Ashigaru

            The ashigaru are the footsoldiers of armies in medieval Japan, often drafted from the ranks of the farmers.  They serve the samurai, battling enemy ashigaru formations while the samurai close for single combat.  While fame and honor most often go to the samurai and their epic duels, the ashigari are formidable warriors themselves – many tales are told of samurai felled by the skill of lone ashigaru of much lower rank.  Prior to 1600, many ashigaru dreamed of becoming samurai themselves, using their skill in battle to climb the social ladder.

            Adventures: The ashigaru’s adventures tend to revolve around his substantial skill as a combatant.  These soldiers are trained to carry the fight alone or in ranks, battling the forces of rival clans in the never-ending struggle for political supremacy and personal honor.

            Characteristics: The ashigaru is a warrior specializing in the spear and bow.  Although the samurai also masters these weapons, the ashigaru excels at fighting in formation – battling as a member (or even commander) of a unit.  In contrast, the samurai’s combat abilities are strictly individual; the samurai eschews fighting in units in favor of challenging his peers to single combat, dueling for honor and reputation in the midst of vast, chaotic battles.

            Honor: Despite the low minimum Honor needed to quality for this class, many ashigaru regard their honor as highly as do the samurai they serve.  Since ashigaru, like samurai, can advance themselves socially through their performance on the battlefield, they act in accordance with the rules of bushido.

            Religion: Shinto is the religion of the common man (at least until the very popular religions of Jodo, Shin Jodo, Nichiren, and Zen), and most ashigaru follow its traditions.

            Background: Mos ashigaru are part-time warriors, drawn from their everyday careers when their clan is threatened.  When not earning a living as a merchant, carpenter, farmer, or blacksmith, members of this class train as best they can in preparation for times of trouble (which occur quite frequently throughout Japan’s turbulent history).  In particularly difficult times, some villages even go so far as to hire ronin to train their warriors, lending members of the ashigaru a far more professional edge in combat than many samurai give them credit for.

            Bloodline: Ashigaru come from a variety of bloodlines – much more so than many other professions in the stratified social structure of Japan.  Merchants, artisans, and farmers make up the vast majority of the ashigaru.  However, the occasional monastic and even rare samurai (usually those who wish greater mastery with the spear or bow) can be found learning the ways of the footsoldier.

            Other Classes: Ashigaru work well with all classes but are of particular benefit to the samurai, fighting and disrupting enemy formations while the samurai engages the enemy in small groups suited to his individual combat style.

            Role: The ashigaru is a front line fighter skilled at weapons of medium or long range, typically spear and bow.

 

Game Rule Information

            Abilities: As a soldier, the ashigaru frequently sees action on the front lines, so Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution are all important to him.

            Honor: Ashigaru must have an Honor score of at least 11 or higher (eta are not permitted to become soldiers).  During wartime, the vast majority of ashigaru are drawn from the ranks of the farmers, although merchants and artisans contribute their sons to any fight as well.

            Ashigaru who take an allegiance to the Code of Bushido gain a +5 Honor bonus.

Lvl       BAB                            Fort     Ref/Will          Special

1          +1                                +2        +0                    Weapon Focus (spear or bow)

2          +2                                +3        +0                    Combat Style

3          +3                                +3        +1                    Formation Fighting

4          +4                                +4        +1                    Weap. Specialization (spear or bow)

5          +5                                +4        +1                    Ki 1/day (Strength)

6          +6/+1                           +5        +2                    Combat Style

7          +7/+2                           +5        +2                    Formation Fighting

8          +8/+3                           +6        +2                    Bonus Feat

9          +9/+4                           +6        +3                    Combat Style; Formation Command

10        +10/+5                         +7        +3                    Ki 2/day (Dexterity)

11        +11/+6 /+1                   +7        +3                    Bonus Feat

12        +12/+7/+2                   +8        +4                    Combat Style

13        +13/+8/+3                   +8        +4                    Formation Fighting

