Lieh Samurai (5e Class)
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Lieh Samurai[edit]
Samurai are more than simple warriors. They are honorable fighters who study strategies and techniques everyday, because for them fight and victory possess a deeper meaning than the attributed by a simple combatant. To them, the fight is an art as important as the honor they proudly bear and protect. Samurai follow a strict and rigid code of honor, which they call Bushido.
Honor is above all else for a samurai. You can have a samurai as an enemy, but rest assured he will never attack you from behind or during your sleep. The samurai honor, according to them, is on the strict adherence to bushido, and losing her is worse than losing their own life.
Samurai spend their whole lives in specialized schools, under the tutelage of a mentor. Their training is rigid, and they rarely learn other skills not related to their duties as a samurai. This training, however, doesn't revolve only around combat tactics, but also includes diplomacy and etiquette, essential to the political matters that samurai often find themselves involved. One exception is the art of blacksmithing, since some samurai learn how to craft their own swords; or calligraphy, an art that requires the same manual dexterity required to wield the blade.
Creating a Lieh Samurai[edit]
Samurai often serve to noble clans as vassals connected to powerful lords. Others wander the world fighting against anything that oppose their moral values, while some look to pass ahead their fighting techniques and code of conduct, to pupils they deem as worthy.
- Quick Build
Strength is pretty important to a samurai, since it is related to their attacks with a sword. Constitution is a second in the order of importance, ensuring a healthy pool of hit points to endure tough battles. Noble is the preferred background for samurai, since most of them come from important families. Choose the scale mail, the shortbow and 20 arrows, a glaive, the longsword, the explorer's pack and the shortsword as your starting equipment.
Class Features
As a Lieh Samurai you gain the following class features.
- Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d10 per Lieh Samurai level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + Constitution modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 (or 6) + Constitution modifier per Lieh Samurai level after 1st
- Proficiencies
Armor: All armor
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
Tools: Calligrapher's tools or smith's tools
Saving Throws: Strength, Wisdom
Skills: Choose three skills from Animal Handling, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Persuasion, and Perception
- Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) scale mail, shortbow, and 20 arrows or (b) leather armor, longbow, and 20 arrows
- (a) a glaive or (b) a martial weapon
- (a) a spear or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a dungeoneer's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
- a longsword and a scimitar
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Features | —Spell Slots per Spell Level— | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |||
| 1st | +2 | Earthen Chi, Ancestral Weapons | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Celestial Chi | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | Loyalty Feature | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | 3 | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | Extra Attack | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | Enchant Ancestral Weapon | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | Loyalty Feature | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 | — | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 10th | +4 | Elemental Resistance | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
| 11th | +4 | Overwhelming Strike | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| 13th | +5 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 14th | +5 | Loyalty Feature | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 15th | +5 | Font of Chi | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 17th | +6 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 18th | +6 | Loyalty Feature | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 20th | +6 | Unbeatable Armor | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Ancestral Weapons[edit]
The soul of a samurai is their sacred weapon, the Katana. Starting at 1st level, a samurai gain a longsword and a smaller sword, the wakizashi (use the statistics of a scimitar). You gain the following benefits when wielding the ancestral weapons:
- You can use either your Strength or Dexterity for attacks and damage rolls using your Ancestral Weapons.
- When using one ancestral weapon on one hand and another on the other hand, whenever you make an attack roll with the longsword as part of the Attack action, you can use your bonus action to make an attack with the scimitar.
- When using the longsword with both hands, you gain +2 to your damage rolls and to your AC.
Losing the ancestral weapons is an act of such dishonor that will often lead to the samurai committing the ritual suicide, the seppuku. However,, the samurai can recover the weapons if his honor is restored (the DM must determine what the samurai must do to recover his honor).
Earthen Chi[edit]
Starting at 1st level, you can add your Wisdom modifier (minimum +1) to an attack roll, ability check or to your AC against an attack made against your.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier, and can't do it again until you finish a long rest.
Celestial Chi[edit]
Starting at 2nd level, you are able to use your chi to channel the power of the gods, casting spells much like a cleric would.
- Preparing and Casting Spells
The Lieh Samurai table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.
You prepare the list of celestial chi spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the cleric spell list. When you do so, choose a number of celestial chi spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + half your samurai level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
For example, if you are a 5th-level Lieh samurai, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With a Wisdom of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1st-level spell cure wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells.
