Well, I've played 6 parties up to around level 6 or 7, and I'm thinking about restarting again. I just can't help myself. They've all been almost the same party - all human, with ninja, samurai, ranger, priest, bard and psionic. First time I had a monk instead of a samurai. Last time I replaced my front line with a rogue and a fighter, which were much more powerful. But somehow they just don't seem as cool. Perhaps it's just me, but I'd rather be a cool ■■■■■ than a tough dork [img]smile.gif[/img]
What bothers me is the weapon and armour restrictions on ninjas and samurai. Are there good ninja usable swords (particularly offhand) in the game? My samurai seems to be able to use anything, but the ninja can only use japanese weapons. So far I've seen katanas, wakazishi, naginata, nunchukas and nodachi, in both enchanted and vanilla flavours. I kind of assume that dual weilding swords would be best, but has anyone tried the 2 handers like the nodachi or the naginata on a ninja? Is there any offhand usable sword other than the wakazishi?
Which brings us to armour. The only samurai armour I've seen so far is the chest piece in the monastery. Is there lots more? The ninja is worse off, as he's still in the pajamas he was wearing when we crashed. Are there Gleaming Shadowy Vorpal Ubersilk Jimjams of Dastardly Buttkicking Vampiric Comfiness or something lying around in someone's bottom drawer?
I guess I want to have my cake and beat Higardi with it too [img]smile.gif[/img]
Any advice would be welcome.

Samurai's can wear chain armor, later in game you'll come across some good stuff wich adds resists as well.

Best ninja weapon in game is the Cane of corpus it's something like 12-42 100%poison 10%kill and some other stats, only downside is you'll need an fearie ninja to wield this baby.

All ninja's need are their jammies, fists, and some throwing objects. Well the occaisional cloak, amulet, Ankh, or ring does not hurt. I have found additional samurai specific armor and I use Bloodlust and a wakizashi. I would kill for an enchanted wakizashi but oh well. As for my ninja I use mostly fists and some throwing objects. Once you get above 50 in martial arts I have noticed that the ninja will start to KO oponents and gets more attacks for more damage.

Remember with the ninja stealth adds to AC and if you max Dex you get relexation which also adds to AC. With rings, amulets, and cloaks plus stealth your ninja should have as good an armor class as your main fighters.

My party (all about level 15/16):

Mook Ranger Male
Human Ninja Female
Human Monk Female
Hobbit Bard Male
Elf Bishop Male
Faerie Mage Female

Like you Aramas, we may not be tanks but we are very cool! (LOL)

My ninja is still in her jammies too.... and quite comfy <grin>. She is a front line fighter and takes very little damage--her Speed and Stealth skills are high. As for weapons, she uses knives, stilettos, darts, shurikens, sling-&-rocks, and her hands and feet. I had some swords, but never found much use for them. In fact, to raise her Martial Arts skill (and the monk's too!) we have little "train-and- resupply" missions on the Arnika road... those bandits, rogues, etc., often drop throwing weapons when we kill them <big grin>. Keeping her supplied with knives, etc., was the biggest problem for a while, until I figured out several strategies for getting ammunition. I have yet to find any different armor for my ninja.... but I really don't care because she is soooooooo very cool in her jammies as she kicks butt. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!


Hmmmmmmmmmm... my font size changed... why???