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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pax" data-source="post: 1478216" data-attributes="member: 6875">It's the truth, however.  Whereas the Weapon Master actually does require you to have a masterwork weapon, or you can't take the class at all.  With (CW)Kensai, if you don't have a masterwork weapon (yet), and aren't going to be using unarmed strikes or natural weapons, you can still take levels of Kensai, and apply uour Signature Weapon benefit later.  However, with the S&F Weapon Master, if you don't own a Masterwork Weapon yet ... you can't even take levels in teh class.  Yes, the Exotic Weapon Master had a complete overhaul ... but kept the original name.  That's pretty telling, IMO.  The point being, a congruence of requiring a +5 BAB is not a telling point, when comparing two obviously combat-oriented prestige classes.  And none of them matter.  (CW)Kensai is - by dint of it's name alone - an orientally flavored class.  And in an oriental setting, references to ki would be as common (if not moreso) as references to magic.  The point is, they are concepts FROM real life, which the authors of each borrowed inspiration from, and nothing more.  With the Master of Chains, you are limited to a single weapon - spiked chain.  Itwon't help you with any othe weapon.  For Lasher, it's Whips (and their higher-damage variants, whip-daggers - and given that proficiencyin one equates to proficiency in the other, that's close enough to teh same in my book).  The new version of hte Order of the Bow Initiate can only use his "main" benefit (the bonus damage) with bows that he has Weapon Focus in; since you can just get "Weapon focus: bow", I'd say that's also clearly "close enough".  The Invisible Blade works with Daggers - straight blade ("dagger"), angled-blade ("kukri"), or T-handled ("punch-dagger") ... a quie narrow range of options, the differences between which are largely cosmetic.  But seriously - the (CW)Kensai bears absolutely no resemblance to the Weapon Master/(OA)Kensei.  They are as un-alike as Spellsword and Forsaker!  About as clear as MUD.  No.  The rule ws not that you cannot get multiple critical-expanding abilities.  The rule is only to the effect that Improed critical and Keen don't stack, because it's too easy to get both for minimal expense and investments.  And, let me remind you that the very person who made that rule about crit-expansion abilities stacking, when asked specifically about the Weapon Master's ki critical ability, in light of that rule, in as many words said "I don't have any problem with that ability" - and went on to comment that 3.0 classes, until updated, "should be fine to use in 3.5".  Right back at you.  :\</blockquote>

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