Customized Kensei weapon choice.

[Dudewithknives]

Ok, here is the info.

Kensei was always a great option in older systems but in 5e it was completely misshandled, so I tried to fix it thusly.


A Kensei is a weapon specialist and as such, they specialize in the use of one specific weapon.

Way of the Kensei:
When you chose this path at level 3, choose one weapon to be your Kensei weapon. This weapon is also considered to be a Monk Weapon.
- You gain a +1 to hit and a +1 to damage when you wield this weapon.
- If you make a melee attack with your Kensei weapon on your turn you gain +2 AC until the start of your next turn as you use your weapon to deflect attacks.
- If you make a ranged attack with your Kensei weapon, you do not suffer from Disadvantage due to being within 5 ft of an enemy or because of attacking from long range.
If your Kensei weapon has the thrown property it gains the ammunition property as well.
- If you are on the same plane as your Kensei Weapon you may call it to your hand as a bonus action. You may not be disarmed of your Kensei Weapon

Kensei Focus:
Beginning at level 3, any time you use an ability that can be used with an unarmed strike and/or a monk weapon, you may use your kensei weapon instead. (ex. Flurry, martial arts, stunning strike ect.) The uses and effects of your monk abilities remain unchanged other than they may be delivered using your Kensei Weapon. (Ex. Stunning still has to be in melee range but can be done with your kensei weapon)

Soul of the Kensei:
At level 6, your bond to your Kensei weapon is more than just that of a weapon and its user, you can feel the very soul of your weapon and are bound to it. Any attack you make using your Kensei weapon ignores resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, slashing or immunity to non-magic weapons.

Ki Focus Weapon:
At level 11, your Kensei weapon truly awakens and gives you a 6th sense toward the weakness of your enemies, and when your enemy falls, your weapon takes some of their ki. You now critically hit on a roll of 19 - 20 and when you critically hit an enemy or incapacitate/kill an enemy using your Kensei weapon, you regain 1 point of Ki.

Weapon, Body and Soul as One:
At level 17, your body, your weapon and your soul all become one coherent being. You may spend a point of Ki to reroll any miss you make using your Kensei weapon, and you never suffer disadvantage on any attack roll you make using your Kensei Weapon.



My main question is what weapon to pick.

I am thinking a spear, or daggers simply because they are so easy to carry.

P.S. sharpshooter and GWM do not have the -5 to hit for +10 damage options, they are replaced with +1 dex and +1 str respectively.

[Dudewithknives]

Gee, thanks guys, not sure how long it will take to sift through all these great insights...

[JNAProductions]

First off: This is blatantly overpowered. Not horrifically so, but more than what I'd allow.

Second off: Dude, it was two hours. Can you not wait at least a day before moaning about people not clamoring to comment over your (posted in the wrong forum, by the way) homebrew?

[Kryx]

Second off: Dude, it was two hours. Can you not wait at least a day before moaning about people not clamoring to comment over your (posted in the wrong forum, by the way) homebrew?
Seriously, so incredibly entitled.

[Lombra]

Did you read the revised kensai subclass? Because the revised one is pretty good under many aspects.

[Dudewithknives]

Did you read the revised kensai subclass? Because the revised one is pretty good under many aspects.

It is a subclass thay is built around you using your weapon in combat but the first ability they get, they one that gives them 2 ac, only works it they do not use it.

[Dudewithknives]

Seriously, so incredibly entitled.

It was already off the front page.

Very few people bother to read things once they are off the front page.

[Dudewithknives]

First off: This is blatantly overpowered. Not horrifically so, but more than what I'd allow.

Second off: Dude, it was two hours. Can you not wait at least a day before moaning about people not clamoring to comment over your (posted in the wrong forum, by the way) homebrew?

I never asked for any opinions about the subclass itself. I asked what weapon should be picked to use it with. So no it is not on the wrong forum. It is no different than people asking how to build their character with certain house rules in place.

Alao, get your attitude straight or don't comment at all.

[jaappleton]

I have an honest question....

.....Does anything stop you from selecting your fist as your Kensei weapon?

Unarmed Strike does appear on the weapon table of the PHB. I don't believe you're forced to select something you aren't already proficient in.

[Dudewithknives]

I have an honest question....

.....Does anything stop you from selecting your fist as your Kensei weapon?

