Kensei vs. Swordmaster

[2eBladeSinger]

What, exactly, is the difference between a Kensei and a Swordmaster?

Kensei (p. 87 PHB) My weapon and I are as one You study an ancient form of martial training that makes you one with your chosen weapon creating a combination of destruction that few foes can long stand against.

Swordmaster (p. 88 PHB) My blade is exquisite and deadly, as much a work of art as it is a weapon. And in my hands, it is unstoppable. You and your blade are as one. You are a master of the sword able to employ your steel in ways that no lesser warrior can even imagine.

Considering the similarities of these paragon paths, I think they should have combined them (or writen one out) and gone with a knight, outrider, chainmaster, etc. Or at least refluffed one to fit a different niche.

 

[Sitara]

Kensai OWNS Swordmaster.

But seriously, I think they did it just read endless kensai vs swordmaster debates on the net, point and laugh.

 

[thegrizz]

Actually the two are fairly different in flavor if not in how the rules portray them. A kensai is a master with a particular weapon. He has trained his whole life to be perfect with one weapon, and generally that weapon is not a sword (in fact the first appearance of the kensai was in the first edition Oriental Adventures and a kensai could use any weapon but a katana).

On the other side is the swordsman who has dedicated himself to the sword.

Yes both are very similar but then again so are the Eladrin and Elf yet the shmucks but them both in the same book as well.

Go figure

 

[Shroomy]

Um, while the flavor maybe similar, the two paragon paths differ on just about everything else.

 

[Spatula]

Swordmaster is a decent paragon path for either build of fighter. The kensai is much more suited to a 2H-wielding max-damage-dealing type of fighter.

 

[Nifft]

Kensei is more offensive, and Swordmaster is more about endurance.

Cheers, -- N

 

[2eBladeSinger]

I really don't see where the Kensei powers favor a 2HF over a sword, nor where a swordmasters' powers favor a blade (other than it's specified for his attacks). It would have been nice to see the Kensei powers make use of Con or Wis to make them more appealing to fighters weilding different weapons.

However, more to the point - The powers differ enough, sure. I wonder what they were thinking using virtually the same fluff text for both paths. I would think that fluff would be the easiest thing to manipulate to make the two more distinctive.

 

[Zurai]

Anyone else notice how much the Kensei Encounter Attack sucks? It's only very slightly more powerful than Sure Strike ... which is a level 1 at-will attack.

 

[Nifft]

Anyone else notice how much the Kensei Encounter Attack sucks? It's essentially identical to Careful Attack... which is a level 1 at-will attack.

Yup. Except you get double damage ten levels early.

Far better would have been to emulate Twin Strike.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Fifth Element]

chainmaster, etc.

I was right with you until this point.