Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
UA Monks Introduces the Kensai and Tranquility Traditions
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Flamestrike" data-source="post: 7705071" data-attributes="member: 6788736"><p>Kensai is worded shockingly bad. Its as clear as mud. </p><p></p><p>You lose your martial arts ability when using your kensai weapon (meaning at best your unarmed attacks when you flurry or substitute an attack during the attack action with an unarmed strike deal [1 + Str damage], and you dont get the bonus action attack).</p><p></p><p>You're better off just going a Vuman OHM monk, taking GWM and Weapon master as your feats at 1st and 4th, and using the greatword as your attack action (plus GWM) twice and then flurrying (for 1+Str) twice (and pushing them flat with OHM ability on those attacks). You can even spam stunning fist on all 4 attacks.</p><p></p><p>Here is my take at the Kensai:</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Path of the Kensei (3rd level):</strong></u></p><p></p><p>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.</p><p></p><p>Select one martial or simple weapon without the Heavy quality, other than the lance. This weapon is now treated as a Monk weapon for you. In addition, when you attack with the weapon you chose with this ability, you may replace the weapon damage die with 1d10 unless the weapon also has the reach quality. At 11th level in this class, the increased damage die increases to 2d6. At 17th level in this class it increases to 2d8.</p><p></p><p>In addition chose one of the following options:</p><p></p><p>1) Fighting style: Select one of the Archery, Dueling or Great weapon fighting styles.</p><p>2) Dual weapon kata: When you are not wearing armor or using a shield, and wield two Monk weapons at the same time, you gain +1 to AC.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>One with the Blade (6th level)</strong></u></p><p></p><p>Retain the <strong>Magic weapons </strong>ability. </p><p></p><p>Remove Precise strike, and add the <strong>Stare Down</strong> ability (fluffed as a 'Weapon Kata' or 'Stare down' or pulling your attack at the last second, however you want to describe it). As an action pick a single target that can see you within 60'. That target must pass a [DC 8+Wis+Prof] Wis save or be <em>frightened </em>of you (the target can re-roll the save at the end of each turn to end the condition, becoming immune for 24 hours on a save).</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Sharpen the Blade (11th level)</strong></u></p><p></p><p>Replace with a variant of the Unnerring accuracy ability:</p><p></p><p><strong>Unnering accuracy</strong>: You may spend 1 Ki point before making an attack with a monk weapon to make the attack with advantage to the attack roll.</p><p></p><p><u><strong>Unnerring accuracy (17th level)</strong></u></p><p></p><p>Replace with the <strong>Deadly strike</strong> ability:</p><p></p><p><strong>Deadly Strike:</strong> When you use your Unnerring accuracy ability, and both attack rolls would hit your target, the attack is a critical hit.</p><p></p><p>Thoughts?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Flamestrike, post: 7705071, member: 6788736"] Kensai is worded shockingly bad. Its as clear as mud. You lose your martial arts ability when using your kensai weapon (meaning at best your unarmed attacks when you flurry or substitute an attack during the attack action with an unarmed strike deal [1 + Str damage], and you dont get the bonus action attack). You're better off just going a Vuman OHM monk, taking GWM and Weapon master as your feats at 1st and 4th, and using the greatword as your attack action (plus GWM) twice and then flurrying (for 1+Str) twice (and pushing them flat with OHM ability on those attacks). You can even spam stunning fist on all 4 attacks. Here is my take at the Kensai: [U][B]Path of the Kensei (3rd level):[/B][/U] 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. Select one martial or simple weapon without the Heavy quality, other than the lance. This weapon is now treated as a Monk weapon for you. In addition, when you attack with the weapon you chose with this ability, you may replace the weapon damage die with 1d10 unless the weapon also has the reach quality. At 11th level in this class, the increased damage die increases to 2d6. At 17th level in this class it increases to 2d8. In addition chose one of the following options: 1) Fighting style: Select one of the Archery, Dueling or Great weapon fighting styles. 2) Dual weapon kata: When you are not wearing armor or using a shield, and wield two Monk weapons at the same time, you gain +1 to AC. [U][B]One with the Blade (6th level)[/B][/U] Retain the [B]Magic weapons [/B]ability. Remove Precise strike, and add the [B]Stare Down[/B] ability (fluffed as a 'Weapon Kata' or 'Stare down' or pulling your attack at the last second, however you want to describe it). As an action pick a single target that can see you within 60'. That target must pass a [DC 8+Wis+Prof] Wis save or be [I]frightened [/I]of you (the target can re-roll the save at the end of each turn to end the condition, becoming immune for 24 hours on a save). [U][B]Sharpen the Blade (11th level)[/B][/U] Replace with a variant of the Unnerring accuracy ability: [B]Unnering accuracy[/B]: You may spend 1 Ki point before making an attack with a monk weapon to make the attack with advantage to the attack roll. [U][B]Unnerring accuracy (17th level)[/B][/U] Replace with the [B]Deadly strike[/B] ability: [B]Deadly Strike:[/B] When you use your Unnerring accuracy ability, and both attack rolls would hit your target, the attack is a critical hit. Thoughts? [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
UA Monks Introduces the Kensai and Tranquility Traditions
Top