Unarmed Strike does appear on the weapon table of the PHB. I don't believe you're forced to select something you aren't already proficient in.

No, nothing stopping you.

We have a UA Kensei monk in a game right now that chose his fist simply so he was not screwed over by their ability thay gives them 2 ac.

I was thinking spear or dagger, they are both monk weapons anyway.

[jaappleton]

No, nothing stopping you.

We have a UA Kensei monk in a game right now that chose his fist simply so he was not screwed over by their ability thay gives them 2 ac.

I was thinking spear or dagger, they are both monk weapons anyway.

And it can (though not always) help with the magic weapon scenario. If I find 'generic +1 handwraps' as a magic item, I can just stick with that for all my attacks, including the bonus attacks granted by Martial Arts and Flurry, as opposed to a magic sword, which wouldn't apply, right?

[TheTeaMustFlow]

Firstly, you should not use this class, because it is blatantly overpowered - particularly at low levels, where it can achieve almost double the DPR of any other monk option, while also having significantly better AC. At high levels it also suffers from the bag of rats problem.

Secondly, if using this blatantly overpowered subclass, you should use as high damage a weapon as possible (whether it is melee or ranged is mostly a matter of preference - note, however, that stunning strike cannot be made with a ranged weapon attack, even if said attack is performed at melee range.) Since the class does not actually provide proficiency with your weapon of choice, you should choose your race or take a dip to gain access to better weapons. A fighter dip is also useful for acquiring a fighting style. Spear or dagger are both inferior choices, as they do not provide much of a damage boost over regular martial arts damage.


Alao, get your attitude straight or don't comment at all.

Thirdly, Pot, meet Kettle.

[Dudewithknives]

And it can (though not always) help with the magic weapon scenario. If I find 'generic +1 handwraps' as a magic item, I can just stick with that for all my attacks, including the bonus attacks granted by Martial Arts and Flurry, as opposed to a magic sword, which wouldn't apply, right?

Well this hits a few snags.

1. Some GMs, and in my area at least, most gms, just roll magic loot on the tables. So there is no chance to ever get a magic hand wrap. Most tables would let it have a possibility of coming up an unarmed type weapon but some might not.

2. If you mean with this version of Kensei, your Kensei weapon can be used for all monk abilities, if you choose. So if you have a rapier as your Kensei weapon then yes you can use it for MA attack or flurry. You could still just pick unarmed strike as your Kensei weapon and do everything the normal way and just get a few bonuses along the way. I can definately see the appeal of it.

I was thinking spear simply because it can be used in so many different ways.

[Lombra]

It is a subclass thay is built around you using your weapon in combat but the first ability they get, they one that gives them 2 ac, only works it they do not use it.

It works when you use it and an unarmed strike. Trading what? 1, 2 points of damage for +2 AC? It's pretty darn good. Also allowing both ranged and melee weapons simultaneously is a smart choice that makes the character feel always rewarded from its subclass.

[Dudewithknives]

Firstly, you should not use this class, because it is blatantly overpowered - particularly at low levels, where it can achieve almost double the DPR of any other monk option, while also having significantly better AC. At high levels it also suffers from the bag of rats problem.

Secondly, if using this blatantly overpowered subclass, you should use as high damage a weapon as possible (whether it is melee or ranged is mostly a matter of preference - note, however, that stunning strike cannot be made with a ranged weapon attack, even if said attack is performed at melee range.) Since the class does not actually provide proficiency with your weapon of choice, you should choose your race or take a dip to gain access to better weapons. A fighter dip is also useful for acquiring a fighting style. Spear or dagger are both inferior choices, as they do not provide much of a damage boost over regular martial arts damage.



Thirdly, Pot, meet Kettle.

The fact that they are not auto proficient with every weapon was intentional.

Could you pick a greatsword as your Kensei weapon, sure, but you would have to take a level in some other class or a feat to get it.

Monks are proficient t with more weapons than can actually be monk weapoms. This gives them a few extra optioms, also racial weapons like elves with a longbow or dwarves with their hammers.

Also there is no bag of rats problem either, most classes that have an ability on kill say a creature. This says "an enemy" a rat or a bird or anything that you are just killing on a whim because it is so easy is not an enemy. An enemy is someone who intends you harm, random small animals do not.

