Is the kensai broken?!

[Jeristo]

Ok, I know this is a total abuse of rules, and by RAW, probably would not work, but bear with me.

1. So, if you consider the unarmed strike to be a strike by any part of your body, your body is effectively the entire weapon.

2. The kensai PrC can effectively enhance unarmed strikes with weapon abilities. (Though there are probably a few easier ways to get this without going through kensai, it's just the first I noticed)

3. Sizing, a +1 enhancement, can change the size of the weapon as a standard action....to any size.

Now, with these 3 things in mind, what is to stop you from making your unarmed strikes (AKA yourself) colossal/fine as a standard action?

(Just toying with random ideas here for the most part, and seeing what everyone thinks of this)

[Quietus]

It's a strike with a *part* of your body. So you can't make your whole body change size, just your fists/feet/shoulder/etc.

[kamikasei]

Kensai can also give you flaming, throwing, returning unarmed strike. Rocket Punch!

Point being, DM should pay some attention to both the power and absurdity levels of the class in play.

(Note: for that matter it could give you a flaming, throwing, returning head).

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Increasing weapon size to get extra damage...

You could just play a Changeling and get levels in Warshaper to do what you describe not only free of XP costs and alignment restrictions, but also with no limit to just how big you can go. Even then, you'd have been better off basing your character's damage on Power Attack.

[Yuki Akuma]

Kensai can also give you flaming, throwing, returning unarmed strike. Rocket Punch!

Point being, DM should pay some attention to both the power and absurdity levels of the class in play.

(Note: for that matter it could give you a flaming, throwing, returning head).

If I were the DM I'd make it a "Hadoken" kinda thing...

[DMfromTheAbyss]

Bizarre, weird, but from a pure mechanical standpoint powerwise it is not neccessarily overpowered... at least if you consider you can only wield a "weapon" within how many size categories of your size... and the sizing enchantment changes the weapon size, not the "user's" size.

[Random NPC]

Now, with these 3 things in mind, what is to stop you from making your unarmed strikes (AKA yourself) colossal/fine as a standard action?

Making a part of me colossal with a standard action

Now, who needs Charisma?




ANYWAYS..... yeah, no. The Kensai, if anything, could use a boost

[One Step Two]

If I were the DM I'd make it a "Hadoken" kinda thing...

Wouldn't that be a head-oken?

[Quietus]

Increasing weapon size to get extra damage...

You could just play a Changeling and get levels in Warshaper to do what you describe not only free of XP costs and alignment restrictions, but also with no limit to just how big you can go. Even then, you'd have been better off basing your character's damage on Power Attack.

Warshaper is limited to one size increase. The Sizing enhancement isn't.

Does the Sizing enhancement eliminate the penalty for unusually sized weapons? Or would your overlarge hands/feet/head give appropriate penalties for being awkward as all get out?

[AslanCross]

If I were the DM I'd make it a "Hadoken" kinda thing...

I think it's meant to be a Ghost Rider thing, actually.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Warshaper is limited to one size increase. The Sizing enhancement isn't.

Does the Sizing enhancement eliminate the penalty for unusually sized weapons? Or would your overlarge hands/feet/head give appropriate penalties for being awkward as all get out?

No, it's described as being designed for characters who change sizes often, and would need a weapon capable of becoming the appropriate size. If a medium size character uses the Sizing property to cause any weapon, including his unarmed strike, to grow exceptionally large, he would no longer be capable of wielding it.

Warshaper gives no such limitation, it simply requires an additional activation for each size category you wish to grow it.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Ok, I know this is a total abuse of rules, and by RAW, probably would not work, but bear with me.

1. So, if you consider the unarmed strike to be a strike by any part of your body, your body is effectively the entire weapon.

2. The kensai PrC can effectively enhance unarmed strikes with weapon abilities. (Though there are probably a few easier ways to get this without going through kensai, it's just the first I noticed)

3. Sizing, a +1 enhancement, can change the size of the weapon as a standard action....to any size.

Now, with these 3 things in mind, what is to stop you from making your unarmed strikes (AKA yourself) colossal/fine as a standard action?

(Just toying with random ideas here for the most part, and seeing what everyone thinks of this)

This might work if you have a natural slam attack.

[Hunter Noventa]

This might work if you have a natural slam attack.

So a Warforged Kensai puts sizing on his slam attack? And can therefore become a giant robot? And puts flaming, throwing and returning on his fists to get a giant robot rocket punch?

I totally want to do this now.

[JeenLeen]

This might work if you have a natural slam attack.

Is there anything, such as one of the Totemist soulmelds in Magic of Incarnum, that gives Slam attacks? Well, anything besides being or becoming a vampire, mummy, or other monster?

I suppose Warshaper could let you 'grow' a Slam attack. Is that forbidden by its ability to grow a natural weapon if you do not normally have one?

[ImmortalAer]

I think it's meant to be a Ghost Rider thing, actually.

. . .

