Kensei as Archetype?

[Finngon]

Kensei has always felt more like a monk tree to me ever since it was released - aside from the Weapon Focus/Specialization chain. Wouldn't it make sense to just give that tree (with some tweaks) to monks as a Kensei archetype? And then give Fighters a proper good tree, like things revolving around combat feats (like Battle Master).

 

[unbongwah]

It's unlikely they'd take Kensei away from fighter, but there's precedent for giving a different class' tree to an Archetype (e.g., Sacred Fist getting Radiant Servant). I'd like to see a Zen Archer monk archetype with, say, Zen Archer / Kensei / Arcane Archer or Ninja as its three trees.

 

[Lotoc]

give Fighters a proper good tree, like things revolving around combat feats (like Battle Master).

But Kensei IS a "proper good tree", frankly one of the best in fact.
To the point that if kensei was taken away and replaced with something else I doubt the replacement would be anywhere near as good.

 

[Finngon]

It's unlikely they'd take Kensei away from fighter, but there's precedent for giving a different class' tree to an Archetype (e.g., Sacred Fist getting Radiant Servant). I'd like to see a Zen Archer monk archetype with, say, Zen Archer / Kensei / Arcane Archer or Ninja as its three trees.

Yeah I could definitely see that, though they would need to do something about that Greater Weapon Focus part of the Kensei first. I hate that the HP bonus is behind needing to be lvl 8 fighter.

 

[Pandjed]

I would be totally on board in making Kensei a fighter archetype and replace the tree for normal fighters with things like "battle master". Having no tree that actually synergizes with fighter feats other then the weapon focus/specialization line is very sad.

But before the swap (which would take armor prof from base class for ki mechanics), I think we need a proper Ninja Spy to replace Stalward Defender first (as that's the intended monk weapon tree). Maybe base class could allow being centered with shield for Vanguard purposes? ?

 

[TeamScorpioRI]

I like Kensei where it is, but I would like to see a "samurai" archetype for monks. Longsword/shortsword proficiency/ favored weapon (or why not add katanas to the game), ability to wear medium armor without losing monk bonuses, some interesting zen attacks that specialize in bladed combat, maybe an imbue system in there (since SSG likes their imbues).

 

[Pandjed]

I like Kensei where it is, but I would like to see a "samurai" archetype for monks. Longsword/shortsword proficiency/ favored weapon (or why not add katanas to the game), ability to wear medium armor without losing monk bonuses, some interesting zen attacks that specialize in bladed combat, maybe an imbue system in there (since SSG likes their imbues).

I think, making a fighter archetype that's closer to monk (using Kensei as one of its trees, Stalward Defender for another, and then an own) is much closer to a samurai than starting with monk. Some Longsword + swordshort TWF shenanigans in tree, swap some bonus feats for stances that collect ki in an unusual way (like getting hit while wearing medium or heavy armor) and are exclusive to monk stances, and you're basically there. Tree could have enhancements in the core that counters the loss of ki for not being balanced to make use of the bar without relying on the whole balance mechanic (though only with heavy fighter investment).

 

[Boondocks Mike]

I think it would make a ton of sense to replace Kensei as the standard DPS tree for Fighter with something less focused on light/no armor and more focused on tactical abilities (CC) in addition to DPS. Kensei could then be reintroduced as an archetype for Fighter or Monk and be much more focused on supernatural effects/ki and pure DPS.

Unfortunately, in reality I would rather that they not do this because they have weird ideas about balance and seem to dislike Fighter. If this kind of radical change were to occur (which seems unlikely as they generally avoid significant changes to things unless they are deemed problematic) I don't have any faith that the new Fighter tree would be done any justice. So, as bad and dated and questionably themed as the Kensei tree is, it is reasonably powerful still and I think it's better to just accept it for what it is and acknowledge that it could be worse, but isn't.