I assume you have picked a half-orc. Well, the first mistake is using single-weapon style. Use dual-wield or two-handed wield. The bonus to AC for single weapon style is insignificant to the increase in damage dealt by the other two types of fighting. Single weapon style is mainly for thieves IMO.
The whole purpose of a Kensai is to deal out more damage than you take. A LOT more. Your THACO is much better than a regular fighter, and the Kai ability allows you to do MAXIMUM damage with a weapon for the duration of kai (about 6 seconds real time).
Now, with dual wield and all your profs in Long Sword using Kai:
At level 8, 3 attacks per round: 1d8 + 7 (str) = 15 (max) * 3 (attack per round) = 45 HPs of damage per round for 2 (3?) rounds. No other character can deal out anywhere near this damage.
With a two-handed sword and two-handed wield, a level 8 Kensai will do:
(1d10 + 7) * 2 = 34 HPs of damage per round. Now the most powerful weapons in the game are two-handed swords, and some of them have amazing speed factors. At the end of the game, your kensai could be doing:
((1d12) + 10 (girdle) + 4 (sword bonus)) * 4 = 104 HPs of damage per round!!!! With a thaco of -11 (in other words, you automatically hit AC -10), you will kill almost anything solo in two rounds of kai.
I hope that explains it for you.
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