The kensai is spoken of as the next best or best fighter in the game. I compared a level 8 berserker with a level 8 kensai, and they do the same damage, and have the same "to hit".

Is this just in the beginning because of the bonus you get from high strength? I mean, my level 8 kensai has +3 to hit and +6 to damage, which is the same as my level 8 berserker or ranger has because of the 18/00 in strength. The three classes also have the same THACO and the same number of attacks (depending on proficiency points). Where does it say that the kensai does more damage??? The kensai is supposed to get +1 to hit and +1 to damage every 3 levels, but my a level 8 kensai has no such bonus. Is this a bug, or is it because the strength bonuses takes over the kensai's bonuses? In that case when the kensai is at a higher level it will pass the strength bonuses and then you can see the difference. I have always just taken others word for it that the kensai is great in dealing out damage, but now I am beginning to wonder if it is such a big difference between a regular fighter and the kensai.

Another thing that has bothered me, is that the elf is supposed to get a bonus with a sword or a bow, but I don't see what this bonus is when I check my elf. Does anyone know?

People like Kensai for their special ability "Kai", which allow them to deal max damage in a short period of time. Personally, the fact that they cannot wearing any armor (and gaunlets) really bothers me, I rather have a berserker with the same stats. As for elves' bonus......I don't recall seeing that on the BGII booklet that came along with the game.

Yes, the kai-ability is great, but that can't be the reason why people think the kensai is so great. The kensai is supposed to have bonuses in dealing out damage, which seems like almost nothing to me. The berserker ability is also great, so you might as well pick a berserker and wear armor.

The kai-ability was great for my kensai/thief, because then you never did anything less than 90 damage when you backstabbed, so this is still a good thief-combo.

My thoughts exactly, el_kalkylus. Both Kensai and Berserker are melee combatants, enrage gives you a better chance fighting against some of the nasties in the game. Btw, just curious, can you kill Kangaxx the demi lich version with a backstab (with or without Kai), say with a sword like cut-throat?

I don't really know, because I switched to mace of disruption +2 when demi-kangaxx came. I didn't have a +4 longsword or katana or short sword. But I don't think it is possible to backstab him if you do have it.

As there's not a single +4 long sword or katana in the game so you're out of luck on trying to backstab (or back of the skull stab in this case). Strangely the bloody daystar counts as a +2 weapon to hit. More undiscovered bugs no doubt.

I don't think so highly of the kensai. Of course, I think the ideal fighter-mage is the pure one, because of the Thuigan's bow (or I should say, the insta-debuff bow). but Kensai are good because you get the amulet of shielding (which casts ghost armor), useful only to Kensai, and it has plenty of charges. Soon after you get stone skin (and probably have the cash for a good robe) and then it's smooth sailing when it comes to melee.

I think whats great about a kensai is the fact that my m8s level 18 kensai dual wielding katanas had about 7 atacks per round when he finished the game and was so damn fast that my poor and rather damn solid level 16 paladin couldn't get a cut in edgeways when they fort. Even with Carsomyer

Yeah, the beserker would have the same number of attacks.

So what you are saying Herperex, is that you get more attacks with a kensai at high levels? I don't believe that the kensai get's 7 attacks at level 18. The reason you get 7 attacks is that your kensai is wearing boot of speeds. You should have gotten 8 attacks, because I had 4 attacks at level 9 with my kensai, and had downloaded the patch that gives you an extra attack if you are a grand master in a weapon.

I think part of the appeal is what has been mentioned above. However, don't forget that casting Stoneskin and Fireshield are two very effective ways to buff up the Kensai. I personally like the Swashbuckler (gets similar THACO and AC bonuses), but the fighter to hit table is much better than that of the thief.

I suppose a Swashbuckler/Mage using Tenser's Transformation would do well.

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?

It is strange.

Interesting. May want to test out whether elves really get a long bow, long sword bonus too, if it doesn't show up...

HI guys. Probably a little late for this, but check out the Thac0 score. My kensai has to roll a one to miss. I can't remember the level now, as I've been messing around in BG1, but I hit AC0 on a -7 or -8. I think that is a pretty good score...

Stealth, I would think that you get x6 backstab at level 17. Here is my guess: You start at level 1 with x2 backstab, and get 1 extra every 4th level. This means you get x5 backstabs at level 13, x6 at level 17, x7 at level 21, x8 at level 25 and so forth.

Hello robertthehead. There shouldn't be any THACO-difference between a pure fighter, berserker, ranger etc and a kensai. The only difference here is the "damage" and "to hit".
I don't know what "to hit means", but maybe it is improving your THACO, I don't know. Read the posts above, because it tells more about the kensai.

Rikard, at what levels do assasins get their extra backstab multipliers? I like the idea of a Kensai lvl 9 dualed to an assasin! Yes, I know I would have to use Shadowkeeper, but imagine the backstabs he could do! OUCH!

Yea, my Kensai has a ThacO of under -10 now that I'm near endgame. The only was I can miss is with a 1. Sure helps fighting the demi-lich. Once my Kensai hit level 15 it was all over for everything. When I was in Fish City, i used the rest of my party to just keep them occupied and let my Kensai literly kill everything in one round. 4 attacks per round with dual longsord/katana. Can do over 100 pts of damage per round not counting any critical hits or using Kai. I do see the Kensai bonus in my Thaco's. When I leveled up from 14 to 15, the Thaco went down by 2 (1 for being a fighter class, 1 for the Kensai bonus). Same happened at level 17 to 18.

I think the Kensai is looked at highly because it's perfect to dual class to a mage because the Kensai can't wear armor and stuff and a mage can't either so you get all the Kensai bonuses over a plain fighter and don't lose any abilities to be able to case spells (like you would if you were a plain fighter). So you can't wear bracers, big deal. Get the Cloak of the Archmagi and you get a better armor class and magic resistance anyway. The highest AC any of my pure mages have is -4 by mid game.

Anyway, the Kensai rocks!

Is the "damage" different? I mean how much bonus to damage do you get? Does it get added by the strength bonus once it gets passed it?

I have also thought the kensai is great, and it seems that it deals out as much damage as it should, even though it doesn't show at low levels.

bonscott87, you forgot a great combo....the kensai/thief!!!!