You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of celestial chi spells requires time spent in meditation: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.
- Spellcasting Ability
Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your celestial chi spells. The power of your spells comes from your connection to the gods through the chi. You use your Wisdom whenever a celestial chi spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Wisdom modifier when setting the saving throw DC for a celestial chi spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Wisdom modifier
- Ritual Casting
You can cast a celestial chi spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared.
- Spellcasting Focus
You can use your Ancestral Weapon as a spellcasting focus for your celestial chi spells.
Loyalty[edit]
When you reach the 3rd level, you can choose a loyalty, that determines to what realm, order or lord you devoted your life to serve. Your loyalty give you features at 3rd level, and again at 7th, 14th and 18th levels.
Ability Score Improvement[edit]
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Extra Attack[edit]
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Enchanted Ancestral Weapon[edit]
Starting at 6th level, your ancestral weapons are considered magical for the purposes of overcoming resistances and immunity to non-magical damage.
In addition, you gain a bonus to attacks and damage rolls with it equal to half your proficiency bonus (rounded down). This bonus is not cumulative with bonus for attack and damage rolls of magical weapons.
Elemental Resistance[edit]
At 10th level, you can focus your earthen chi to gain endurance to the elements. You can use an Action to give yourself resistance to one of the following damage types: acid, cold, fire, lightning or thunder. This benefit lasts for 1 hour.
Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
Overwhelming Strike[edit]
At 11th level, you have an incredible ease with detecting breaches on your opponent's defenses. As a reaction to an attack you make, you can make a Wisdom (Perception), contested by your targets Charisma (Deception) or AC (whichever is higher). On a success, you can add the difference between the results in the checks to either your next attack or damage roll made on this turn.
Font of Chi[edit]
At 15th level, during a short rest, you can spend 30 minutes meditating to recover your chi. You can choose to recover your Earthen Chi, regaining all uses of it; or recover Celestial Chi, regaining a total level of spell slots equal to half your proficiency bonus.
Unbeatable Armor[edit]
At 20th level, you gain such intimacy with your sword that you can make your defense impenetrable with them. When you are wielding one of your Ancestral Weapons, you gain a bonus of +6 to your AC.
You don't gain this bonus if you are wearing a heavy armor or shield.
Loyalty[edit]
Ryujinn Realm[edit]
Noble warriors from Ryujinn and considered the greatest warriors in all Lieh, servants of Ryujinn have an origin shrouded in mystery and legend. Folklore has it that the samurai class was created to protect the realm, that was suffering with constant invasions from foreign armies, and that the creation of this warrior caste was instrumental for the unification of the people.
Servants of ryujinn are direct descendants of the first samurai in the islands, and are loyal guardians of the dragon king, and usually are members from traditional families in Ryujinn, who passed the tradition from father to son through generations.
- Ryujin Realm Magic
You gain celestial chi spells at the Lieh Samurai levels listed.
| Lieh Samurai Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | compelled duel, heroism |
| 5th | find steed, warding wind |
| 9th | aura of vitality, fear |
| 13th | compulsion, death ward |
| 17th | holy weapon, geas |
- Nobility
At 3rd level, you learn how to behave with nobility and grace. You can add your Wisdom modifier to all your Charisma checks.
- Earthen Strike
At 3rd level, whenever you use your Earthen Ki to empower a strike, you also add that bonus to the damage on a hit.
- Aura of Authority
At 7th level, you exude an aura of command appropriated to your status. Whenever a creature moves within 10 feet, you can give that creature a command (as the spell command}} using a reaction. After using this on a creature, that creature is immune to this ability for the next 24 hours.
- Earthen Chi Strike
Starting at 14th level, once per turn, when you use your Earthen Chi to increase the result of your attack, you don't need to spend a use. When you do so, you can't use Earthen Chi again until the start of your next turn.
- Celestial Chi Strike
At 18th level, when you cast a Lieh Samurai spell using an action, you can make an attack as a bonus action.
Storm Lords[edit]
These samurais aren't devoted to a particular realm or family, but to the order of the Storm Lords. These warriors are monster slayers, responsible for saving many settlements from supernatural forces. They are specialized in hunting soul sucking vampires, the Kyu-Kitsuke, although they also can slay humans if they prove to be a threat to the lives of the people in Lieh.
Becoming a storm lord involve a painful and almost lethal rite, where the candidate soul commune with the power of the Storm Hakerus. This communion leaves a mark that the storm lord will carry on their flesh for the rest of his life.
