Bugyo

The bugyo is a samurai who has been given a great deal of official authority. Bugyo may be found in a number of roles, serving as local magistrates, regional tax collectors, port officers, or even as governors of a province. Bugyo are given their title and authority by a daimyo and typically serve at the pleasure of that daimyo.

Role: The bugyo is a government official and has a good deal of political clout, especially when dealing with those in a lower station. Though most bugyo hire others to do the adventuring and fighting for them, those serving as official investigators often find themselves in dangerous situations and must know how to handle a blade. Adventuring bugyo are capable front-line fighters, but they are also able to easily maneuver in the cut and thrust of high pressure social situations and, as such, frequently operate as the “face man” in those adventuring parties to whom they may be allied.

Hit Die: d10

Requirements

To qualify to become a bugyo, a character must fulfill all of the following criteria:

Alignment: Any lawful.

Base Attack Bonus: +5.

Feats: Skill Focus (Diplomacy)

Skills: Diplomacy 5 ranks, Knowledge (local) 3 ranks, Knowledge (nobility) 3 ranks.

Special: Must possess a government appointment from a daimyo or other high-ranking official.

Class Skills

The bugyo’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (nobility) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Table: Bugyo

Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st +1 +0 +0 +1 Air of authority, government official, skill focus
2nd +2 +1 +1 +1 Challenge 1/day, master of the long form
3rd +3 +1 +1 +2 Student of lore
4th +4 +1 +1 +2 Scholar 1, skill focus
5th
+5
+2
+2
+3
Master of the tea ceremony
6th +6 +2 +2 +3 Challenge 2/day
7th
+7
++2
+2
+4
Skill focus
8th +8 +3 +3 +4 Master of lore, scholar 2
9th +9
+3
+3
+5 Master tactician
10th +10 +3 +3 +5 Challenge 3/day, master of honor, skill focus

Class Features

The following are class features of the bugyo prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Bugyo are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, plus the katana and wakizashi. They are proficient with all types of armor, but gain no proficiency with shields.

Air of Authority

A bugyo adds his class level to all Diplomacy checks and, when determining a bugyo’s leadership score (if any) levels from the bugyo prestige class count double.

Government Official

A bugyo is a government official, who, when operating with a region under his jurisdiction, has the authority to enforce laws, punish lawbreakers of a lower rank (through either fines or execution), and confiscate property. A bugyo is legally entitled, while operating within a region under his jurisdiction, to keep a percentage of all monies fined and is likewise entitled to keep a percentage of all property confiscated. The percentage for fines is equal to 5 times class level and the percentage for confiscated property is equal to 10 times class level. A bugyo’s actions are subject to the oversight of the one who appointed him and bugyo who abuse their authority may quickly find themselves stripped of their authority.

Skill Focus

The bugyo is expected to continually better himself. At 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th levels the bugyo gains Skill Focus as a bonus feat. As normal, each time Skill Focus is taken, it must be applied to a new skill.

Challenge (Ex)

Once per day, beginning at 2nd level, a bugyo can challenge a foe to combat, in a manner identical to the challenge of a cavalier or samurai. The bugyo can use this ability an additional number of times a day for every four levels past 2nd. If the bugyo possesses levels in another class which grants the challenge ability (such as cavalier or samurai), this ability stacks with that class’s ability for the purpose of determining uses per day of the ability. If the bugyo belongs to an order which offers additional benefits for the use of challenge, the bugyo benefits fully from the order’s abilities. However, a bugyo who does not belong to an order through another class does not gain an order, nor do bugyo levels count toward class levels in the order.

Master of the Long Form (Ex)

Beginning at 2nd level, the bugyo can use his legal standing, and threats of bureaucratic paperwork, to his advantage so that he adds his class level to all Intimidate checks made outside of combat.

Student of Lore (Ex)

The bugyo is expected to know a little bit about everything. Beginning at 3rd level, he may make Knowledge checks untrained.

Scholar

At 4th and 8th level, the bugyo may add a new Knowledge skill to his list of class skills.

Master of the Tea Ceremony (Ex)

At 5th level, once per day, the bugyo can engage in an elaborate and highly cultured tea ceremony. During the course of this tea ceremony, the bugyo can add +10 to a single Diplomacy check of his choice. Naturally the object of the Diplomacy check must also be at the tea ceremony. Successfully inviting an NPC to the tea ceremony requires a successful Diplomacy check but the DC is 5 less than the DC for adjusting that same individual’s starting attitude. Invitations to tea must be made at least 24 hours before the actual ceremony. The same character or creature may not be affected by more than 2 Diplomacy checks made during tea ceremonies during the course of a month.

Master of Lore (Ex)

At 8th level, the bugyo may add 1/2 his class level to all Knowledge skill checks.

Master Tactician (Ex)

The bugyo’s ability to coordinate activities, and his extensive studies, prove a valuable boon to himself and his allies in battle. Once per round, as a free action, a bugyo may grant one ally within 30 ft. a +2 circumstance bonus to all d20 rolls made that round. The bugyo may not benefit from this ability himself.

Master of Honor (Ex)

When challenging a foe with less Honor than himself (including those with no Honor), the bugyo receives a +2 bonus to hit and damage the target of his challenge.

Ex-Bugyos

Bugyos who lose their government position, whether through misconduct or a regime change, lose their status as a Government Official and thus lose their income derived from belonging to the prestige class. They also lose the advantage of the master of the long form class ability.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

The Way of the Samurai Copyright 2012, Steven D. Russell and Michael Tumey, all rights reserved; Author Jonathan McAnulty

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