A Kensai variant, for review... (Mods: move this) [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Kensai variant, for review... (Mods: move this) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Visanideth
05-03-04, 05:22 AM Small foreword: this variant PrC is designed following the Kensai class presented in the Complete Warrior. It is not my goal to criticize, improve or suppress said class: I'm just using it as guidelines and as a comparison for balance purposes.

I've yet to give it a name; in my homebrew world, the "normal" kensai does not exist, so I'll call it Kensai Blademaster.

The concept behind the class is that of taking the Kensai concept (warrior bonded with a specific weapon) and alter it so that it becomes much less versatile but more focused. The Kensai Blademaster is the heir of an ancient tradition of swordmasters; he employes a very specific type of sword, and instead of imbuing it with magical powers, he learns various techniques that emulated a small number of special abilities. He's less magik, more skill. Less leader, more swordsman. The diplomat aspect is still very important (in my world, Kensai are somewhat similar to Jedis).

P.S.: english is not my first language, so bear with me.

The Kensai Blademaster:

Requisites:
Alignement: any lawful
B.a.B.: +7
Skills: Concentration 5 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks
Feats: Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Weapon Specialization (bastard sword)
Special: all kensai swordmasters must follow a specific oath of service (see CW).

B.a.B.: average (+0/+1/+2/+3/+3/+4/+5/+6/+6/+7)
Saves: Fort and Refl poor, Will good.
Skills: same as the "core" kensai, but they lose Ride in favor of Tumble (this has very specific roleplay reasons in my world - a kensai would never ride a horse).

Class Features:

Weapon and Armor proficiency: the kensai blademaster retains all proficiencies he had before entering the class, and gains no new proficiency. However, at 1° lvl Kensai Blademasters become proficient with the Kensai Blade, an extremely rare type of sword designed specifically to obtain the best results from the techniques the Kensai Blademaster learns over the course of his career.
The Kensai Blade is a variant bastard sword, with a very simple hilt and an expecially crafted blade; it has the same features of the bastard sword, but it's so well balanced that it is considered the same as a rapier for the purpose of applying feats and abilities like Weapon Finesse. A character with the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword) feat is not considered proficient with the blade; however, a Kensai Blademaster of lvl 1 or more can wield it with no penality, and he can also apply the Focus and Specialization feats he has applied to the bastard sword to the Kensai Blade too.
Signature Weapon: the same rules outlined in the CW apply to this class feature, with the following exceptions: a kensai b. can only link with kensai blade. The rules for losing/replacing the weapon are the same; however, the kensai b. can't imbue the weapon with magical properties.
Master of Styles: the kensai b. is a swordsman of unparalled skill. At 1° lvl, the kensai b. begins to learn the techniques that form the backbone of the ancient fighting tradition he follows.
This features works much like the imbue weapon special ability of the core kensai, with the following modifications:
- the total bonus remains the same (equal to character lvl, no more than +5 as an "enanchment" bonus)
- the kensai sacrifice the listed xp prices at any moment after he reached the required lvl as usual. This represent intense meditation and training devoted to "unlocking" further secrets of the fighting style. After he spends the xp costs, he unlocks the appropriate bonuses.
- the kensai can choose powers only from an extremely limited list (see below), as said powers are merely a gaming tool to emulated his skill in combat (and no amount of fighting prowess would allow you to shroud your blade in flames or give it spellstoring properties).
- the powers emulated by a kensai b. are not of magical nature; they can't be dispelled and they're not suppressed inside an anti-magic field.
- the kensai b. doesn't apply his powers once and for all; he can redistribute his bonuses (for example, a kensai b. of at least 2° lvl may use apply a +2 enanchement bonus to his sword and later change it to +1 and keen). Essentially, the kensai must meditate for 20 minutes each morning (much like priest pray for spells, but without the 8 hours of rest prerequisite) and declare what bonuses (i.e., what fighting style, from an RP point of view) he is focusing on. He can later change this style during the same day, but redistributing the bonuses require 1 minute of meditation.

