Katana Duelist

While other samurai use bulky armor to protect them in combat, there are a few who rely on their sword skill alone. These defensive warriors view their combat style as an art akin to painting, dancing, and haiku to be respected and appreciated, both for its beauty and for its deadliness.

The katana duelist is an archetype of the samurai class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Katana duelists are not proficient in any type of armor or shield.

AC Bonus

When unarmored and unencumbered, a katana duelist adds 1 point of her Intelligence bonus (if any) per level to her AC and her CMD. In addition, a katana duelist gains a +1 bonus to AC and CMD at 4th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every four samurai levels thereafter, up to a maximum of +5 at 20th level. These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the katana duelist is flat-footed. She loses these bonuses when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load.

This ability replaces mount.

Weapon Expertise

When a katana duelist gains this ability at 3rd level, she must select the katana as her chosen weapon.

Grace

At 4th level, a katana duelist gains a +2 competence bonus on all Reflex saving throws.

This ability replaces mounted archer.

Parry

At 5th level, a katana duelist learns to parry the attacks of other creatures, causing them to miss. Whenever the katana duelist takes a full attack action with a katana, she can elect not to take one of her attacks. At any time before her next turn, she can attempt to parry an attack against her or an adjacent ally as an immediate action. To parry the attack, the katana duelist makes an attack roll, using the same bonuses as the attack she chose to
forego during her previous action. If her attack roll is greater than the roll of the attacking creature, the attack automatically misses. For each size category that the attacking creature is larger than the katana duelist, the katana duelist takes a 4 penalty on her attack roll. The katana duelist also takes a 4 penalty when attempting to parry an attack made against an adjacent ally. The katana duelist must declare the use of this ability after the attack is announced, but before the roll is made.

This ability replaces banner.

Riposte

Starting at 14th level, a katana duelist can make an attack of opportunity against any creature whose attack she successfully parries, so long as the creature she is attacking is within reach.

This ability replaces greater banner.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Advanced Archetypes II © 2014, Flaming Crab Games; Authors: Tanner Wahlin, C.J. Withers, and Alex Abel

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