I'm using this, now. And wielding a chain.

[#Raptor]

Increasing weapon size to get extra damage...

Not always.

Greater Mighty Wallop increases a bludgeoning weapons damage by 1 size category/4lvls.
So a normal sized greatclub goes from 1d10 to 4d8 @ CL 12, to 6d8 @ CL 16. And it is a lvl 3 spell that lasts 1 hour/lvl.

Strongarm bracers are ok too if your caster won't or can't cast Greater Mighty Wallop on you.
But getting a +2 str item should usually be a higher priority. After that, get the bracers.

/E: Or be a race wich gets powerful build... Goliath and Half-Giant are both decent choices that offer alot more than just increased weapon dice.

[Keld Denar]

4 levels of Kensai nets you Brilliant Energy Weapon. If you were a monk before becoming a Kensai, you can make UASs with your whole body. That means your whole body is a weapon, and is made from Brilliant Energy and can pass through all non-organic material. Congratz, if you aren't walking on the grass, you are falling through the world.

Clipping error, please reset collisions!

EDIT:
The other broken thing you can do with a Kensai is donate your BAB to someone. Its not an attack bonus, you are actually giving part of your BAB to another character. But...how do I break this? Well, you give your BAB to another character who has 5 levels of Abjurant Champion. His caster level is equal to his BAB. Thusly, you can artificially inflate his CL during the morning buff routine to make your buffs more effective and harder to dispel.

[Zeful]

The other broken thing you can do with a Kensai is donate your BAB to someone. Its not an attack bonus, you are actually giving part of your BAB to another character. But...how do I break this? Well, you give your BAB to another character who has 5 levels of Abjurant Champion. His caster level is equal to his BAB. Thusly, you can artificially inflate his CL during the morning buff routine to make your buffs more effective and harder to dispel.

And give your weapon the skillful enhancement for permanent 3/4 Bab (with that specific weapon but, yeah).

[Curmudgeon]

Making a part of me colossal with a standard action

Now, who needs Charisma?

... but with no chance at all of putting it to use:

Inappropriately Sized Weapons

A creature can’t make optimum use of a weapon that isn’t properly sized for it.
... If a weapon’s designation would be changed to something other than light, one-handed, or two-handed by this alteration, the creature can’t wield the weapon at all.

[Siosilvar]

4 levels of Kensai nets you Brilliant Energy Weapon. If you were a monk before becoming a Kensai, you can make UASs with your whole body. That means your whole body is a weapon, and is made from Brilliant Energy and can pass through all non-organic material. Congratz, if you aren't walking on the grass, you are falling through the world.

Clipping error, please reset collisions!

What about the organic material in things like topsoil?

[Keld Denar]

Has to be living, otherwise Brilliant Energy would work on undead, which it doesn't. And don't give me any of this "thousands of living creatures and bacteria in the soil" BS.

Its just there for absurdity...don't go over analyzing it...

[TheCountAlucard]

... but with no chance at all of putting it to use:

Ah, but the unarmed strike remains a light weapon, no matter how many size categories you increase it.

An unarmed strike is always considered a light weapon.

[AmberVael]

I read this thread, and all I can think of is Mario in Super Smash Bros.
It would be hilarious to use. >.>

[Faleldir]

If a Monk's entire body is a weapon, a Psychic Warrior can summon a Monk with Call Weaponry!

[woodenbandman]

Oh god...

Put morphing on your unarmed strike and turn yourself into another person's unarmed strike (their whole body).

[Ganurath]

If a Monk's entire body is a weapon, a Psychic Warrior can summon a Monk with Call Weaponry!

I call... Epic Level Monk!

Also, Brilliant Energy Monk works five with Wings of Flying and the Improved Flight feat. The best part? Most attacks aren't made of organic material.

[Indon]

4 levels of Kensai nets you Brilliant Energy Weapon. If you were a monk before becoming a Kensai, you can make UASs with your whole body. That means your whole body is a weapon, and is made from Brilliant Energy and can pass through all non-organic material. Congratz, if you aren't walking on the grass, you are falling through the world.

Clipping error, please reset collisions!

Can't the Monk count his body as a natural or artificial weapon in regards to buffs depending on which is more beneficial? Just consider your body an artificial weapon for anything you don't want to drop through.

[Olo Demonsbane]

Keld stole my comment!

More sillyness: Add the weapon ability that lets it the weapon turn into different weapons (morphing). Because you are a monk, turn into a dart. Then get stuffed in someone's mouth. Change into a greatsword

Or, if you were willing to abuse RAW even more, you could change into a Tarrasaque Monk. Its entire body is a weapon!

[oxybe]

i believe the proper term is

GIGA... DRILL... BREEEAAAAKAHHHHH!

[chiasaur11]

So a Warforged Kensai puts sizing on his slam attack? And can therefore become a giant robot? And puts flaming, throwing and returning on his fists to get a giant robot rocket punch?

I totally want to do this now.

Who wouldn't?