5e Samurai

This is the samurai build for the 5e D&D.  I'm going for a Ruruoni Kenshin style samurai here, lightly armored (if any armor at all) and with high Dex as well as Strength.  This character is built using the variant human rules.  AC will be limited by the armor in the PC.

1st Level Statistics

Human Fighter 1st
Str: 15
Dex: 17
Con: 12
Int: 13
Wis: 11
Cha: 10

HP: 11
AC: 14

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Armor Proficiencies: All armor, shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
Tools: Dice, Vehicles (Land)
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Soldier) +4
Intimidation (Soldier) +2
Acrobatics (Fighter) +5
Insight (Fighter) +2
Perception (Human) +2

Feats: Resilient: Dexterity (Human)

Background: Soldier

Second Wind
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting

Katana (Longsword) - Attack +5, 1d8+2/1d10+2 (reroll 1 or 2)
Leather Armor

Reasoning: I took great weapon fighting because the wording is in using a melee weapon in two hands.  Longswords are versatile and thus can be used in two hands.  Since that is the proper way to use a katana and katana would basically be done as longswords in this system.  So, while the normal use for Great Sword Fighting is heavy two-weapons like greatswords or greataxes, it works here.

My other option was duelist since using the longsword one handed would be 1d8+2.  Could fluff the second hand being part of the actions.  However, this feels a little bit better.

For the human feat, I went with making dexterity a proficient saving throw.

2nd to 5th Levels

2nd Level - Action Surge (one use), +7 HP

3rd Level - Martial Archetype: Battle Master, +7 HP
Student of War: Tool Proficiency: Calligrapher's Supplies
Superiority Dice: 4d8
Maneuvers: Evasive Footwork, Feinting Attack, Lunging Attack

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement, +1 Str, +1 Wis, +7 HP

5th Level - Extra Attack, +7 HP, Proficiency Bonus +3

Reasoning: The battle master's maneuvers best fit the archetypical samurai with lots of special techniques from anime.  Calligraphy fits the poet warrior thing. I thought about getting a feat at this level, but decided to go with some stat increases.  Wisdom for more perception and Strength for more damage.

5th Level Statistics

Human Fighter 5th
Str: 16
Dex: 17
Con: 12
Int: 13
Wis: 12
Cha: 10

HP: 39
AC: 14

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Armor Proficiencies: All armor, shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
Tools: Dice, Vehicles (Land), Calligrapher's Supplies
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Soldier) +6
Intimidation (Soldier) +3
Acrobatics (Fighter) +6
Insight (Fighter) +4
Perception (Human) +4

Feats: Resilient: Dexterity (Human)

Background: Soldier

Second Wind
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Action Surge (one use)
Martial Archetype: Battle Master
Superiority Dice: 4d8
Maneuvers: Evasive Footwork, Feinting Attack, Lunging Attack

Extra Attack

Katana (Longsword) - Attack +7, 1d8+3/1d10+3 (reroll 1 or 2)
Leather Armor

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Ability Score Improvement - Feat: Alert, +7 HP

7th Level - Know Your Enemy, +1 Superiority Die, +7 HP
Maneuvers: Trip Attack, Sweeping Attack

8th Level -  Ability Score Improvement +2 Dex, +7 HP

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus +4, Indomitable (one use), +7 HP

10th Level - Improved Combat Superiority 1d10, +7 HP
Maneuvers: Pushing Attack, Riposte

Reasoning: I gave the build "Alert" because that is a common samurai schtick.  As to chosen maneuvers, I'm avoiding the maneuvers that focus on teamwork.  The standard fictional samurai is usually about one on one tactics.  I also avoided parry since blocking with a katana was discouraged (that's more real life than fiction though) because they're relatively fragile compared to other swords.