List of styles (powers):
- at lvl 1, the kensai b. sacrifices 40 xp and he can add a +1 enanchment bonus to his blade. Also, his blade is considered magical for the purposes of bypassing DR (magical kensai blades are practically unheard of).
- at lvl 2, the kensai b. sacrifices 160 xp, and the bonus becomes +2. He also unlocks the keen (DMG), defending (DMG), ghost touch (DMG), Merciful (DMG), Mighty Cleaving (DMG), Throwing (DMG) and Harmony (A&EG) abilities. All these abilities are +1 equivalent, meaning that at lvl 2 the kensai b. can choose between applying a +2 enanchment bonus or a +1 bonus and one of the above abilities (and so on: at lvl 3, he can choose between a +3, a +2 and a lvl 1 ability, a +1 and a lvl 2 ability or a +1 and two lvl 1 abilities).
- at lvl 3, the kensai b. sacrifices 360 xp, and the bonus become +3. He also unlocks the Wounding (DMG), Disarming (A&EG), Eager (A&EG), Fierce (A&EG), and Stunning (A&EG - this is the only "energy" type of bonus the kensai b. can obtain, and represents extremely fast, "screeching" sweeps of the blade) abilities.
- at lvl 4, the kensai b. sacrifices 640 xp, and the bonus becomes +4. He also unlocks the Speed (DMG) and Knockback (A&EG) abilities.
- at lvl 5, the kensai b. sacrifices 1000 xp and the bonus becomes +5. He also unlocks the Brilliant Energy (DMG) special ability (this is the most powerful kensai b. ability, the power to use brilliant energy with a bladed weapon - thus undoing the ability's downside. We play with the UA class AC and armor ad damage conversion optional rules, so in our campaign this is pretty balanced. If you feel that this is too much, remove the power from the list). This ability is the only "supernatural" effect that kensai can create: the blade is effectively engulfed in white light (and this power can be magically suppressed).
- at lvl 6, the kensai b. sacrifices 1,440 xp, and the bonus becomes +6. He also unlocks the Vorpal (DMG) special ability.
At lvl 7, 8, 9, and 10, the kensai sacrifices the xp costs listed on the CW, and the total bonus raises of 1 point, up to +10 at lvl 10. The kensai doesn't unlock any further special ability.

Ki Projection: as the core kensai ability, both at 4° and 8° lvl.
Withstand: as the core kensai ability.
Instill: as the core kensai ability.
Ki Warlord: the kensai blademaster doesn't gain this feature.

I need opinions on how balanced you consider the class, and how it compares to the original class. Thanks for the help.
RoastSlinky
05-03-04, 05:24 AM Prestige Classes board, please?
Visanideth
05-03-04, 05:35 AM Oh, this is for core class only?

Umm, can I move the thread myself or I need to wait for a moderator?
rogue_lettuce
05-03-04, 05:45 AM Yes, it's for only core classes, and the prestige class on is in the DMG boards. I believe a mod will move it soon, though if I remember correctly, you can rename the thread "Please Move" so it catches their attention:)
rogue_lettuce
05-03-04, 08:15 AM Glad I could help:)
Visanideth
05-03-04, 08:41 AM Thank you, sir.

Let's just wait for a mod. Meanwhile, anybody is free to comment. It's not against the TOS, as far as I know :) .

