Shugenja (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
The shugenja or shukenja is a playable character class
in the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
book. In a review of the book, reviewer Ashley Shepherd commented: "Shukenja, the clerics, are penalised if they slay too freely."
cultures, the shugenja fills the spot most commonly played by the Cleric
class in a traditional D&D game—that of a primary divine spell caster. Shugenja are typically members of the noble class, though they are not bound by the honor code of the Samurai
.
The class presented in the revised Oriental Adventures
book has no real comparison with the class released in earlier editions, and the authors themselves have made it a point to note that the old style shugenja class was replaced by the shaman class. The shugenja was revised from the Oriental Adventures book by being presented in the Complete Divine
supplemental book, published in 2004.
The most prominent ability scores of the shugenja are:
No published race currently uses the shugenja as a favored class.
the shugenja class as a spellcasting class combines a great deal of versatility from the other classes. Unlike arcane or other divine magic users, the shugenja must select a single certain element to be attuned to and focused on. This determines which spells appear on their spell list as well as any spell that they are unable to cast because of a restriction.
The elements are:
Mechanically, the shugenja class has the versatility of a cleric but also has access to a number of spells from the Wizard
and Sorcerer
spell list. A shugenja does not need to prepare their spells, much like the sorcerer.
However, because of this, the shugenja has a small number of spells that they know, also like a sorcerer. In addition to spells known of the particular element they focus in, the shugenja also receives a number of spells that deal with every other permitted element.
Shugenjas do not have dedicated spellbooks as wizards commonly know them. Known as ofuda
, they serve as divine focus and must be read by the shugenja.
Shugenja receive only two other abilities in their entire twenty level progression. The first is the ability to focus on their specific element, which allows them to gain benefits for spells of their chosen element, regardless of what actual school it is.
The second feature is the ability to sense elements. This allows the shugenja to concentrate and become aware of all the sources of a chosen element. At first this ability only functions for a small area around the shugenja. However, as the shugenja grows in strength, so too grows the area in which their concentration is centered.
Unlike spells, a shugenja can just as easily sense a prohibited element as they can their chosen element.
Character class (Dungeons & Dragons)
A character class is a fundamental part of the identity and nature of characters in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A character's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses are largely defined by his or her chosen class; choosing a class is one of the first steps a player takes in order to...
in the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The shukenja was introduced in the original first edition Oriental AdventuresOriental Adventures
Oriental Adventures is the title shared by two hardback rulebooks published for different versions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
book. In a review of the book, reviewer Ashley Shepherd commented: "Shukenja, the clerics, are penalised if they slay too freely."
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)
Inspired by mythologies of the AsianCulture of Asia
The culture of Asia is human civilization in Asia. It features different kinds of cultural heritage of many nationalities, societies, and ethnic groups in the region, traditionally called a continent from a Western-centric perspective, of Asia...
cultures, the shugenja fills the spot most commonly played by the Cleric
Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
class in a traditional D&D game—that of a primary divine spell caster. Shugenja are typically members of the noble class, though they are not bound by the honor code of the Samurai
Samurai (Dungeons & Dragons)
The samurai is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :The samurai was introduced in the original first edition Oriental Adventures book....
.
The class presented in the revised Oriental Adventures
Oriental Adventures
Oriental Adventures is the title shared by two hardback rulebooks published for different versions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
book has no real comparison with the class released in earlier editions, and the authors themselves have made it a point to note that the old style shugenja class was replaced by the shaman class. The shugenja was revised from the Oriental Adventures book by being presented in the Complete Divine
Complete Divine
Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...
supplemental book, published in 2004.
The most prominent ability scores of the shugenja are:
- Charisma: The shugenja's divine spells are fueled by a high charisma score, so having this stat as high as possible bolsters the primary feature of this class. A suggested variant proposed and used in the RokuganRokuganRokugan is the fictional empire which is the main power in the Legend of the Five Rings setting, the basis for the Legend of the Five Rings Collectible Card Game, Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game, the board game Art of War and the now out of print Clan War Miniatures game, all from...
campaign settingCampaign settingA campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
alters the Shugenja's key spellcasting ability according to their chosen element. In this version, Charisma is the key score for Air Shugenja, Constitution for Earth, Wisdom for Water, and Intelligence for Fire. - Dexterity: Because shugenja wear little to no armor, a high dexterity is important to provide defense against physical attacks.
- Constitution: Shugenja do not have as many hit points as other divine casters, so a high constitution helps counter this.
No published race currently uses the shugenja as a favored class.
Class features
The shugenja is a divine spontaneous spellcaster, and it has similarities to the favored soul and spirit shaman base classes.Spells
the shugenja class as a spellcasting class combines a great deal of versatility from the other classes. Unlike arcane or other divine magic users, the shugenja must select a single certain element to be attuned to and focused on. This determines which spells appear on their spell list as well as any spell that they are unable to cast because of a restriction.
The elements are:
- Earth: Earth spells contain spells that revolve personal resilience and toughness when confronted, as well as spells of binding, exorcism, and powerful offenses against certain specific varieties of enemies. Air is the barred element for shugenjas who specialize in the earth element.
- Air: A shugenja who specializes in the air element has access to a number of spells dealing with travel, divination, illusion and interaction. Earth is the barred element for shugenjas who specialize in the air element.
- Fire: The most destructive and otherwise offensive spells, but also spells dealing with mental power, are controlled by the element of fire. Any shugenja who specializes in this element cannot learn spells with the water element.
- Water: Shugenjas who specialize in water specialize in healing and cleansing spells, and most of the commonly associated curative spells, in addition to spells of decay and change, are dictated by this element. Shugenjas who specialize in this element cannot learn spells that are controlled by fire.
Mechanically, the shugenja class has the versatility of a cleric but also has access to a number of spells from the Wizard
Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
and Sorcerer
Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)
The sorcerer is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A sorcerer is weak in melee combat, but a master of arcane magic, the most generally powerful form of D&D magic. Sorcerers' magical ability is innate rather than studied...
spell list. A shugenja does not need to prepare their spells, much like the sorcerer.
However, because of this, the shugenja has a small number of spells that they know, also like a sorcerer. In addition to spells known of the particular element they focus in, the shugenja also receives a number of spells that deal with every other permitted element.
Shugenjas do not have dedicated spellbooks as wizards commonly know them. Known as ofuda
Ofuda
Ofuda, is a gofu or a talisman issued by a Shinto shrine. It may also be called shinpu . It is made by inscribing the name of a kami and the name of the Shinto shrine or of a representative of the kami on a strip of paper, wood, cloth, or metal.It is to be renewed yearly, typically before the end...
, they serve as divine focus and must be read by the shugenja.
Other features
Shugenja receive only two other abilities in their entire twenty level progression. The first is the ability to focus on their specific element, which allows them to gain benefits for spells of their chosen element, regardless of what actual school it is.
The second feature is the ability to sense elements. This allows the shugenja to concentrate and become aware of all the sources of a chosen element. At first this ability only functions for a small area around the shugenja. However, as the shugenja grows in strength, so too grows the area in which their concentration is centered.
Unlike spells, a shugenja can just as easily sense a prohibited element as they can their chosen element.