So sweet.  +1.

What do you use until you can get the Ebony Blade, though - that only opens up after lvl 20? 

I haven't used the Ebony Blade since 1.9 fixed it - does it have the normal reach and speed of a 2-handed sword, or is it still shorter and faster? 

Thanks!

I focused on archery early on, trying to get good at moving and shooting while it leveled up. Two-handed can be focused on more later on, especially since enchanting gives the most benefit to the blade. And the blade is still shorter, faster, and definitely affected by the deep wounds perk (i tested).

Not a bad idea. I often wished I had more stamina, and even Linwe's Armor for vanilla would look great. I would play him as a samurai-turned-hired-muscle kind of thing.

fixed by the 1.9 patch

I have an upcoming build to be posted here. Also utilizing the ebony blade for a weapon. But I think your build is more BADASS cause this build is a loner. +1 for me

You can also go down the one handed route and go for the Blades Sword, Bolars Oathblade or Dragonbane.

Also you can go down the heavy Armour route with Blades Armour (which to me looks more samuriaish)

But all in all a good build

He really doesn't need armor. It's a lot of perks and effort and grinding for the same result.

And using blades swords with a free offhand so you can still block would be just as effective, but you get more healing from the Ebony Blade than one enchanted blades sword.

I'm talking about look as well as preference, not everyone wants to use light Armour, or two handed weapons. Also, not many people want to grind, they just want to level up naturally.

Edit: And all the pictures used do show One-handed katanas, so yeah...

Well, Blades Armor is definitely the straight-up samurai armor in the game, but I liked the idea of having full speed naturally and without needing to use perks or replace the most helpful Lady Stone. It is all about preference, like you said, but I think armor would make this a very different character.

Understandable I suppose, though Scaled + robes + Sumurai does not mix for me.