Fighter Kensai Preview

[Cold_Stele]

So unless things are being changed, monk is pointless to have on a Kensai.

It's flavor I guess - let's face it if you were so into min/maxing you wouldn't have either a Ftr or a Monk.

Personally, I'm very happy.

Nice enough to be competitive without being broken.

This PrE may not do much for S&B but are we really surprised by that? They'll get their love with Defender and/or PDK.

Once again thanks Eladrin.

[Eladrin]

Monk is useless for the kensai. Sure it makes for cool flavor.

But you can't generate Ki uncentered, and even if you have the Ki, can't use it, when you're uncentered. You take too big of a hit to damage potential even dabbling in 6 fighter levels as a monk, and you basically get an extra couple of feats by splashing 2 levels of monk.

So unless things are being changed, monk is pointless to have on a Kensai.

I'm sure someone will surprise me with some deviant Monk/Kensai/Thief-Acrobat.

will the +1 critical threat range with your signature weapon from Kensai III double with the Improved Crit feat?

It should be added after doubling.

Will the increased chance of Special Effect on Glancing Blows include a chance of a Rogues Sneak Attack?

"Special effects" refers to things like "flaming", "vorpal", and the like.

I'll make sure that Tempest and Frenzied Berserker are early on the list of previews to take care of concerns that are related to them.

[binnsr]

I'm sure someone will surprise me with some deviant Monk/Kensai/Thief-Acrobat.

Actually, I was thinking more on the lines of 12Ftr/6Rgr/2Mnk Kensai II/Tempest I/Wind Stance Kama-wielding Halfling Fool.

[Nyvn]

It's no blow you away Damage but it looks like a good boost. The Cost is kinda high. Since the 8 STR draws from the attack boost I'm rather glad it doesn't need haste boost as a pre req. Trade in the useless attack boost for 8 str? Sign me up. Thanks a ton for letting us know whats coming!

[Cold_Stele]

Thanks once again for the response Eladrin.

I guess the last big question is - Kensai Power Surge - 20 seconds or 60?

[Tanka]

Frenzied Berserker

Also; I'm only slightly upset I won't be able to get Kensai 3 on Tanka. Oh darn, whatever shall I do with 7 clicks of +8 Strength?

[binnsr]

Also; I'm only slightly upset I won't be able to get Kensai 3 on Tanka. Oh darn, whatever shall I do with 7 clicks of +8 Strength?

I'm with you. Might just take another 2 levels of Barbie on my 12ftr/4barb and become a Frenzied Kensai

[bobbryan2]

I'm sure someone will surprise me with some deviant Monk/Kensai/Thief-Acrobat.

Not really a complaint, more of an observation.. but these kinds of splashes are just not going to be common because it requires 18 ranks of a given class. It kinda kills deep splashing.

[Hasteclicky]

Wasn't there something in the compendium regarding Ki focus weapon feats? Not much of a description there but if a feat would allow a monk/fighter splash to remain centered and generate ki wielding kopeshes....

[ahpook]

But when the Power surge ability is less powerful than the haste boost that anyone can get....

but you can take both. And use both at the same time getting 30% more attacks with +8 str. If the pre-req was haste boost and you had to burn a haste boost to surge wouldn't that be much much worse?

[QuantumFX]

I've got other plans for Human Versatility in a future mod, don't worry about that.

Like? Currently HV is pretty nice other than you get too much redundancy thanks to PrE requirements. (Feel free to start another thread on this.)

I'll make sure that Tempest and Frenzied Berserker are early on the list of previews to take care of concerns that are related to them.

To paraphrase Jim Carrey's character from Dumb and Dumber: Code… FASTER!

[BattleCircle]

I'll make sure that Tempest and Frenzied Berserker are early on the list of previews to take care of concerns that are related to them.

Frenzied Berserker????

OH I think I'm gonna have nerdgasm

[Deathseeker]

Absolutely love Kensai now that you've beefed up the damage on tier II and III!

Yeah, yeah, there could be other ranger/barb builds that max out dps more, but if the game were all about the top DPS build that's all anyone would run. This gives us all kinds of multiclassing options using fighter, and also brings the level 18+ fighter into the realm of playable.

Please, please...give us a hint as to the extent of level 20 enhancements. I want to roll my new fighter now so I can start getting him ready for Kensai...BUT I DONT KNO WHETHER TO DIP 2 LEVELS OF SOMETHING ELSE OR NOT! Come on, throw us one more bone!

[muffinlad]

Does this mean we are getting rid of these boosts and getting a different form of versatility?

If we could just go back to a limited form of the original, say +1 to all skills at levels 1-8, +2 to all skills level 9 though 16, and +3 to all skills at level 17, I would be fine. Not as powerful as it used to be, but still useful for some builds.

muffinskiller

[Gum]

man, this is really good news. Looking forward to it.

[Chaos000]

if you think about it they're also planning on including the feat to allow a monk to use his monk abilities (i.e. stay focused) with a longsword. Kensai Fighter splash 2 monk = evasive fighter via longsword

[Inspire]

Great ideas and a good concept behind Kenasi, was wondering how it would turn out!

First of all Dwarven & Warforged tactiticians rejoice! Now things will stop saving *I hope* against your fully spec'd out Improved Trip/Imporved Sunder/Stunning Blow/*Stunning Fist(?) it seems a 41+ Dc dosent cut it against these giants in M8, heh.

Curious though, will Monks Stunning Fist/Unbalancing Strike/Eagles Talon work with the +1/+2 Dc to your combat feats? and for that matter will wieghted be working with Stunning Fist by then if that is intended or not... gears are spinning, thanks for the info. El, keep up the good work.





Ps; for those complaining about Attack Boost vs. Haste Boost, there is nothing preventing you from taking both , and yes if you want the extra speed its gonna cost ya.

[bobbryan2]

but you can take both. And use both at the same time getting 30% more attacks with +8 str. If the pre-req was haste boost and you had to burn a haste boost to surge wouldn't that be much much worse?

But you can't use both... so the rest of this doesn't make sense. When you activate one action boost, it darkens every other one for 30 seconds.

[Aerendil]

Actually, I was thinking more on the lines of 12Ftr/6Rgr/2Mnk Kensai II/Tempest I/Wind Stance Kama-wielding Halfling Fool.

Was thinking Halfling 12 Fighter (Kensai II) / 8 Monk myself, using handwraps.

TWF line for extra hooks.
Str bonus to both hands + kensai damage bonuses + power surge + power attack + greater weapon specialization + fighter STR enhancements + bardsong if in a group = who needs crits when you do +30ish damage per fist?
Wind stance + fighter haste for offense (haste), mountain stance for tanking (+con, DR).
Combine monk AC with fighter intimidation.
Truckload of feats to play with.
Great saves.
Kensai adds to Concentration and Diplomacy, both of which are Monk skills. The boosts to combat feat DCs aren't bad either (stunning fist).
Evasion (though, sadly, 1 level short of Improved Evasion)
Slowfall, wholeness of body, immunity to disease.
Halfling dragonmarks.
Maxed or near-max balance, spot, tumble, intimidate, jump and swim.

[manfredshw]

Any words on tempest pls?