[Dudewithknives]

It works when you use it and an unarmed strike. Trading what? 1, 2 points of damage for +2 AC? It's pretty darn good. Also allowing both ranged and melee weapons simultaneously is a smart choice that makes the character feel always rewarded from its subclass.

You gain that ability at level 3. So you think it is a perfectly fine design for a monk to stand around holding his monk weapon but never swinging it for 2 whole levels so he can benefit from his own class ability.

I personally call it bad design when a subclass that is built around you using new weapons actually gives you a better reward to just hold it and not use it, than it does to actual attack with it.

[JNAProductions]

The fact that they are not auto proficient with every weapon was intentional.

Could you pick a greatsword as your Kensei weapon, sure, but you would have to take a level in some other class or a feat to get it.

Monks are proficient t with more weapons than can actually be monk weapoms. This gives them a few extra optioms, also racial weapons like elves with a longbow or dwarves with their hammers.

Also there is no bag of rats problem either, most classes that have an ability on kill say a creature. This says "an enemy" a rat or a bird or anything that you are just killing on a whim because it is so easy is not an enemy. An enemy is someone who intends you harm, random small animals do not.

Warlocks have that ability, and it gives THP. Notice how THP doesn't stack.

Yes, the DM can rule it doesn't apply to weak creatures, but it's broken as written.

In addition, even with that ruling, it's still an overly powerful subclass.

[TheTeaMustFlow]

You gain that ability at level 3. So you think it is a perfectly fine design for a monk to stand around holding his monk weapon but never swinging it for 2 whole levels so he can benefit from his own class ability.

I personally call it bad design when a subclass that is built around you using new weapons actually gives you a better reward to just hold it and not use it, than it does to actual attack with it.

He is using it. He's using it to defend.


Also there is no bag of rats problem either, most classes that have an ability on kill say a creature. This says "an enemy" a rat or a bird or anything that you are just killing on a whim because it is so easy is not an enemy. An enemy is someone who intends you harm, random small animals do not.

What JNAProductions said.

[GlenSmash!]

I have an honest question....

.....Does anything stop you from selecting your fist as your Kensei weapon?

Unarmed Strike does appear on the weapon table of the PHB. I don't believe you're forced to select something you aren't already proficient in.

I thought official errata removed unarmed strike from the weapon table?

[Lombra]

I thought official errata removed unarmed strike from the weapon table?

Yes it did

[JBPuffin]

It took me awhile to see the problem with this, not gonna lie. What it doesn't do is give the monk new things to do, just makes them better at murdering things with a weapon. Quite a bit better, true - Close Quarters Shooter/Defense variant/damage boost, all at level 3, and that weapon's a monk weapon forever...sure, Mr. Half-Orc GS Kensai, I suppose GWM and Savage Attacker are good investments in you OHKO skills...In all seriousness, the other abilities are probably okay for their levels in the end. It all just feels so flat. I get that you had a problem with the other versions of Kensai (as did most of the Playground - frankly, my dear, I didn't give a damn), but taking the concept and just giving the guy a bunch of number bumps as a reward kills any appeal for the idea. Make it interesting. Heck, maybe not even unique - Whirlwind/Volley, anyone? - but something more than numbers.

Oh, and general question to the Playground: why isn't Weapon Master a feat which turns a person into a Kensai-like dedicated master, instead of the piece of garbage four-weapon-proficiency thing it is. What?!C values Elven Weapon Training as equal to Savage Attacker and GWM, based on that stupid thing...and when did Monks become the weapon masters? Shouldn't that be the fighter? And [degenerates into incoherent ranting...]


Monks are proficient with more weapons than can actually be monk weapons. This gives them a few extra options, also racial weapons like elves with a longbow or dwarves with their hammers.

Also also (don't mind the Grammar Fairy), what weapons are monks naturally proficient in that they can't use their features with? I get the second bit, makes perfect sense, but by default all the weapons monk provides proficiency with are *monk weapons,* so all their class features, like Martial Arts, are fine.

And, of course, we rediscovered the classic "I bring a sack of angry rats with me" problem optimizers love, DMs either ban or make necessary, and some gawk and point at in horror. Do you guys want ants in this thread, because this is how we get ants!

Apparently, up-at-night JBPuffin channels Shoddycast/Game Theorist/mad Youtube scientist Austin Hourigan. It's kind of fun, honestly...