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Sleepwalker13666 09-16-07, 07:20 PM

Kensei This is my attempt at integrating the kensei's ancestral weapon with the Weapons of Legacy, the flavor of the original Kensai I wrote up changes little, the main difference is the kensei must earn the powers of his ancestral weapon rather than simply unlocking them. There are two flaws I foresee which I hope to minimize with feedback. The First is the Reliance of DM fiat, while a normal Weapon of Legacy will create some fiat. I think this version does have the benefit of being more easily integrate-able to the DM's world. The Second is it takes some of the unique qualities of Legacy Weapons away, I had hoped that by having the weapon function as an unfounded legacy that it will somewhat ease this, but that will be for those reading to decide. The kensei is a master of their blades without equal. Many seek other known kensei to pursue their art through duels. Kensei unlock secrets of their ancestral blades as the master their skill. Adventurers: Kensei are usually traveling between towns and cities looking for the next challenger, though usually loners, Kensei have been known to travel with other adventurers for not all battles a kensei endures will be honorable duals. Races: Most kensei are human, few other races with their longer lived lives wish to pick up the sword in constantly engage in fatally dangerous duels. Religion: Kensei prefer philosophy over gods, they often pay homage to spirits and ancestors, but rarely choose a take up devotion to a God or Goddess. Other Classes: Kensei rarely travel with other melee classes, though there have been exceptions (usually with friendly or bitter competition between the two). Alignment: Any lawful Hit Dice: 1d10 Skills per Level: 4+Int per level, x4 at level 1. Class Skills: Bluff (Cha) Climb (str) Craft (Int) Diplomacy (Cha) Gather Information (Cha) Iajutsu Focus (cha) Intimidate (Cha) Jump (Str) Listen (wis) Sense Motive (Wis) Spot (Wis) Tumble (Dex) Weapon/Armor Proficiencies: Kensei are proficient in one sword, usually the katana, further unless the sword is their personal ancestral weapon, even if it is a weapon they are proficient in, they are at a -2 to wield it. Kensei are not proficient in armor, but as they level they become masters unarmored combat. Lv Att Fort Refl Will Special 01) +1 +2 +2 +0 Ancestral Blade, Scroll of Ancestral Wisdom, Omen 02) +2 +3 +3 +0 Quick Draw, Zanshin Mastery (Wis to Ac) 03) +3 +3 +3 +1 Bonus Feat, Zanshin Mastery (Dex to Ac) 04) +4 +4 +4 +1 Weapon Specialization 05) +5 +4 +4 +1 Evasion, Unarmored Ac +1, The Student's Lesson 06) +6/+1 +5 +5 +2 Bonus Feat 07) +7/+2 +5 +5 +2 Ki Strike (1 xday) 08) +8/+3 +6 +6 +2 Zanshin Mastery (No Flank) 09) +9/+4 +6 +6 +3 Bonus Feat 10) +10/+5 +7 +7 +3 Unarmored Ac +2 11) +11/+6/+1 +7 +7 +3 The Initiate's Lesson 12) +12/+7/+2 +8 +8 +4 Bonus Feat 13) +13/+8/+3 +8 +8 +4 Ki Strike (2 xday) 14) +14/+9/+4 +9 +9 +4 Combat Acrobat 15) +15/+10/+5 +9 +9 +5 Bonus Feat, Unarmored Ac +3 16) +16/+11/+6/+1 +10 +10 +5 Bounding Assault 17) +17/+12/+7/+2 +10 +10 +5 The Master's Lesson 18) +18/+13/+8/+3 +11 +11 +6 Bonus Feat 19) +19/+14/+9/+4 +11 +11 +6 Ki Strike (3 xday) 20) +20/+15/+10/+5 +12 +12 +6 Unarmored Ac +4 Ancestral Blade: The Kensei starts his career with a masterwork weapon that he is proficient with, this weapon is his ancestral blade, it is usually passed onto him by a former teacher, or in kensai schools a retired or slain kensei's sword will be passed onto new candidates. Kensei go through great pains to maintain and protect these swords. Should a Kensei's Ancestral Weapon be lost, stolen or destroyed he may no longer level as a kensei until it is found, recovered, or reforged, Kensei often consider it a thing of great shame for misfortune to fall upon their blades. While this weapon functions as a Wepon of Legacy, until the Master's Lesson has been completed, or the current owner dies and the Scroll of Ancestral Wisdom is obtained, it can not be unlocked by other users. Scroll of Ancestral Wisdom: Like the Kensei's ancestral weapons, he is appointed a scroll of importances for him. This scroll contains wisdom and scripture that will one day show him the path of the legendary swordsman he may become. Without this scroll he will never be able to learn the Student, Initiate or Master Lessons. Omen: The ancestral weapon of the Kensei is an unfounded legacy (see Weapons of Legacy pg.179), like all Legacy items, a small hint of it's power manifest. Either the Dm and Player should work together to determine what the weapon will become, or the DM alone decides the weapons fate (depending on group preference). It is recommended the DM select the cost progression and rituals needed to unlock the weapon. It is recommended that the cost progression be selected from tables 