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Visanideth 05-03-04, 05:22 AM	Small foreword: this variant PrC is designed following the Kensai class presented in the Complete Warrior. It is not my goal to criticize, improve or suppress said class: I'm just using it as guidelines and as a comparison for balance purposes. I've yet to give it a name; in my homebrew world, the "normal" kensai does not exist, so I'll call it Kensai Blademaster. The concept behind the class is that of taking the Kensai concept (warrior bonded with a specific weapon) and alter it so that it becomes much less versatile but more focused. The Kensai Blademaster is the heir of an ancient tradition of swordmasters; he employes a very specific type of sword, and instead of imbuing it with magical powers, he learns various techniques that emulated a small number of special abilities. He's less magik, more skill. Less leader, more swordsman. The diplomat aspect is still very important (in my world, Kensai are somewhat similar to Jedis). P.S.: english is not my first language, so bear with me. The Kensai Blademaster: Requisites: Alignement: any lawful B.a.B.: +7 Skills: Concentration 5 ranks, Diplomacy 5 ranks, Tumble 5 ranks Feats: Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus (bastard sword), Weapon Specialization (bastard sword) Special: all kensai swordmasters must follow a specific oath of service (see CW). B.a.B.: average (+0/+1/+2/+3/+3/+4/+5/+6/+6/+7) Saves: Fort and Refl poor, Will good. Skills: same as the "core" kensai, but they lose Ride in favor of Tumble (this has very specific roleplay reasons in my world - a kensai would never ride a horse). Class Features: Weapon and Armor proficiency: the kensai blademaster retains all proficiencies he had before entering the class, and gains no new proficiency. However, at 1° lvl Kensai Blademasters become proficient with the Kensai Blade, an extremely rare type of sword designed specifically to obtain the best results from the techniques the Kensai Blademaster learns over the course of his career. The Kensai Blade is a variant bastard sword, with a very simple hilt and an expecially crafted blade; it has the same features of the bastard sword, but it's so well balanced that it is considered the same as a rapier for the purpose of applying feats and abilities like Weapon Finesse. A character with the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Bastard Sword) feat is not considered proficient with the blade; however, a Kensai Blademaster of lvl 1 or more can wield it with no penality, and he can also apply the Focus and Specialization feats he has applied to the bastard sword to the Kensai Blade too. Signature Weapon: the same rules outlined in the CW apply to this class feature, with the following exceptions: a kensai b. can only link with kensai blade. The rules for losing/replacing the weapon are the same; however, the kensai b. can't imbue the weapon with magical properties. Master of Styles: the kensai b. is a swordsman of unparalled skill. At 1° lvl, the kensai b. begins to learn the techniques that form the backbone of the ancient fighting tradition he follows. This features works much like the imbue weapon special ability of the core kensai, with the following modifications: - the total bonus remains the same (equal to character lvl, no more than +5 as an "enanchment" bonus) - the kensai sacrifice the listed xp prices at any moment after he reached the required lvl as usual. This represent intense meditation and training devoted to "unlocking" further secrets of the fighting style. After he spends the xp costs, he unlocks the appropriate bonuses. - the kensai can choose powers only from an extremely limited list (see below), as said powers are merely a gaming tool to emulated his skill in combat (and no amount of fighting prowess would allow you to shroud your blade in flames or give it spellstoring properties). - the powers emulated by a kensai b. are not of magical nature; they can't be dispelled and they're not suppressed inside an anti-magic field. - the kensai b. doesn't apply his powers once and for all; he can redistribute his bonuses (for example, a kensai b. of at least 2° lvl may use apply a +2 enanchement bonus to his sword and later change it to +1 and keen). Essentially, the kensai must meditate for 20 minutes each morning (much like priest pray for spells, but without the 8 hours of rest prerequisite) and declare what bonuses (i.e., what fighting style, from an RP point of view) he is focusing on. He can later change this style during the same day, but redistributing the bonuses require 1 minute of meditation. List of styles (powers): - at lvl 1, the kensai b. sacrifices 40 xp and he can add a +1 enanchment bonus to his blade. Also, his blade is considered magical for the purposes of bypassing DR (magical kensai blades are practically unheard of). - at lvl 2, the kensai b. sacrifices 160 xp, and the bonus becomes +2. He also unlocks the keen (DMG), defending (DMG), ghost touch (DMG), Merciful (DMG), Mighty Cleaving (DMG), Throwing (DMG) and Harmony (A&EG) abilities. All these abilities are +1 equivalent, meaning that at lvl 2 the kensai b. can choose between applying a +2 enanchment bonus or a +1 bonus and one of the above abilities (and so on: at lvl 3, he can choose between a +3, a +2 and a lvl 1 ability, a +1 and a lvl 2 ability or a +1 and two lvl 1 abilities). - at lvl 3, the kensai b. sacrifices 360 xp, and the bonus become +3. He also unlocks the Wounding (DMG), Disarming (A&EG), Eager (A&EG), Fierce (A&EG), and Stunning (A&EG - this is the only "energy" type of bonus the kensai b. can obtain, and represents extremely fast, "screeching" sweeps of the blade) abilities. - at lvl 4, the kensai b. sacrifices 640 xp, and the bonus becomes +4. He also unlocks the Speed (DMG) and Knockback (A&EG) abilities. - at lvl 5, the kensai b. sacrifices 1000 xp and the bonus becomes +5. He also unlocks the Brilliant Energy (DMG) special ability (this is the most powerful kensai b. ability, the power to use brilliant energy with a bladed weapon - thus undoing the ability's downside. We play with the UA class AC and armor ad damage conversion optional rules, so in our campaign this is pretty balanced. If you feel that this is too much, remove the power from the list). This ability is the only "supernatural" effect that kensai can create: the blade is effectively engulfed in white light (and this power can be magically suppressed). - at lvl 6, the kensai b. sacrifices 1,440 xp, and the bonus becomes +6. He also unlocks the Vorpal (DMG) special ability. At lvl 7, 8, 9, and 10, the kensai sacrifices the xp costs listed on the CW, and the total bonus raises of 1 point, up to +10 at lvl 10. The kensai doesn't unlock any further special ability. Ki Projection: as the core kensai ability, both at 4° and 8° lvl. Withstand: as the core kensai ability. Instill: as the core kensai ability. Ki Warlord: the kensai blademaster doesn't gain this feature. I need opinions on how balanced you consider the class, and how it compares to the original class. Thanks for the help.
RoastSlinky 05-03-04, 05:24 AM	Prestige Classes board, please?
Visanideth 05-03-04, 05:35 AM	Oh, this is for core class only? Umm, can I move the thread myself or I need to wait for a moderator?
rogue_lettuce 05-03-04, 05:45 AM	Yes, it's for only core classes, and the prestige class on is in the DMG boards. I believe a mod will move it soon, though if I remember correctly, you can rename the thread "Please Move" so it catches their attention:)
rogue_lettuce 05-03-04, 08:15 AM	Glad I could help:)
Visanideth 05-03-04, 08:41 AM	Thank you, sir. Let's just wait for a mod. Meanwhile, anybody is free to comment. It's not against the TOS, as far as I know :) .