Few warriors are more dedicated to honor and the code of the warrior than the samurai. Trained from an early age in the art of war and sworn to the service of a lord, the samurai holds a position of power and respect in many lands, often serving as the voice and justice of the local noble.
The samurai takes on his training with zeal, learning the way of the blade (typically a katana), the bow, and the horse. Some even learn how to effectively use firearms, if they are available. The samurai is often the most trusted soldier in his lord’s employ. In him, the common folk see honor and sacrifice. He is an honorable warrior, dedicated to the realm and the leaders who guide it.
Many of the abilities found in the Samurai class are already available in existing Class Edges. Below is a guide to creating a Samurai using the existing Edges.
Choosing the Cavalier Edge grants the character the challenge ability, banner, mount, and order abilities. From there, you can later take the Battle Herald Edge to expand the benefits of his banners. The combination of the Toughness boost from Challenge and the use of Bennies duplicates many of the samurai's resolve effects.
Most samurai swear themselves to the code of the warrior, which emphasizes duty, honor, loyalty, and obedience. This code extends not only to the samurai’s lord and master, but also to his comrades and family. Samurai who follow the order of the warrior are among the most trusted and feared warriors in the land.
Edicts: The samurai must protect the life and lands of his lord with his life. He must be truthful and courageous, respectful to his elders and his masters, and loyal to his friends and liege. He must conduct himself with honor and dignity.
Challenge: The target of the samurai's challenge treats the samurai's Toughness as 2 higher.
Order Ability (Strike True): Once per encounter as a limited free action, the samurai may automatically hit with his next attack. It counts as getting a raise. Additionally, once the attack is resolved, the samurai can make the target either Vulnerable or Distracted.
While most samurai belong to the order of the warrior, dedicating their considerable skills to the service of a lord, land, and people, some find themselves without a master, either as a result of disgrace or death, or occasionally by choice.
Known as ronin, these samurai wander the lands, serving their own code of ideals. While ronin are significantly freer to do as they please, they do not receive the same respect and support that a more dedicated samurai can count on.
Note that non-samurai cavaliers can select this order, but they are typically called knights-errant instead of ronin.
Normally, when a samurai wishes to change his order, he must undergo a lengthy process that requires him to adhere to the edicts of his new order for a period of time before receiving any benefits. This is not the case with ronin.
Once a samurai decides to become a ronin, he immediately loses all of the abilities of his old order and gains those of the ronin order.
Edicts: Ronin follow their own personal code of ethics and honor. As such, their edicts are extremely flexible and subject to change. Each ronin should determine his own edicts, which should include at least three provisions.
Challenge: Whenever a ronin is the target of a challenge, smite, favored enemy, or similar effect, and he issues a challenge against that character in return, the ronin negates those effects and receives a +2 bonus on attack rolls made against the target of his challenge and +1 Parry against attacks made by the target of his challenge.
Order Ability (Chosen Destiny): Once per encounter, the ronin can make a single attack roll against him be diminished. A diminished attack turns a raise into a normal hit or a hit to a miss.