Kensei (player monster) - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: potholes, etc.

2026-07-20T05:41:24Z

potholes, etc.

Umbire the Phantom: names and (lack of) locations

2026-04-14T15:17:28Z

names and (lack of) locations

Umbire the Phantom: get most of the boilerplate and details in, focus on live generation shortly...

2026-04-14T14:31:05Z

get most of the boilerplate and details in, focus on live generation shortly...

New page

{{monster
|name=kensei
|symbol={{white|@}}
|tile=
|difficulty=13
|level=10
|experience=259
|speed=12
|AC=10
|MR=2
|align=3
|frequency=0
|genocidable=Only if [[hero]] is a [[Kensei]]
|attacks=Weapon 1d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], [[Twoweapon#dNetHack|offhand weapon]] 1d8 physical, [[Claw attack|claw]] 1d8 physical, [[kick]] 1d8 physical
|weight=1450
|nutr=400
|size=medium
|resistances=
|resistances conveyed=
|attributes={{attributes|A kensei|humanoid=1|omnivore=1|nopoly=1|human=1|strong=1|collect=1|infravisible=1}}
|reference=
}}
A '''kensei''', {{white|@}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The kensei is a [[lawful]] [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] [[Player monster (dNetHack)|player monster]] corresponding to a [[Kensei]] [[hero]]: they will have the [[role]]'s appropriate [[rank]] title for their [[monster level]], and can reach level 30 like heroes can.

A kensei has two weapon attacks, with the second attack using any offhand weapons they have available, and they also have a [[claw attack]] and a [[kick]] attack. They boast expert prowess in martial combat and have a full [[base attack bonus]] of +1.0 [[to-hit]] per monster level.

==Generation==
{{main|Player monster (dNetHack)#Locations|l1=*dNetHack player monster locations}}
Kensei are not generated randomly, and are normally created as peaceful towards lawful heroes before specific adjustments are made. They are only a valid form for [[doppelganger]]s to [[polymorph]] into, and can only be targeted for [[genocide]] if a Kensei hero [[read]]s a [[scroll of genocide]]—such a hero reading a cursed scroll while confused will instead create several kensei player monsters adjacent to themselves.

Kensei [[corpse]]s can generate in [[graveyard]]s, including ones within the [[Valley of the Dead]]. Kensei [[statue]]s can generate in [[cockatrice nest]]s and on [[Medusa's Island]]. A Kensei hero killed by HP damage from a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]], or else killed by any form of [[stoning]], will leave a named kensei statue behind containing their inventory rather than a named [[ghost]] and named corpse if a [[bones]] file is created. Statues and [[figurine]]s of kensei cannot be wished for by any means.

===Inventory===
{{main|Player monster (dNetHack)#Inventory|l1=*dNetHack player monster inventory|Player monster (dNetHack)#Endgame equipment|l2=endgame equipment}}
A kensei is [[generated with]] a [[war hat]], a [[pair of gloves]], [[banded mail]], a pair of [[high boots]], a [[robe]], and one of the following weapon choices:

* A {{frac|4}} chance of being given either a [[katana]] or a [[long sword]] with roughly equal probability
* A {{frac|4}} chance of being given either a [[nagamaki]] or a [[two-handed sword]] with roughly equal probability
* A {{frac|4}} chance of being given a [[square club]]
* A {{frac|4}} chance of being given either a [[Ninja-to (dNetHack)|ninja-to]] or a [[broadsword]] with roughly equal probability

Kensei generated as prisoners in the Castle will have the above items among their belongings that are placed in the [[chest]] near the [[throne]].

Kensei generated on the Astral Plane are subject to the same armor and weapon replacement odds as other player monsters.

==Messages==
{{main|Player monster (dNetHack)#Messages|l1=Player monster messages}}

==Encyclopedia entry==
{{encyclopedia|
Kensei is a Japanese honorary title given to a warrior of legendary skill in swordsmanship.
The literal translation of kensei is "sword saint". This suggests a higher degree
of perfection (possibly also encompassing a moral dimension) than the more commonly used
kengo or "sword master".
|[ Wikipedia: Kensei ]}}
{{encyclopedia|
I have been many years training the Way of strategy, called Ni Ten Ichi Ryu, and now I
think I will explain it in writing for the first time. It is now during the first ten
days of the tenth month in the twentieth year of Kanei. I have climbed the mountain
Iwato of Higo in Kyushu to pay homage to heaven, pray to Kwannon, and kneel before
Buddha. I am a warrior of Harima province, Shinmen Musashi No Kami Fujiwara No
Geshin, age sixty years.