- Storm Lords Magic
You gain celestial chi spells at the Lieh Samurai levels listed.
| Lieh Samurai Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | thunderwave, fog cloud |
| 5th | gust of wind, warding wind |
| 9th | call lightning, sleet storm |
| 13th | ice storm, storm sphere |
| 17th | control winds, destructive wave |
- Shocking Touch
Also at 3rd level, you gain the ability to channel the power of electricity through your hands. You gain the ability to cast shocking grasp, that is considered a Lieh Samurai spell for you. In addition, when you take the Attack action and attack with your Daisho, you can cast shocking grasp as a bonus action.
- Salt Bombs
Used by the storm lords during the vampire hunts, these are sacred weapons that weaken the undead. At 7th level, during a short rest, a storm samurai can craft up to a number of salt bombs equal to your proficiency bonus. Each salt bomb costs 25 gp in materials to craft.
As a bonus action, you can forgo an attack to hurl said bomb in a place within 30 feet, creating a salt cloud that fills a 5-foot cube that lasts until the end of your next turn.
Any undead creature that start its turn inside the cloud, or move there for the first time, takes 2d4 acid damage. The cloud area is heavily obscured.
- Summon Hakeru
When you reach the 14th level, you gain the ability to summon a to aid you. This works as the conjure elemental feature. The summoned elemental has the statistics of a fire elemental, with the following changes:
- Any mention to fire (both damages and immunities) becomes lightning instead.
- The elemental gains a flying speed equal to its movement speed.
Once you use this feature, you can't do it again until you finish a long rest, unless you spend a 5th-level spell slot to do so again.
- Tempest Powers
At 18th level, you gain greater control over your storm spells. When you finish a long rest, choose one of the following spells: wind walk or chain lightning. You can cast the spell once, without using spell slots, regaining the ability to do so after finishing a long rest.
Alternatively you can cast incendiary cloud without spending spell slots. If you do so, you can't use this feature again for the next 7 days.
Etsu Clan[edit]
Samurais who serve under the banner of the Etsu Clan are corrupted by Lord Meguro, the eternal samurai. Thus, they have violated the traditional code of honor, and instead follow a doctrine of brutality and power, enforcing the cruelty of their vampire master. The more loyal servants are rewarded with eternal life, being turned themselves into kyo kitsuke.
- Etsu Clan Magic
You gain celestial chi spells at the Lieh Samurai levels listed.
| Lieh Samurai Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | charm person, flog cloud |
| 5th | alter self, pass without trace |
| 9th | gaseous form, vampiric touch |
| 13th | death ward, charm monster |
| 17th | dominate person, raise dead |
- Dark Stalker
Starting at 3rd level, you gain the ability to see in the in darkness, while outdoors as you were in an area of bright light.
In addition, you have advantage on Charisma (Deception), Dexterity (Stealth), Wisdom (Perception) and Wisdom (Insight) while in the darkness of the night, while outdoors.
- Vampiric Claws
Starting at 3rd level, your fingers grow, becoming hardened as blades, and that can be used as claws. If you have a free hand, you can use your claws as simple weapons, that have the light and finesse property and cause 1d6 slashing damage on a hit. Your claws are considered ancestral weapons for you.
- Soul Eater
Also at 3rd level, whenever you hit a creature with your vampiric claws, you can use your bonus action to grapple that creature. Whenever a creature fails a saving throw against your grapple attempt, that creature takes 1d4 necrotic damage, and you gain the same amount of temporary hit points.
- Profane Skin
At 7th level, you gain resistance to the damage of spells and magical effects. This doesn't affect spells that cause lightning damage or thunder damage.
You also gain resistance to necrotic damage.
- Undead Nature
At 14th level, your creature type changes to undead. You no longer need to sleep, eat, drink or breathe and no longer age. You have advantage on saving throws against effects that target specifically undead creatures.
- Superior Healing
At 18th level, whenever you start your turn with half your hit points or less, but with more than 0, you regain a number of hit points equal to 5 + your Constitution modifier.
Multiclassing[edit]
Prerequisites. To qualify for multiclassing into the lieh samurai class, you must meet these prerequisites: 13 Strength, 13 Wisdom.
Proficiencies. When you multiclass into the astrologer class, you gain the following proficiencies: light armor, medium armor, simple weapons, martial weapons, a smiths or calligrapher's tools, one skill.
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