Ok, it took a minute to really get through these. Like the concepts but Kensei especially is very fiddly with the language.
Path of the Kensei
When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you learn to extend your knowledge of the martial arts beyond the standard array of monk weapons.
You gain the following benefits:
• You gain proficiency with three martial weapons of your choice. A martial weapon is considered a kensei weapon for you if you’re proficient with it.
So interesting. I'm thinking that the three martial weapons are "kensei" weapons is odd language leading one to believe that maybe they aren't also
Monk weapons. Strange wording. Although a Kensei is still a Monk and so maybe a Kensei weapon is just technically a subset of Monk weapons just for the Kensei. Also, the phrase "is considered a kensei weapon for you if you're proficient with it" leads me to believe that maybe that if you multiclass as Fighter or take the Weapon Training Feat, the list of weapons that are now Kensei weapons for you can really increase and thus isn't strickly limited to just the three weapons that you get proficiency with at 3rd level. Honestly in just two sentences there is a lot to unpack.
• Whenever you wield a kensei weapon, you choose whether to use Dexterity or Strength for the attack and damage rolls of the weapon, and you choose whether to use your Martial Arts damage die in place of the weapon’s damage die.
So allowing you to choose the Martial Arts damage die seems to back up the idea that a Kensei weapon is still also a Monk weapon. But the Kensei gets the addition benefit of being able to choose Strength or Dex to hit. Since the rule of what consitutes a Monk weapon does rely on the Finesse property (at least I don't think it does) then this shouldn't be too problematic. But it would be the rare Monk who has a high Strength and Dex because Dex is used for so many things and gives the Monk a high AC....
• When you take the Attack action on your turn and hit a target with a kensei weapon, you can use a bonus action to pummel the target, dealing an additional 1d4 bludgeoning damage to that target and to any other target you hit with the weapon as part of the Attack.
So, per PHB Monk, a Monk can make more attacks per round than usual as long as weilding a Monk weapon or is unarmed. If one believes that Kensei weapons are mearly a subset of Monk weapons, then the Kensei could concievably, drop in the middle of a crowd, make multiple attacks against each of them using one of the standard Monk weapon/unarmed attacks. Then after all the standard attacks are done, go ahead and spend the bonus action to do an additional 1d4 to everyone that was hit at part of the standard attack. Am I reading that right? I think so. The "Attack action" actually includes all that attacks that you are allowed to take, you take ONE Attack action and get multiple distinct attack die roles as part of it. So kind of like a whirlwind ability after the fact.
• If you make an unarmed strike as part of the Attack action on your turn and are holding a kensei weapon, you can use that weapon to defend yourself. You gain a +2 bonus to AC until the start of your next turn while you are not incapacitated and the weapon is in your hand.
So if I'm understanding this correctly, you could make your normal attacks using your kensei weapon and then spend your ki to make a bonus unarmed attack action, you could then gain the benefit of the +2 AC. This is another one that seems really weirdly worded.
One with the Blade
At 6th level, you extend your ki into the weapons you hold, granting you the following benefits.
Magic Weapons. Your attacks with your kensei weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
Sure. Makes perfect sense. So not all monk weapons or unarmed strikes get this, just your kensei weapons.
Precise Strike. You can focus your attention on a single target in battle to understand and
overcome its defenses. As a bonus action, pick one creature you can see within 30 feet of you. The next weapon attack you make against that creature during the current turn adds double your proficiency bonus to the attack roll, rather than your normal proficiency bonus. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Not sure if I like this one or not. While it doesn't seem too powerful for a 6th level ability, it also really doesn't seem all that useful either. Especially since you only get one per rest. You basically give up your bonus action (which is at a premium considering all the other stuff that takes bonus actions) to get a +3 to attack. Some games that would be huge, some games not so much. I think I'd like it better if it also gave the bonus to damage. Or allowed you to spend Ki for bonus damage dice (making it very similar to a smite) *shrug*
Sharpen the Blade
At 11th level, you gain the ability to augment your weapons with the strength of your ki. As a bonus action, you can expend up to 3 ki points to grant a weapon you touch a bonus to attack and damage rolls while you wield it. The bonus equals the number of ki points you spent. This bonus lasts for 1 minute.
So at 11th level you can spend up to 3 Ki (which are a precious resource judging by how our group's Monk needs them) to give any weapon you touch (and then subsequently wield) a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal the number you spend. So going for broke you spend 3 Ki and get +3 attack and +3 damage for 1 minute (10 rounds). Ok, that actually sounds pretty good. Not sure if it is overpowered for 11th level, but I think I like it.
Unerring Accuracy
At 17th level, your mastery of weapons grants you extraordinary accuracy. On each of your turns, you can reroll one weapon attack roll you make that misses.
Seems like a good ability. Hard to judge if is it powered right. Once per turn reroll of a miss for free. Not bad.
Maybe its just me but I feel like the Kensei should have the Fighting Spirit ability that was given to the Samurai on the Fighter UA. Maybe that would be too much.....
