The 3rd level feature of the unearthed arcana kensei monk subclass reads as follows -
"You gain proficiency with three martial weapons of your choice. A martial weapon is considered a kensei weapon for you if you’re proficient with it.
Whenever you wield a kensei weapon, you choose whether to use Dexterity or Strength for the attack and damage rolls of the weapon, and you choose whether to use your Martial Arts damage die in place of the weapon’s damage die." -
The way this is written leads me to interpret it as gaining the ability to turn any weapon into a finesse weapon, as long as it is a kensei weapon. By this logic, the kensei subclass would allow me to get a finesse longsword. However, it is not specified that the heavy or two handed properties cannot be on a kensei weapon.
Am I interpreting this wrong, or does this mean I can make a greatsword into my kensei weapon and then multiclass into rogue to sneak attack with it?
The kensei feature says nothing about giving a weapon the finesse property, so no, RAW it wouldn't combo with sneak attack in that way
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Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Your ranged weapon would allow for sneak attack, since sneak attack is a finesse or ranged weapon. Your melee weapon would not unless it also has the finesse property.
Strictly speaking; no, it does not work like that. Giving something properties similar to finesse is not the same thing as giving the finesse property.
The 3rd level feature of the unearthed arcana kensei monk subclass reads as follows -
"You gain proficiency with three martial weapons of your choice. A martial weapon is considered a kensei weapon for you if you’re proficient with it.
Whenever you wield a kensei weapon, you choose whether to use Dexterity or Strength for the attack and damage rolls of the weapon, and you choose whether to use your Martial Arts damage die in place of the weapon’s damage die." -
The way this is written leads me to interpret it as gaining the ability to turn any weapon into a finesse weapon, as long as it is a kensei weapon. By this logic, the kensei subclass would allow me to get a finesse longsword. However, it is not specified that the heavy or two handed properties cannot be on a kensei weapon.
Am I interpreting this wrong, or does this mean I can make a greatsword into my kensei weapon and then multiclass into rogue to sneak attack with it?
Yeah, sorry. Unless that weapons has the finesse property you cannot sneak attack with it. Or if it’s ranged. The monks feature doesn’t confer that property
Does it "make sense"? Yeah, I would say it makes sense. Is it RAW? Definitely not, and I don't think it's RAI either. Sneak Attack is one feature where the designers really have done it exactly the way they meant to, for better or for worse.
I don't think it would be too strong to allow it. In fact, I suspect it would trick players into thinking they're getting a good deal when really they're not. A Kensei / Rogue multiclass seems kinda bad.
The 3rd level feature of the unearthed arcana kensei monk subclass reads as follows -
"You gain proficiency with three martial weapons of your choice. A martial weapon is considered a kensei weapon for you if you’re proficient with it.
Whenever you wield a kensei weapon, you choose whether to use Dexterity or Strength for the attack and damage rolls of the weapon, and you choose whether to use your Martial Arts damage die in place of the weapon’s damage die." -
The way this is written leads me to interpret it as gaining the ability to turn any weapon into a finesse weapon, as long as it is a kensei weapon. By this logic, the kensei subclass would allow me to get a finesse longsword. However, it is not specified that the heavy or two handed properties cannot be on a kensei weapon.
Am I interpreting this wrong, or does this mean I can make a greatsword into my kensei weapon and then multiclass into rogue to sneak attack with it?
Of course, this all ultimately comes down to the DM of whichever game
The kensei feature says nothing about giving a weapon the finesse property, so no, RAW it wouldn't combo with sneak attack in that way
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Only the whip, [item]rapier[/item], and ranged weapons like the [item]longbow[/item] would be compatible with Sneak Attack.
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Your ranged weapon would allow for sneak attack, since sneak attack is a finesse or ranged weapon. Your melee weapon would not unless it also has the finesse property.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
Also scimitar, no?
Strictly speaking; no, it does not work like that. Giving something properties similar to finesse is not the same thing as giving the finesse property.
Ahh, yes. I keep forgetting that isn’t already a Monk weapon since I houseruled that it is.
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Yeah, sorry. Unless that weapons has the finesse property you cannot sneak attack with it. Or if it’s ranged. The monks feature doesn’t confer that property
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
It needs to be a finesse weapon.
Does it "make sense"? Yeah, I would say it makes sense. Is it RAW? Definitely not, and I don't think it's RAI either. Sneak Attack is one feature where the designers really have done it exactly the way they meant to, for better or for worse.
I don't think it would be too strong to allow it. In fact, I suspect it would trick players into thinking they're getting a good deal when really they're not. A Kensei / Rogue multiclass seems kinda bad.
Also, the greatsword can't be a kensei weapon because it has the two-handed property.