Iaijutsu Master, Variant (3.5e Prestige Class)

Iaijutsu Master, Variant

“	One strike is all we need, we fail as warriors if more than one is needed.	”
—Kurnacha, Human Iaijutsu Master, Seven Shogun

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Iaijutsu is the martial art of drawing a weapon (almost always a katana) and attacking with it in the same fluid motion. It is the foundation of some forms of dueling in Oriental Adventures (see Iaijutsu Duels in Chapter 6: Combat), and its masters are feared and respected throughout Rokugan and other lands where iaijutsu is practiced. Iaijutsu masters harness their ki energy to strike with blinding speed and devastating power. Iaijutsu masters are almost always members of the samurai character class. In Rokugan, they are drawn exclusively from the Crane clan, where they are trained in the Kakita school. NPC iaijutsu masters serve as sensei to the finest samurai in the Empire.

Becoming a Iaijutsu Master

Dexterity and Charisma are the two scores that Iaijutsu Masters go after for their attacks and their abilities.

Entry Requirements

Alignment:	Any Lawful.
Base Attack Bonus:	+3
Skills:	Iaijutsu Focus 6 Ranks.
Feats:	Quick Draw, Weapon Focus (Katana), and Improved Initiative

Table: The Iaijutsu Master

Hit Die: d10

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+0	+2	+0	Weapon finesse, Canny Defense
2nd	+2	+0	+3	+0	Lightning blade
3rd	+3	+1	+3	+1
4th	+4	+1	+4	+1	Bonus feat
5th	+5	+1	+4	+1
6th	+6	+2	+5	+2	Bonus feat
7th	+7	+2	+5	+2
8th	+8	+2	+6	+2	Bonus feat, One Strike, Two Cuts
9th	+9	+3	+6	+3
10th	+10	+3	+7	+3	Strike with No Thought
Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level) Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Iaijutsu Focus (Cha), Jump (Str), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Tumble (Dex).

Table: The Epic Iaijutsu Master

Level	Special
11th	Iaijutsu Focus (+10), Bonus Feat
12th	Iaijutsu Adept
13th	Bonus Feat
14th
15th	Iaijutsu Focus (+20), Bonus Feat
16th
17th	Single Strike, Deadly Strike , Bonus Feat
18th
19th	Bonus Feat
20th	Iaijutsu Focus (+30), Iaijutsu Mastery

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Iaijutsu Master.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Iaijutsu masters are proficient with all simple and martial weapons. Iaijutsu masters do not gain any proficiency with armor or shields, though most have such proficiency from the samurai class.

Weapon Finesse: At 1st level, an iaijutsu master may use her Dexterity modifier instead of her Strength modifier on attack rolls with her katana. This works like the Weapon Finesse feat, except that it applies to the katana, a weapon to which the feat cannot normally be applied.

Canny Defense: When not wearing armor, iaijutsu masters add their Charisma bonus to their Dexterity bonus to modify Armor Class while wielding a katana. You also can no longer be counted as flat-footed.

Lightning Blade: : An iaijutsu master of 2nd level or higher adds her Charisma modifier to her initiative checks, as well as her Dexterity modifier.

Bonus Feats: At 4th level, then again at 6th and 8th level, the iaijutsu master gets a bonus feat in addition to her normal feat progression. These bonus feats must be drawn from the following list: Dodge (Mobility, Spring Attack), Expertise (Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Whirlwind Attack), Skill Focus (Iaijutsu Focus), Toughness, Iaijutsu Master (3.5e Feat), Iaijutsu Growth (3.5e Feat), Iaijutsu Speed (3.5e Feat).

Strike from the Void: An iaijutsu master of 5th level or higher adds her Charisma modifier to each extra damage die gained from using the Iaijutsu Focus skill.

One Strike, Two Cuts: At 8th level and above, an iaijutsu master can make two attacks with a katana as a standard action. This means she can strike twice for each attack that she makes (i.e 1 -> 2, 2 -> 4, 3 -> 6, and 4 -> 8).

Strike with No Thought: If an iaijutsu master of 10th level begins combat (not an iaijutsu duel) within melee range of an opponent, she gains a free surprise round, even though her opponents are aware of her presence. The only action the iaijutsu master can take in this surprise round is an attack action using a katana. For example, if the iaijutsu master Kakita Timoshiko and Bayushi Koro are standing on the street hurling insults at each other and the situation erupts into combat, Timoshiko can attack with his katana before Koro even rolls initiative, catching his opponent flat-footed.

The epic Iaijutsu Master gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic Iaijutsu Master feats) every 2 levels after 10th.

Epic Iaijutsu Master Bonus Feat List: Any Martial, Iaijutsu, or General Epic Feats

Iaijutsu Focus: You gain a competence bonus to your Iaijutsu Focus Skill of +10. At 15th level it becomes +20 and at 20th becomes +30.

Iaijutsu Adept: You can apply Iaijutsu Focus to all of your strikes on your turn and of Attack of Opportunities.

Single Strike, Deadly Strike: You can forgo all of your attacks for a single attack that your apply all bonuses and all extra damage dice from Iaijutsu Focus into one attack. You roll for each extra attack that you have after your first to see how many extra damage dice you get and add that to the first attack.

Iaijutsu Mastery: How many extra damage dice you get from Iaijutsu Focus is doubled and the extra damage from Strike from the Void is also doubled.

Ex-Iaijutsu Master

If you lose the Iaijutsu Focus Skill, you lose all abilities from this class. When you gain the Iaijutsu Focus Skill again, you gain all abilities you had previously from this class.

Campaign Information

Playing a <-class name->

Combat: Iaijutsu Masters are in the front of combat and are the DPS for their party.

Advancement: Iaijutsu Masters want to sharpen their skills for their power of one strike, one kill.

Resources: Their Clans aid their Iaijutsu Master through their journey.

Iaijutsu Masters in the World

“

Strike fast, strike hard, that is they way of Iaijutsu

”

Iaijutsu Masters are master swordsmen that teach at martial arts schools and travel the world.

NPC Reactions: Skilled fighters who mastered the art of quick strikes.

Iaijutsu Master Lore

Characters with ranks in Knowledge(History) can research Iaijutsu Masters to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

History

DC	Result
11	Iaijutsu Masters can take down many enemies in a few seconds.
16	Iaijutsu Masters seem to not even have to draw their swords to strike down enemies.
21	Iaijutsu Masters are the masters of fast drawing, the style of cutting and drawing the sword in the same motion.
26	Iaijutsu Masters train to strike down their enemies with masterful grace that most swordsmen cannot fathom of wielding.

<-pluralized class name-> in the Game

Iaijutsu Masters see the world as a place of balance and follow their Lord to every order.

Adaptation: Expert Fighters who specialize in one hits.

Sample Encounter: In a dojo or a training field that the players can stumble accross.

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