14        +14/+9/+4                   +9        +4                    Bonus Feat

15        +15/+10/+5                 +9        +5                    Ki 3/Day (Con); Combat Style

16        +16/+11/+6/+1            +10      +5                    Bonus Feat; Imp. Form Command

17        +17/+12/+7/+2            +10      +5                    Combat Style

18        +18/+13/+8/+3            +11      +6                    Formation Fighting

19        +19/+14/+9/+4            +11      +6                    Bonus Feat

20        +20/+15/+10/+5          +12      +6                    Ki 4/day (multiple abilities)

 

Hit Die: 1d10.

Class Skills: Climb (str), Intimidate (cha0, Jump (str), Knowledge (tactics) (int), Survival (wis), Swim (Str).

Skill Points: 2 + Int mod

 

Class Features

Weapon and Armour: Proficiency (Bows, Knives, Spears & Staves, Swords), Armor (light, medium).

 

Weapon Focus (Spear or Bow): At 1st level, the ashigaru gains this feat for a weapon of his choice from the spear or bow list.

 

Combat Style: At 2nd level, the ashigaru gains a bonus feat depending on whether he chose to focus on the spear or bow at 1st level: Sojutsu (spear) or Kyujutsu (bow).

            At 6th level, the ashigaru gains a bonus feat: Spear Thrust (spear) or Daisan (bow).

            At 9th level, the ashigaru gains a bonus feat: Footwork (spear), Point Blank Shot (bow).

            At 12th level, the ashigaru gains a bonus feat: Whirling Spear (spear), Far Shot (bow).

            At 15th level, the ashigaru gains a bonus feat: Superior Footwork (spear), Dojukiri (bow).

            At 17th level, the ashigaru gains a bonus feat: Taisabaki (spear), Zen Archery (bow).

 

Formation Fighting: Each time you gain this ability, you may choose one of the following abilities when fighting as a part of a unit (when fighting with at least three other character also using the weapon required for the formation maneuver – the other characters do not need to possesss the Formation Fighting Ability, but only characters with the Formation Fighting ability gain the listed bonuses).  The ability chosen depends on whether the ashigaru chose to focus on the spear or bow at 1st level:

            Spear: High Spear: +1 AC against ranged attacks or Spear Wall: +1 bonus to attack and damage when set to receive a charge.

            Bow: Massed Fire: +1 damage on bow attacks or Arced Fire: +2 bonus to attack (only to offset range penalties).

            These abilities may be selected multiple times; their effects stack. 

 

Weapon Specialization (Spear or Bow): At 4th level, the ashigaru gains this feat depending on whether he chose to focus on the spear or bow at 1st level.

 

Ki: At 5th level, the ashigaru can use the power of his Ki to increase his Strength by 4 for one minute per class level.  Using Ki is an attack action that provokes an attack of opportunity.

            At 10th level, the ashigaru can use the power of his Ki twice per day and may increase either his Strength or Dexterity by 4 for one minute per class level.

            At 15th level, the ashigaru can use the power of his Ki three times per day and may increase either his Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution for one minute per class level.

            At 20th level, the ashigaru can use the power of his Ki four times per day.  When he uses his Ki, he increases all affected abilities (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution) for one minute per class level.

           

Bonus Feats: At 8th, 11th, 14th, 16th, and 19th level, the ashigaru may select a feat from the list of fighter bonus feats.

 

Formation Fighting: At 9th level, the ashigaru is capable of commanding conscripts and inspiring them to a greater level of ability.  The ashigaru may command one character per class level, with no character being more than ½ the ashigaru’s class level.  Commanded characters gain the benefit of a formation fighting ability known to the ashigary at the 3rd level (in other words, even if the ashigaru has taken an ability more than once, those under his command act as if they have taken it once).

            At 16th level, the number o characters affected by this ability doubles, and this ability affects all those of a lower class level than the ashigaru.