From youth my heart has been inclined toward the Way of strategy. My first duel was
when I was thirteen, I struck down a strategist of the Shinto school, one Arima Kihei.
When I was sixteen I struck down an able strategist, Tadashima Akiyama. When I was
twenty-one I went up to the capital and met all manner of strategists, never once
failing to win in many contests.
[...]
When I reached thirty I looked back on my past. The previous victories were not due to
my having mastered strategy. Perhaps it was natural ability, or the order of heaven, or
that other schools' strategy was inferior. After that I studied morning and evening
searching for the principle, and came to realise the Way of strategy when I was fifty.

Since then I have lived without following any particular Way. Thus with the virtue of
strategy I practise many arts and abilities - all things with no teacher. To write
this book I did not use the law of Buddha or the teachings of Confucius, neither old
war chronicles nor books on martial tactics. I take up my brush to explain the true
spirit of this Ichi school as it is mirrored in the Way of heaven and Kwannon. The
time is the night of the tenth day of the tenth month, at the hour of the tiger.
|[ The Book of Five Rings, by Miyamoto Musahi,
as translated by Victor Harris ]}}
{{variant-343}}
[[Category:dNetHack player monsters]]
[[Category:notdNetHack player monsters]]
[[Category:notnotdNetHack player monsters]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:17, 14 April 2026
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	Kensei [[corpse]]s can generate in [[graveyard]]s, including ones within the [[Valley of the Dead]]. Kensei [[statue]]s can generate in [[cockatrice nest]]s and on [[Medusa's Island]]. A Kensei hero killed by HP damage from a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]], or else killed by any form of [[stoning]], will leave a named kensei statue behind containing their inventory rather than a named [[ghost]] and named corpse if a [[bones]] file is created. Statues and [[figurine]]s of kensei cannot be wished for by any means.		Kensei [[corpse]]s can generate in [[graveyard]]s, including ones within the [[Valley of the Dead]]. Kensei [[statue]]s can generate in [[cockatrice nest]]s and on [[Medusa's Island]]. A Kensei hero killed by HP damage from a [[cockatrice]] or [[chickatrice]], or else killed by any form of [[stoning]], will leave a named kensei statue behind containing their inventory rather than a named [[ghost]] and named corpse if a [[bones]] file is created. Statues and [[figurine]]s of kensei cannot be wished for by any means.
		+
		+	===Live locations===
		+	Hostile kensei can appear among the various player monsters placed on the [[Astral Plane]] during level creation.
		+
		+	===Names===
		+	[[Named]] kensei that are placed outside of the Astral Plane are given various Chinese names that are derived from ''Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'' and ''Detective Dee''.
		+
		+	* The family names that can be chosen from are listed as follows: "Li", "Yu", "Lo", "Te", "Tsai", "Liu", "Wu", "Lu", "Pei", "Di", or "Shangguan".
		+	* The masculine names that can be chosen from are listed as follows: "Mubai", "Xiaohou", "Taibao", "Junpei", "Junxiong", "Donglai", or "Renjie".
		+	* The feminine names that can be chosen from are listed as follows: "Jiaolong", "Jen", "Xiulian", "Huli", "Biyan", "Mei", or "Jing'er".

	===Inventory===		===Inventory===

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
   |frequency=0
   |genocidable=Only if [[hero]] is a [[Kensei]]
-  |attacks=Weapon 1d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], [[Twoweapon#dNetHack|offhand weapon]] 1d8 physical, [[Claw attack|claw]] 1d8 physical, [[kick]] 1d8 physical
+  |attacks=[[Weapon attack|weapon]] 1d8 [[Physical damage|physical]], [[Offhand weapon attack|offhand weapon]] 1d8 physical, [[Claw attack|claw]] 1d8 physical, [[Kick attack|kick]] 1d8 physical
   |weight=1450
   |nutr=400
@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 A '''kensei''', {{white|@}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]]. The kensei is a [[lawful]] [[Human (monster attribute)|human]] [[Player monster (dNetHack)|player monster]] corresponding to a [[Kensei]] [[hero]]: they will have the [[role]]'s appropriate [[rank]] title for their [[monster level]], and can reach level 30 like heroes can.
-A kensei has two weapon attacks, with the second attack using any offhand weapons they have available, and they also have a [[claw attack]] and a [[kick]] attack. They boast expert prowess in martial combat and have a full [[base attack bonus]] of +1.0 [[to-hit]] per monster level.
+A kensei has a [[weapon attack]], an [[offhand weapon attack]], a [[claw attack]], and a [[kick attack]]. They boast expert prowess in martial combat and have a full [[base attack bonus]] of +1.0 [[to-hit]] per monster level.
 ==Generation==