Classes/Samurai

= Samurai = Hit Die: d12

Type: Martial

Prerequisites: Any 2 of Power Stance, Duelist Stance or Defensive Stance; Weapon Training(Blade), Exotic Weapon Proficiency(Katana or Wakizashi), Martial Arts, Base Attack Bonus +7

Skill Ranks Per Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Features
The following are class features of the Samurai.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Samurai gain proficiency in Katanas and Wakizashi if they do not already have proficiency with both.

Stamina
At 1st level, a samurai gains access to a pool of stamina points that allow him to perform feats of strength and agility. This pool contains a number of stamina points equal to his Constitution modifier plus his levels in martial classes (minimum 1). This pool replenishes once per day after roughly 8 hours of rest.

Samurai Weapon Training (Ex)
At 1st level, a samurai gains the benefits of the fighter’s weapon training class feature, but for Katana and Wakizashi only. The samurai may add his class levels to his levels in fighter for the purposes of determining the benefits of this ability. In addition the Samurai may treat the katana as having the finesse property. This ability otherwise counts as the Weapon Training class feature for the purposes of abilities and prerequisites.

Samurai Talents (Ex)
At 2nd level, and every 2 levels thereafter the samurai may select a single samurai talent they qualify for. Unless otherwise specified a samurai talent may only be used in conjunction with a katana or wakizashi.

Samurai Stance Training (Ex)
At 3rd level, a Samurai learns to quickly swap between stances to further his capabilities in combat. The samurai gains his choice of Power Stance, Duelist Stance, or Defensive Stance as a bonus feat if he did not already have it. The samurai learns to enter High, Mid, and Low Stance, each granting a bonus as well as the effects of an associated stance. These stances cannot be combined with stance mastery. Once the samurai has changed his stance into one of these three stances, he cannot change to a new stance until the start of his next turn.


 * High Stance(Power Stance): While in high stance the samurai gains the effects of power stance. When making an attack action, the samurai adds his wisdom modifier to his weapon damage rolls made with a katana or wakizashi. In addition the first attack the samurai makes each round reduces the penalty from power stance by 1 for every 2 samurai levels he possesses (minimum 0)
 * Mid Stance(Defensive Stance): While in mid stance the samurai gains the benefits of defensive stance. The samurai reduces the penalty for fighting defensively while in mid stance by 1 (minimum 0). In addition when the samurai takes the total defense action he may make one attack at his highest base attack bonus as a reaction.
 * Low Stance(Duelist Stance): While in low stance the samurai gains the benefits of duelist stance. While making a full-attack the samurai may make one additional attack at his highest base attack bonus -5 with a katana or wakizashi.

Martial Training (Ex)
At 3rd level and every 2 levels thereafter, a samurai gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be selected from those listed as Combat Feats or Martial feats. The Samurai may choose to select an additional Samurai Talent in place of a bonus feat.

Advanced Samurai Stance Training (Ex)
At 6th level, the samurai gains additional benefits while in his different stances.


 * High Stance: When taking the charge action the samurai may treat his land speed as 20 higher, in addition he may make one turn during a charge. The samurai may spend a stamina as a reaction to make one additional turn during a charge.
 * Mid Stance: Once per round per 3 samurai levels, the samurai may spend a reaction when hit by an attack to grant himself DR/- against that attack equal to his base defense bonus. The Samurai may not use this ability if he is denied his dexterity bonus against the attack. The samurai may spend a stamina as part of this ability to double the DR from this ability until the start of his next turn.
 * Low Stance: The samurai gains a cumulative +1 bonus to attack rolls for each additional creature he targets as part of a full attack; this bonus expires at the end of his turn. In addition the samurai may spend 1 stamina as a reaction to take a second 5 foot step during his turn.

Death By A Thousand Cuts (Ex)
At 9th level, the samurai deals an additional 1d4 bleed damage anytime he deals damage with a katana. This bleed may stack additional d4s each time it is triggered, up to the samurai’s class level in d4. This ability may be triggered by the additional katana damage from Stonebreaker and Steelbreaker Iaijutsu abilities.

Samurai Weapon Mastery (Ex)
At 10th level, the samurai improves the bonus from his Samurai Weapon Training by an additional 1; in addition the samurai auto-confirms all critical hits with a katana or wakizashi.