Father, you cannot let a mage cast stoneskin on another except themselves. The same thing goes with fire shield. A kensai/mage can do this. And the swashbuckler definately don't get as good THACO as a kensai, far from it. The thieves get THACO bonuses every 3 levels compared to the fighters that get THACO bonuses EVERY levels.

Sorry I was unclear. I meant that I would prefer to play a Swashbuckler/Mage over a Kensai/Mage. I know that a Mage can only cast Stoneskin and Fireshield on him/herself. And yes, the THACO bonuses would definitely be a Kensai advantage.

I was just suggesting that a Swashbuckler/Mage casting Tenser's Transformation on him/herself would improve his/her THACO, probably not to the level of a Kensai/Mage, but respectable enough to think about as an alternative (especially when the Swashbuckler/Mage can wear Bracer's AC3).

Okey. I see what you mean. I agree that this is a good thief/mage combo. The tenser transformation spell (and some others) makes the swashbuckler a real killer.

The fighter/mage combo is more powerful, though (you have to agree with me on this one). The kensai/mage can't wear bracers, but it will do decent damage, so this is still better than swashbuckler/mage if you leave out the thief-skills.

I have played a little bit with my 4-member party, and started to compare my kensai/thief from my previous party and my new elven fighter/thief. It seems that the kensai deals out more damage, even though it doesn't show in the statistics. How else would you explain my kensai/thief doing about 20 more damage every time he backstabbed, compared to my elf fighter/thief with 18/00 in strength. Yes, I have taken under consideration that the multiclassed fighter/thief cannot be more than specialized in weapons, the two thieves are at the same levels, and have weapons doing same amount of damage. I am really disapointed with the elf's backstab. He does measly 30-90 damage/backstab (x4), compared to my kensai/thief that could do 48-202 (x4), without any magics or items, except the weapon, of course

In my new 4-member party, I also have a kensai/mage and a berserker/mage. They are both level 9 as fighters, but the kensai deals out more damage than the berserker, even though the berserker has 18/00 in strength compared to the kensai's 18/64. The statistics show that the berserker should be better dealing out damage, but it doesn't seem like that. I am very confused right now. Is the kensai the best fighter or a mediocre fighter???

advantages of a kensai

+1 to hit and +1 damage for every three levels.
-2 bonus to AC.
-1 bonus to speed factor for every 4 levels.
May use Kai ability one time per day for every 4 levels (starts at 1st level with one use). This ability lasts 10 seconds and makes all the attacks do maximum damage.

El_kalkylus

i guess your kensai thief is about level 12-15 from his 4x backstab
that mean +3 to hit and +3 to damage
that times for is a extra of +12 per backstab
in your case
well prof's may differ or you may have had a critical hit

advatages of a barbarian

They move at 2 points faster than the usual character.
Barbarians are immune to backstab.
Can Rage once per day for every 4 levels (starts at 1st level with one use). Rage gives them +4 to constitution and strength for 5 rounds. Gives a -2 armor class penalty and +2 to saves vs. magic (for 5 rounds). Rage also gives immunity to all charm, hold, fear, maze, confusion and level-drain spells.
At 11th level, the barbarian gains 10% resistance to slashing, piercing, crushing and missile damage. He gains +5% to this every 4 levels thereafter.
The barbarian rolls d12 for hit points instead of a fighter's d10.

nowhere does a barbarian get to hit bonusses or damage bonusses
this information is not to be found in the manual i do realise that
BUT upon creation you get some extra info about a character you should really check that out
or go to [url] www.planetbaldursgate.com/bg2

I have played the game with a kensai/thief, and I remember that I got 202 in the beginning (critical hit), when I had x4-backstabs. I know about the bonuses the kensai is "supposed" to get, (it doesn't show). You are probably right though, +12 more damage is quite a lot. I wonder why "they" haven't added the strength bonuses with the kensai bonuses, because, I should get +6 to hit and +9 damage as a level 10 kensai with 18/00 in strength, but instead it shows +3 to hit and +6 to damage. I think the kensai gets it's bonuses but it doesn't show in the statistics.

Of course I know all this information about the barbarian etc. I have a file where I check the classes upon creation (by Dan Simpson). I am just a little frustrated that the bonuses doesn't show in the game.

By the way, you get x5 backstab at level 13. (every 4 levels, and stops at level 13 unless you are an assassin, or so I have heard)

I forgot that you get 2x backstab in the beginning
instead of no bonus
assassins got up to 9x backstab and higher

yes, but do you understand me? Do you see now what my point is??

The bonus doesn't show

Has anyone else noticed this? Or is it just me?