Hi all,
Me and my party are completely new at pathfinder (and in D&D in general).
I already bought and I'm reading the Core Rule Book and the Rise of the Runelords adventure.
One of our players saw the Magus' archetype Kensai online and choose it as a character class.
I see that both Magus and Kensai archetype have a list of class features. My question is, does the class features of the Kensai replace or add to the ones from Magus? What about the class skills? They remain the same, right?
Thanks in advance.
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replaces what it says it replaces
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
A kensai is proficient in simple weapons and in a single martial or exotic melee weapon of his choice. A kensai is not proficient with armor or shields and suffers normal arcane spell failure chance when casting magus spells while armored.
Diminished Spellcasting
A kensai may cast one fewer spell of each level than normal. If this reduces the number to 0, he may cast spells of that level only if his Intelligence allows bonus spells of that level.
Canny Defense (Ex)
At 1st level, when a kensai is wielding his chosen weapon, he gains the canny defense ability. This is identical to the duelist prestige class ability of the same name, save that his chosen weapon may be of any type.
Weapon Focus (Ex)
At 1st level, a kensai gains Weapon Focus with his chosen weapon as a bonus feat.
Perfect Strike (Ex)
At 4th level, when a kensai hits with his chosen weapon, he can spend 1 point from his arcane pool in order to maximize his weapon damage. Don’t roll for damage—the weapon deals maximum damage. This affects only the weapon’s base damage dice, not additional damage from sneak attack, magical weapon properties, spellstrike, or critical hits. If the kensai confirms a critical hit, he can instead spend 2 points from his arcane pool to increase his weapon’s critical multiplier by 1.
This ability replaces spell recall.
Fighter Training (Ex)
Starting at 7th level, a kensai counts his magus level –3 as his fighter level for the purpose of qualifying for feats (if he has levels in fighter, these levels stack), but forfeits the benefit of such feats with weapons other than his favored weapon.
This ability replaces knowledge pool.
Iaijutsu (Ex)
At 7th level, a kensai applies his Intelligence modifier as well as his Dexterity modifier on initiative rolls (minimum 0). A kensai may make attacks of opportunity when flat-footed, and may draw his favored weapon as a free action as part of taking an attack of opportunity.
This ability replaces the medium armor ability.
Critical Perfection (Ex)
At 9th level, a kensai adds his Intelligence bonus (minimum 0) on critical hit confirmation rolls with his favored weapon. In addition, the kensai may use his magus levels in place of his base attack bonuses to qualify for Critical Focus and any feat for which it is a prerequisite; these feats apply only with a kensai’s favored weapon.
This ability replaces the magus arcana normally gained at 9th level.
Superior Reflexes (Ex)
At 11th level, kensai can make a number of attacks of opportunity in a round equal to his Intelligence modifier (minimum 1). This effect stacks with the Combat Reflexes feat.
This ability replaces improved spell recall.
Iaijutsu Focus (Ex)
At 13th level, a kensai may always act and may draw his weapon as a swift action during a surprise round, though he is considered flat-footed until he acts. During a surprise round or when attacking a flat-footed opponent, he adds his Intelligence modifier on damage with his chosen weapon (minimum 0).
This ability replaces heavy armor.
Iaijutsu Master (Ex)
At 19th level, a kensai’s initiative roll is automatically a natural 20 and he is never surprised.
This ability replaces greater spell access.
Weapon Mastery (Ex)
At 20th level, a kensai gains weapon mastery with his favored weapon, as the fighter class ability.
This ability replaces true magus.
So just to be sure, everything remains the same (alignment, hit die, class skills, etc), except the class features that indicate to be a replacement?
What about the "Magus Arcana"? There is a list of magus arcana that "complement the kensai archetype", but some of them (like concentrate and critical strike) are already on Magus description, while others (such as deadly follow-up, precise prowess, for example) does not. Why is that? I must have misunderstanding something.
Thank you, you so much for your quick reply. :)
This is the same for all class archetypes, by the way. When it says "This ability replaces <X> ability", it's really the dictionary definition of replace. You swap the archetype ability in, and the core class ability out. Same with anything else it says to change or replace.
They're SUGGESTED choices for players taking the archetype either for advantage or roleplaying flavor, not mandatory ones.
Thanks, LazarX. :)
Thank you all for your replies. ^^