4-1, 4-2, 4-4 or 4-5 found on Weapons of Legacy pages 185-186. Quick Draw: Kensei learn early on how to remove their ancestral weapons with fluid speed and grace, the kensei gains quick draw with his ancestral weapon, even if this weapon would not normally be available for the feat. Zanshin Mastery: The Kensei has an exception sense of perception that allows him to react to danger, at level 2 the kensei gains his wisdom bonus to Ac so long as he remains unarmored and is carrying no more than a light load, at level 3 he retains his dexterity bonus to Ac even if caught flat footed, finally at level 8 the kensei cannot longer be flanked. Bonus Feat: At levels 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 the kensei is able to master techniques to enhance his personal style, he may select any feat from the fighters or samurai's bonus list as though his was an equal level fighter, he may also select Legacy Weapon Feats. Weapon Specialization: At level 4 the kensei gains this feat for free and applies it to his ancestral weapon. Evasion: The kensei is able to react to unusual attacks with cunning grace, when making a reflex save versus an attack for partial damage, if successful instead takes no damage. The Student's Lesson: The Scroll of Ancestral Wisdom is now partially understandable to the Kensei, he is now ready to pursue the secrets within his Ancestral Weapon. The Dm appoints him task after appropriate cost are spent, unlocking his Least Legacy abilities. The player may first unlock this ability at level 5, but does not have to or may be unable to. Least Legacy abilities can be selected from Ability Menus A, B, and C found in Weapons of Legacy pages 188-193. Unarmored Ac: The kensei gains a bonus to Ac so long as he remains unarmored and is carrying no more than a light load. Ki Strike: The Kensei can focus Ki into his ancestral blade, and unleash devastating strikes with them. A Ki strike is performed as a standard action, the player makes an attack role, if successful the attack deals maximum damage, a player must declare he is using ki strike before the attack role is made as a failed role waste the attempt. Ki Strike only maximizes the base weapon damage, additional effects such as magical enhancements, maneuvers or Iajutsu Focus will not be maximized. The Initiate's Lesson:The Scroll of Ancestral Wisdom is unveils more of it's secrets to the Kensei, he is now ready to further pursue the secrets within his Ancestral Weapon. The Dm appoints him task after appropriate cost are spent, unlocking his Lesser Legacy abilities. The player may first unlock this ability at level 11, but does not have to or may be unable to. Lesser Legacy abilities can be selected from Ability Menus D, E, and F found in Weapons of Legacy pages 193-199. Combat Acrobat: The Kensei gains the Combat Acrobat Feat (see players handbook II pg. 76) as a bonus feat whether or not he meets the requirements. If the kensei already possesses this feat he may select another feat from his bonus feat list. Bounding Assault: The kensei gains the Bounding Assault Feat(see players handbook II pg. 75) as a bonus feat whether or not he meets the requirements. If the kensei already possesses this feat he may select another feat from his bonus feat list. The Master's Lesson: The kensai is able to find clarity in The Scroll of Ancestral Wisdom, he is now ready to master the secrets within his Ancestral Weapon. The DM appoints him task after appropriate cost are spent, unlocking his Greater Legacy abilities. The player may first unlock this ability at level 17, but does not have to or may be unable to. Lesser Legacy abilities can be selected from Ability Menus G, H, and I found in Weapons of Legacy pages 199-204. Multi-Class Note: A player must seek a master to take levels in kensei if he does not start off as a kensei at level 1, while it is not unheard of for various warriors to take up the sword saints path, they can not do it without training. Training time is 1 month per previous level the character has, thus a 3rd level samurai must spend three months training. A kensei who multi classes cannot level as a kensai again with the exception of monk or samurai. A kensei may freely multi-class between monk and kensei even though the monk may not normally multi-class. Ex Kensai: A kensei who losses his ancestral weapon or Scroll of Ancestral Wisdom and cannot recover it can choose to become an equal level monk or fighter. A kensei who changes from his lawful alignment may not level as a kensei again, but losses no class features, should he regain his lawful alignment, he may spend one week in training for each level he has to take the kensei's path again. A kensei who losses his ancestral weapon or scroll of ancestral wisdom and does not have a lawful alignment may not change his kensei levels to monk levels.