Kensai

[IAmSwampFoot]

I had a Kensai weaponmaster (23 fighter, 7 WM) way back before EE. It was freeing because I didn't carry potions. I didn't have the mundane useable items. I just went out (with or without a party depending on the area) and handled whatever I needed to handle.

Why was this option removed? There are builds that can withstand a kensai onslaught, likely overpower them and generally survive better in a great number of areas on Arelith.

I liked my Kensai. She was tough, hit hard and a boon to whatever party she joined. Why was Kensai nixxed?

[AstralUniverse]

Kensai was removed because it became impossible to balance a large plethora of classes in the presence of Kensai. It happened shortly after things like potions of Freedom, Deathward and NEP were added as craftables. Kensai would remain a meme trap or overpowered, with little to no variation in between. It was considered bad design at the time and bad, obsolete designs are inevitably phased away from.

[Inordinate]

It being strong or not is irrelevant. It was old, legacy code that was annoying to maintain for something that hasn't been accessible to new characters for several years. It was time to go.