[SixOfSpades]

Originally posted by Lord: I think it seems fair to gain a +1 bonus to thac0 every 5 levels, but +2 bonus to damage every 5 levels as well?

From where did you get that +2 to damage? It's only +1. The Kensai, by comparison, gets +1 to hit and damage every three levels, and those are Fighter levels. At the ToB EXP cap, a Kensai will have accrued a total of +13 THAC0/Damage, and the hypothetical Samurai only +6.
But comparisons with the base class are the most valid; since the straight Ranger cannot Grandmaster, the Samurai effectively gets a -8 THAC0 bonus and +1 ApR. Then again, the pure Ranger whomps the Samurai's butt on the defensive side of the coin: Since Samurai must give up the RoP+2 in order to get a decent AC, they effectively suffer a permanent +2 penalty to their Saves. And the Ranger can always slap on a good Shield (thus narrowing the Samurai's +8 THAC0 lead to +3) and augment their Hardiness with the Defender of Easthaven or Armor of Faith--all of which are off limits to Samurai.

Why does the Samurai kit gain the ability iron skins? I don't see how it's in the least related to the Samurai.

If they're going to charge headlong (and relatively unarmored) into a fray, heedless of all the threats of imminent death, they should have a fighting chance of getting within striking distance before getting shot full of arrows. Basically, I added this to further separate the Samurai from the Kensai: The latter can only strike from behind somebody else, while Samurai would consider such behavior cowardly, and would much prefer rushing out to Tank.
Also, don't be misled into thinking Samurai can just pop off an Ironskins whenever they want to, willy-nilly. The rate of 1x per day per 15 levels means it'll be Chapter 6 or so before they gain the ability, and they'll never be able to cast more than 2 per day.

Originally posted by LennonCook: Six, as long as they're rangers, they will get the two points in dual wield. Nothing can be done about it.

Sadly, I think you're right. I was going to cast a level-based spell on them that set their proficiencies in 2-Weapon Style to 0, but that would mean players who wished to have a Dual-Wielding Samurai right from the get-go would be unable to. That plan will have to be scrapped, then....but I still wonder if it's possible to script their Racial Enemy to be set to Faerie.

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Should their armor restrictions be made harsher, to rule out all Plate armor (including Dragon/Ankheg Plate)? What about forbidding Chain and Splint as well?

Should the Ironskins go?

As for their Weapon proficiencies, should their starting skills in Samurai weapons be forsaken in favor of having them start out with maxed proficiencies in all of their available Weapon Styles?