[3.5] Kensai "fix" suggestion!

[Rossebay]

Keep the entire PrC the same, except for one thing:
The Kensai may switch around the enhancements on his weapon at the beginning of each day, and it takes 1 hour, same as when a Wizard prepares spells.

Discuss.

[WinWin]

Look to the Soulknife. They have an ability similar to what you are describing.

Set list of 'enhancements known.' Perhaps have it improve with Kensai level.

Maybe even draw from the mechanics used by Annointed Champion or Warrior of Darkness.

[Orannis]

Also give it full BAB...

[Rossebay]

Also give it full BAB...

Then it's a level tax for everything that uses melee.

[Lateral]

Then it's a level tax for everything that uses melee.
No it's not. Kensai's not that good, even with full BAB.


Look to the Soulknife. They have an ability similar to what you are describing.

They also suck. Having a set list of enhancements known is pretty much the worst possible thing you could do to the Kensai.

[Rossebay]

No it's not. Kensai's not that good, even with full BAB.
They also suck. Having a set list of enhancements known is pretty much the worst possible thing you could do to the Kensai.

Well, with switchable enhancements and decent class abilities, it may not be a level tax, but it's one of the nicer classes. I'd definitely take at least 5 levels in the class.

And yeah. No Enhancements known. No way.

[WinWin]

They also suck. Having a set list of enhancements known is pretty much the worst possible thing you could do to the Kensai.

As opposed to a fixed enchantment, which may or may not be able to improve substantively at level up...

Being able to pick from a list allows for far more flexibility than can be obtained organically from a +1/class level increase.

[Rossebay]

As opposed to a fixed enchantment, which may or may not be able to improve substantively at level up...

Being able to pick from a list allows for far more flexibility than can be obtained organically from a +1/class level increase.

Or, like the cleric, being able to pick out of any enhancement at the beginning of the day, on a double weapon with Metalline, Morphing, and Changeling on the crap end, and a Warblade's Weapon Aptitude?

Congratulations. You can now have any melee/throwing weapon of any size in the game, made of most any material, with any enhancement on it you want at the beginning of the day.

[WinWin]

Is that even good? Cleric good?

You're talking about a minimum 10th level character that can bypass DR in order to deal hit point damage. A 10th level character.

With a standard Kensai, the moment you want to pick up something other than a +1 enhancement bonus at level up, you're effectively sacrificing an improvement to your signature ability for that entire level, possibly multiple levels depending on the cost of the special property.

I'm all for flexibilty. But I don't think the class should disincentivise the use of random gear obtained during a campaign. If a Kensai likes longswords, it makes no sense for them to toss away Excalibur or the Sword of Vecna. They should be able to lay down their Kensai enhancement bonuses on to whatever they consider their bonded weapon.

That helps keep them functional within the RNG. It does not force them to waste their class features on level approriate capabilities they should otherwise obtain from treasure. It also makes advancement in the class distinct from other high level weapon users, who also carry around magical weapons (but do not require class features to do so). Have a couple of bonus properties you can lay down makes the Kensai special, makes them stand out from the crowd...Which is the purpose of prestige classes, is it not?

[Rossebay]

Is that even good? Cleric good?

You're talking about a minimum 10th level character that can bypass DR in order to deal hit point damage. A 10th level character.

With a standard Kensai, the moment you want to pick up something other than a +1 enhancement bonus at level up, you're effectively sacrificing an improvement to your signature ability for that entire level, possibly multiple levels depending on the cost of the special property.

I'm all for flexibilty. But I don't think the class should disincentivise the use of random gear obtained during a campaign. If a Kensai likes longswords, it makes no sense for them to toss away Excalibur or the Sword of Vecna. They should be able to lay down their Kensai enhancement bonuses on to whatever they consider their bonded weapon.

That helps keep them functional within the RNG. It does not force them to waste their class features on level approriate capabilities they should otherwise obtain from treasure. It also makes advancement in the class distinct from other high level weapon users, who also carry around magical weapons (but do not require class features to do so). Have a couple of bonus properties you can lay down makes the Kensai special, makes them stand out from the crowd...Which is the purpose of prestige classes, is it not?

So then, what?

The ability to apply special abilities to any weapon at the beginning of the day? Switching 'signature' weapons daily?
Not that I'm against it.

[WinWin]

I don't know. Something like the abilities of Annointed Champion or Warrior of Darkness. The ability to apply bonus special properties to their signature weapon as an out-of-combat ability. Plus, more flexibility with their signature weapon choice would not hurt.

As it stands, the biggest problem with Kensai is that 'Gain Magical Weapon' as a class feature is somewhat redundant, given the normal expectations of level appropriate gear, especially if they end up with something less powerful than what similar character types dig out of a treasure pile.