I want to build a Japanese styled Warforged Samurai, but I don't like the fighter subclass. For the level 2 character, I was thinking 1 Fighter (For weapon mastery) and 1 Monk (Most likely going to be my main class). Do you have any suggestions for making this more like a traditional Samurai? Or what it would be like at later levels?
Taking one level of fighter honesty doesn't provide much for a monk. I'd either go with Battle Master fighter if you want to play an armored samurai or Way of the Kensai monk if you want to do an unarmored samurai. In either case, I wouldn't bother multiclassing. Or take whichever fighter subclass you do like and slap a samurai-flavored coat of paint on top of it, like Psi Warrior if you want to have superpowers like an anime character.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Honestly paladins could also make good samurai if you lean into the whole aspect of rigorously devoting one's life to a strict code or oath. You could maybe downplay the divine aspect and reflavor your spells as skills from being an expert swordsman (i.e. Smite is really just a tactically well-placed hit, Shield of Faith is more of an enhanced defensive style, etc).
Is a weapon mastery worth delaying everything in a monk's build? Especially since you can instead burn a feat to get it.
Yes, because Monk is ASI hungry. A feat is a significant cost to a monk. Plus the feat only gets you 2 weapons, whereas a monk would want at least 3 -> a Vex Light weapon, a Nick weapon, and a ranged Vex weapon.
Taking one level of fighter honesty doesn't provide much for a monk. I'd either go with Battle Master fighter if you want to play an armored samurai or Way of the Kensai monk if you want to do an unarmored samurai. In either case, I wouldn't bother multiclassing. Or take whichever fighter subclass you do like and slap a samurai-flavored coat of paint on top of it, like Psi Warrior if you want to have superpowers like an anime character.
This did make me reconsider. I think Battle Master makes sense for a samurai. As for the kensei monk, I intentionally didn't choose it. It isn't a very good subclass, and its main perk is replaced by Dedicated Weapon.
I want to build a Japanese styled Warforged Samurai, but I don't like the fighter subclass. For the level 2 character, I was thinking 1 Fighter (For weapon mastery) and 1 Monk (Most likely going to be my main class). Do you have any suggestions for making this more like a traditional Samurai? Or what it would be like at later levels?
Thanks in advance.
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Taking one level of fighter honesty doesn't provide much for a monk. I'd either go with Battle Master fighter if you want to play an armored samurai or Way of the Kensai monk if you want to do an unarmored samurai. In either case, I wouldn't bother multiclassing. Or take whichever fighter subclass you do like and slap a samurai-flavored coat of paint on top of it, like Psi Warrior if you want to have superpowers like an anime character.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
A Fighter dip is good in order to get weapon masteries that Monks do not get.
Samurai is a great subclass. It has good features in and out of combat in addition to an extra save proficiency.
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Is a weapon mastery worth delaying everything in a monk's build? Especially since you can instead burn a feat to get it.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Yup.
But nothing wrong with staying Samurai Fighter.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Honestly paladins could also make good samurai if you lean into the whole aspect of rigorously devoting one's life to a strict code or oath. You could maybe downplay the divine aspect and reflavor your spells as skills from being an expert swordsman (i.e. Smite is really just a tactically well-placed hit, Shield of Faith is more of an enhanced defensive style, etc).
That way you get weapon mastery without a dip.
Yes, because Monk is ASI hungry. A feat is a significant cost to a monk. Plus the feat only gets you 2 weapons, whereas a monk would want at least 3 -> a Vex Light weapon, a Nick weapon, and a ranged Vex weapon.
Yes, Samurai fighter is a good subclass, but I wanted a certain feel for my character, and I didn't think that the samurai was the right subclass.
Roll for Initiative: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]
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This did make me reconsider. I think Battle Master makes sense for a samurai. As for the kensei monk, I intentionally didn't choose it. It isn't a very good subclass, and its main perk is replaced by Dedicated Weapon.
Roll for Initiative: [roll]1d20+7[/roll]
Proud member of the EVIL JEFF CULT! PRAISE JEFF!
Homebrew Races: HERE Homebrew Spells: HERE Homebrew Monsters: HERE
MORE OF ME! (And platypodes/platypi/platypuses) (Extended signature)