Samurai

[andbr22]

Paladin looks nice but you didn't invested into charisma (very important stat for paladins (many abilities just won't work or will work poorly)).
You can go 12 Fighter (you will get third strenght enchantment), 6 Monk (you will get second level stances and strikes, and Fist of light (FoL) you know this monk ability that provide you with healing 1-2 when you hit enemies (with apropriate equipment you should hit 300% incoming healing so it is 3-6).

2 levels left you can:
- Monk to lv 7 -> opens improved recovery: Monk II, and wholnes of body (self healing off combat).
- fighter to lv 13 -> opens strength enchantment III (not much).
- rogue to lv 1 -> a bit too late, but opens UMD skill, +6,5 sneak attack dmg.
- Paladin to lv 2 -> need investment into Charisma, Opens divine grace (Charisma bonuss to all saves so +2 tome and +6 item it is + 3 saves for you) and Lay on Hands (but this one will be preety weak).

Don't missunderstand me this all about I prefer Ranger is because it is My thoughts .

Ah... And I would pass on Shintao monk PrE, because it don't add much to your build (maybe Henishen Mistic when he gona be developed will add something, but not shintao monk)

[unbongwah]

Also look at the Solar Phoenix and my Tempest Phoenix (currently badly in need of updating). The idea behind both builds is to combine light monk healing with rgr / pal Devotion with self-healing amp to provide a constant stream of free healing along with decent DPS (for longswords). Not very "samurai"-esque I suppose; but IMHO if you're gonna use a lower-DPS weapon like longswords, you should find something else to make up for it.

[mikesharpshooter]

be a Samurai is a "way of life"
not a dps action. :-)

1. Rectitude (GI) means conforming to the regulations of principles by adhering to what is righteous and morally right.
2. Courage (YU) is the eminence of psyche and strength of mind that makes a human face obscurity, and peril.
3. Benevolence (JIN) is a desire to do well to others that is confounded by an act of kindness by being charitable.
4. Respect (REI) is considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability that is wielded by honor, admiration and a high regard.
5. Honesty (MAKOTO) is the quality or fact of being truthful through an act or condition.
6. Honor (MEIYO) a sense of loyalty and honesty or having integrity in ones beliefs and actions.
7. And the Last, Loyalty (CHUGI) is the adherence to a sovereign, government, allegiance to the laws of the country, being faithful in commitments or obligations to a person or a cause.

[muncholuncho]

12 fighter 8 light monk is a real decent build lots of self healing, healing amp and meditation. 3x earth stirkes crit for mid 200's with longswords.Have imp crit bludgoen too so you can use handwraps/q-staffs aswell. A nice stunning blow with +10 weighted you are in mid to high 40's on stunning blow low 40's stunning first
Check out my toon on khyber Munchiesfrom just capped him not too long ago now starting the gear grind mid 50's str easily sustainable can switch gear around and have mid-high 60's ac nice saves.

[Jahmin]

Samurai is a "way of life"

Well put - so true!

OP:
If you are going WSS, it behooves you to go either Paladin or Ranger with at least Monk3. As mentioned above, this grants access to Fists of Light & Life Magic.
(You can also do this with Cleric & FvS, but that is more difficult and fulfills a different role)

Race should be Human/HElf for Heal Amp or Elf for Longsong enhancements.

Consider these splits:
Pal/Rng14 Monk6
Pal/Rng12 Monk7 xxx1 (Rog or Ftr are both good)
Pal/Rng15 Monk3 xxx2 (Rog/Ftr/etc)

Pal12+ benefits from Hunter of the Dead PrE for stacking Heal Amp.
Rng11+ benefits from TWF DEX bypass - you can dump DEX and still get gTWF.
Monk3 and Monk7 are the Monk Heal Amp splits for Tier1 & 2 respectively.
Pal14+ grants Holy Sword reducing the necessity of GreenSteel.
Monk6 grants second Tier stances.

[Alektronic]

For a more "ronin" style samurai, you could go 12/5/3 fighter/rogue/monk. 12 fighter lvls for the dps goodies, 5 rogue levels for SA bonuses/skill points/UMD/traps optional, 3 monk levels for light monk finishers and fists of light. Juicy.

[Darlor]

If you're going for a "real" samurai concept (i.e. one with some historical validity), then you'd need some proficiency with the bow in there. A ranger/fighter or pure fighter with a few bow feats would most accurately capture the concept, me thinks. Maybe a monk splash, but not 6+ levels.

Though if you're going for the romanticized mystical eastern lawful good sword-saint, then a kensai monk works fine.

[yawumpus]

I've been working on similar ranger builds and noticed a few things:

ranger 15/4/1 (ranger/fighter/monk) makes a better ranger. If you are going "mystical sword saint" the extra magic will help you, and if you are going implacable foe of your sworn enemies the extra favored enemies help.

I suspect the 12/7/1 will make more sense since it is powered by "mastery of the sword (or khopesh)" rather than mastery of enemies. Overall, I think it will be weaker since you can choose favored enemies to matter more, and do more damage to them. Also you lose your best spells without those last three levels in ranger.

A quick check shows zen archery to be a waste. You need 13-14 dexterity for the tempest line (plus two enhancements for tempest 2), you won't have the wisdom available to match your dexterity.

I'd at least count up the feats on something with 12 or 15 levels or ranger, 3+ levels of monk (for solar phoenix), maybe a level of rogue (missing 1 level of rogue really wastes a lot of a rangers potential. Call yourself a ronin or something) or two levels of fighter (getting enough feats for both a tempest ranger and a monk (long)swordsman sounds nigh impossible). It would be a tricky build, but something to look into. Don't spend so much for the self healing that you gimp yourself compared to what a ranger 15 (+other) can do (which is considerable).

[Alektronic]

I've been working on similar ranger builds and noticed a few things:

ranger 15/4/1 (ranger/fighter/monk) makes a better ranger. If you are going "mystical sword saint" the extra magic will help you, and if you are going implacable foe of your sworn enemies the extra favored enemies help.

I suspect the 12/7/1 will make more sense since it is powered by "mastery of the sword (or khopesh)" rather than mastery of enemies. Overall, I think it will be weaker since you can choose favored enemies to matter more, and do more damage to them. Also you lose your best spells without those last three levels in ranger.

A quick check shows zen archery to be a waste. You need 13-14 dexterity for the tempest line (plus two enhancements for tempest 2), you won't have the wisdom available to match your dexterity.

I'd at least count up the feats on something with 12 or 15 levels or ranger, 3+ levels of monk (for solar phoenix), maybe a level of rogue (missing 1 level of rogue really wastes a lot of a rangers potential. Call yourself a ronin or something) or two levels of fighter (getting enough feats for both a tempest ranger and a monk (long)swordsman sounds nigh impossible). It would be a tricky build, but something to look into. Don't spend so much for the self healing that you gimp yourself compared to what a ranger 15 (+other) can do (which is considerable).

At a 15/4/1, we are veering closer and closer to an 18/1/1 exploiter. I personally like the 12 fighter / X/ X template. If you wanted the ranged component, it's not too difficult to pick up rapid shot/bowstr/many shot with that many fighter lvls.

[DrNuegebauer]

If you're going for a "real" samurai concept (i.e. one with some historical validity), then you'd need some proficiency with the bow in there.

Wouldn't he also need a horse to ride around on while he shot the bow?

[Darlor]

Wouldn't he also need a horse to ride around on while he shot the bow?

Not really an option here o_O. In any case, it's not like they lost their bow proficiency once they dismounted @@.

[Alektronic]

I think OP moved to another thread . Sneaky badger...