The Ronin is a prestige class in Complete Warrior, specifically meant for players using the Samurai class, also in the same book. Ronin are master-less samurai, whether by dishonor and disgrace or by some other act of misfortune, the Samurai has a stain on his code of honor that prevents him from having a lord.
Playing a Ronin[]
The only difference between a Samurai and a Ronin is their employment. Though in game mechanics, a master-less samurai doesn't have to take levels in Ronin to be a Ronin, but a Samurai who has effectively become dishonored loses his Kiai Smite ability. Only by taking levels in Ronin is the Samurai able to gain back some of his former classes abilities.
References[]
- Collins, Andy, David Noonan and Ed Stark. Complete Warrior (Wizards of the Coast, 2003) ISBN 0-7869-2880-8.