonnow]

samurai means Knight so you wish to be a Knight?

[Lanzlo]

Lockonnow: Not a knight, per say. The heroic image of the noble bushi who Westerners think of when they hear 'samurai.'

Updated build is here: http://nwn2db.com/build/?238244 Since I went Fighter 12, I lost a feat. However, that means I either have to give up taking Melee Weapon Mastery (slashing) or Expose Weakness.

[zyztem]

Lockonnow: Not a knight, per say. The heroic image of the noble bushi who Westerners think of when they hear 'samurai.'

Updated build is here: http://nwn2db.com/build/?238244 Since I went Fighter 12, I lost a feat. However, that means I either have to give up taking Melee Weapon Mastery (slashing) or Expose Weakness.

It looks pretty solid
Have you thought about using halfling/gnome and use katana as 2 handed weapon?
It would break the samurai image but you know, Japanese are pretty short