10th Level Statistics

Human Fighter 10th
Str: 16
Dex: 19
Con: 12
Int: 13
Wis: 12
Cha: 10

HP: 74
AC: 15

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Armor Proficiencies: All armor, shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
Tools: Dice, Vehicles (Land), Calligrapher's Supplies
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Soldier) +7
Intimidation (Soldier) +4
Acrobatics (Fighter) +8
Insight (Fighter) +5
Perception (Human) +5

Feats: Resilient: Dexterity (Human), Alert

Background: Soldier

Second Wind
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Action Surge (one use) 
Martial Archetype: Battle Master
Superiority Dice: 5d10
Maneuvers: Evasive Footwork, Feinting Attack, Lunging Attack, Trip Attack, Sweeping Attack, Pushing Attack, Riposte
Extra Attack
Indomitable (one use)

Katana (Longsword) - Attack +8, 1d8+3/1d10+3 (reroll 1 or 2)
Leather Armor

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - Extra Attack (2), +7 HP

12th Level - Ability Score Improvement: Feat - Resilient - Wisdom, +7 HP

13th Level - Indomitable (two uses), Proficiency Bonus +5, +7 HP

14th Level - Ability Score Improvement, +1 Dex, +1 Wis

15th Level - Relentless, +1 Superiority Dice, +7 HP
Maneuvers: Disarming Attack, Precision Attack

Reasoning: I choose more one-on-one attacks.  Also, I gave the build Wisdom save proficiency with that feat because of the willpower associated with the character type.  There aren't too many more choices at this level.

15th Level Statistics

Human Fighter 15th
Str: 16
Dex: 20
Con: 12
Int: 13
Wis: 14
Cha: 10

HP: 109
AC: 16

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Armor Proficiencies: All armor, shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
Tools: Dice, Vehicles (Land), Calligrapher's Supplies
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Wisdom

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Soldier) +8
Intimidation (Soldier) +5
Acrobatics (Fighter) +10
Insight (Fighter) +7
Perception (Human) +7

Feats: Resilient: Dexterity (Human), Alert, Resilient: Wisdom

Background: Soldier

Second Wind
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Action Surge (one use) 
Martial Archetype: Battle Master
Superiority Dice: 5d10
Maneuvers: Evasive Footwork, Feinting Attack, Lunging Attack, Trip Attack, Sweeping Attack, Pushing Attack, Ripost, Disarming Attack, Precision Attack
Extra Attack (2)
Indomitable (two uses)

Katana (Longsword) - Attack +8, 1d8+3/1d10+3 (reroll 1 or 2)
Leather Armor

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement, +2 Strength, +7 HP

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus +6, Action Surge (two years), Indomitable (three uses), +7 HP

18th Level - Improved Combat Superiority (1d12), +7 HP

19th Level - Ability Score Improvement +2 Wisdom, +7 HP

20th Level - Extra Attacks (3), +7 HP

Reasoning: I choose to increase the character attributes rather than take more feats. I thought about taking Mobile for the extra run speed, but felt this was more necessary.

20th Level Statistics

Human Fighter 20th
Str: 18
Dex: 20
Con: 12
Int: 13
Wis: 16
Cha: 10

HP: 144
AC: 16

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Armor Proficiencies: All armor, shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
Tools: Dice, Vehicles (Land), Calligrapher's Supplies
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Wisdom

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Soldier) +10
Intimidation (Soldier) +6
Acrobatics (Fighter) +11
Insight (Fighter) +9
Perception (Human) +9

Feats: Resilient: Dexterity (Human), Alert, Resilient: Wisdom

Background: Soldier

Second Wind
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Action Surge (two uses)
Martial Archetype: Battle Master
Superiority Dice: 5d12
Maneuvers: Evasive Footwork, Feinting Attack, Lunging Attack, Trip Attack, Sweeping Attack, Pushing Attack, Riposte, Disarming Attack, Precision Attack
Extra Attack (3)
Indomitable (three uses)

Katana (Longsword) - Attack +10, 1d8+4/1d10+4 (reroll 1 or 2)
Leather Armor

Some 5e Builds