A Kensai's Signature Weapon

[Zelc]

So basically this is to totally disregard what is indicated in the CW. So for all intents and purposes you are starting with a clean MW weapon? Why even bother with the magic item then? Just indicate that it won't alter an already magickal item.

You can start with a magic weapon, but that weapon's magic bonus counts towards the limit for the Kensai ability. So a level 3 Kensai with a +2 weapon can raise it to a +3 weapon, but not to the equivalent of a +5 weapon.

 

[Hyperfist]

If you think about that way of thinking, I guess it would be to conserve xp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you think about that way of thinking, I guess it would be to conserve xp.

Not to mention the roleplaying angle.

Remember, the Kensai character has at least five levels under his belt before becoming a Kensai.

It may be that the character has developed something of a (non-mechanics-affecting) bond with a weapon that happens to already be magical. Maybe it's the +1 Flaming sword he took off the first BBEG he killed back when he was 3rd level, or maybe it's a +1 axe once wielded by his grandfather, lost in battle forty years ago and finally recovered by the PC.

Rather than the class forcing him to discard this piece of the character's history to start afresh, the class feature permits him to incorporate the existing weapon.

-Hyp.

 

[squee]

It may be that the character has developed something of a (non-mechanics-affecting) bond with a weapon that happens to already be magical. Maybe it's the +1 Flaming sword he took off the first BBEG he killed back when he was 3rd level, or maybe it's a +1 axe once wielded by his grandfather, lost in battle forty years ago and finally recovered by the PC.

bold mine

It is mechanics-affecting because the PC had to use the game mechanics to acquire the weapon (in the cases you mention probably finding them as loot) and then the kensai class penalizes the PC for a role playing decision. Rather than changing to a MW cold iron weapon (the best choice mechanics wise) for their signature weapon, they keep the weapon they've been using for the whole game up until now.

And in terms of balance the kensai class is (I'm assuming) balanced with gaining a +1 to your weapon every level. So assuming the weapon you have going into kensai how would adding the normal benefits of being a kensai unbalance a character?

 

[Zelc]

And in terms of balance the kensai class is (I'm assuming) balanced with gaining a +1 to your weapon every level. So assuming the weapon you have going into kensai how would adding the normal benefits of being a kensai unbalance a character?

The problem is this is not balanced. Getting a +10 weapon at level 11 is simply overpowered, and is roughly the equivalent of tripling your WBL.

 

[squee]

The problem is this is not balanced. Getting a +10 weapon at level 11 is simply overpowered, and is roughly the equivalent of tripling your WBL.

But the balance issue there is that a 5 level character had a +5 weapon not the extra +5 kensai added.

 

[Zelc]

But the balance issue there is that a 5 level character had a +5 weapon not the extra +5 kensai added.

What? It's not like you can't stop upgrading your weapon with cash after you start taking levels in Kensai. At level 11, a normal melee character could have a +4 weapon. Since 6 of those levels are in Kensai, under your interpretation you'd also add a +6 weapon bonus on top of that, for a +10 weapon.

 

[Hyperfist]

And based on that interpretation he will be the terror of that party until everyone else catches up. Whereas everyone else will be getting new items and he will have to hold onto that one cause he can't get rid of it and he can't change it or whatever.

Long term balances out. The game is long term based...hence the levels. Plus an 11th level character saving up his signature weapon thing until he gets a +4 weapon thing is kind of silly. He would be upgrading whatever weapon he was using up to that point. AGain...game play mechanics. Now if you were creating a character starting at 11 level...then I can see the issue.

 

[Kat']

Whereas everyone else will be getting new items and he will have to hold onto that one cause he can't get rid of it and he can't change it or whatever.

I thought it was the point of becoming a Kensai...

The fastest you can enter kensai is after completing 5 levels of Knight or Paladin. Meaning you'd have the equivalent of a +5 weapon by the time you hit lvl 10, and +10 by the time you hit lvl 15. Now compare the cost of such weapons to the character's WBL, and think of all the great stuff this character can buy with the money he saved. There's a small floating time between lvl 16 and 20, and then you can go Epic and take more levels of Kensai (all PrCs with 10 Class levels can be progressed into Epic).

 

[Hyperfist]

Just saying that the Kensai peaks at that point. That is all.

As for Wealth By Level that is a new term to me, I guess it is my unfamiliarity of the game in which accounting for personal equipment and item wealth is important as opposed to the story line.

As DM's do you control the WBL of the characters as they gain levels? Sorry for digressing.