Blademaster vs Kensai

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Hi, I recently re-installed BG II for the umph-th time with a couple of mods. One of them - I don't remember which exactly - enables a "Blade Master" fighter specialist class.Heretical as this may sound, at first glance this looks better than a single-class kensai... 1 and a half EXTRA attacks by level 19, can wear armor up to studded leather, can wear gauntlets, loads of extra skills to make even a blade envious... A possible problem is their unability to wield blunt or 2-handed weapons.
What's your opinion on that class?

 

this is one of the TDD kits.
i think both kensai and blademaster got their advantages and you can compare them by looking at their restrictions.

most people think of katanas and kensai in one thought because of the japanese-like name. now if you skill your kensai for 2handed swords and give him the vorpal sword later, he will be a true killer. the HLA whirlwind nullifies the extraattack you get from using 2 weapons. also, blademasters cant use crom faeyr.

so the blademaster trades some restrictions and is like a tweaked kensai, but i don't think any of them is better.

 

Being unable to wield two-handed weapons is not a problem if you are allowed to use shields. Take the sword and shield style if you want some additional protection from missile attacks. If you can't use shields, you can still take the single weapon proficiency for +2 to AC (like a +1 shield) plus critical range increased to 19-20. I had a paladin with that style once just for fun and it worked out quite nice.

 

I think Kensai can't use shield either

You will miss some nice weapon like FoA, Crom Feayer, mace of disruption. You still have Celestial fury, Belm, Kundane and Spectral band, Blackrazor later (well, I'm a fan of dual weilding )

Being able to use amor is a good thing, especially in the beginning.

btw, does blademaster get bonus to hit and dmg after each 3 lv ?

 

I can't see why anyone would want to spend proficiency points in the Sword and Shield category. Extra protection vs missile attacks is practically worthless IMO.
Using a shield is very good on it's own however. I like having one character get the best AC he can for tanking duty and that typically includes equipping a shield.
Is the Blademaster allowed to use shields then?

 

Hm, I think so (shields, I mean). I'm not their biggest fan, with one exception - the shield of harmony. Still, for characters that will not dual-wield and won't use a 2-handed weapon (like clerics) it's a natural choice to pick up a shield, and some extra anti-missile AC won't hurt given how annoying spell interruptions are.
I don't have TDD, although the kit specifics can be borrowed from there.
@minh so: I don't think the blademaster has any bonuses to attack or damage except the THAC0 level progression and from proficiencies. However, being able to wear armor gives you access to the gloves of mastery, the best of which give +1 attack, +2 damage and +1/2 attack/round