[IronDragon]

I see a couple things going on here. Let me try to gently point them out.

A kensai/mage is a tough thing for an inexperienced player to manage…especially when you are dueling at level 13. Remember you will eventually get you kensai skills/abilities back but not until you mage earns an additional (if memory serves) 1,500,000 exp for him/herself…this is complicated by the fact that your in a full party meaning that once you reach dual class your party will have to earn an additional nine million EXP.

Yes Kensai/mage is a powerful character….but until you wrestle the game under control you might want to play just a single class and learn some of the mechanics especially the mechanics of magic.


Problem 2. I won’t spoil things for you…but your line up:
PC
Minsc
Viconia (the drow cleric)
Anomen
Keldorn (the paladin guy)
Yoshimo

Wont last. There is an internal script that keeps good people and evil people from operating happily together. And given what you have detailed of your game and your advancement you are going to reach that script trigger sooner rather than later.


Problem 3. those pesky mages
Keldorn’s dispel magic ability is a might and dangerous thing. As you have rightly noted it takes care of your enemy but also your own party members.

The spells you desire to take down the defenses of enemy wizards are all mage spells. Breech is the most popular of these spells. And here you have your issue of having no mage.. and you will be unlikely to have one…much less a mage of sufficient level to cast breech anytime soon


Problem 4. not every battle requires being buffed to the max. some are tougher than others. Some are next to impossible for low level parties.

Problem 5. I had to read into this post and a few of your other posts to get this…I hope it is accurate. Several of us have mentioned that summoned creatures are your friends. And I’m very glad you are using them for cannon fodder. But you seem to be scattering your forces in battle. The summons should not just be attacking the mages…everyone should be attacking the mages. Both hand to hand and with missile weapons and (ideally) with spells. This is becaue a high level mage is the most bangerous thing around. Fighters and evil clears or skeletons or other nasties are …well…nasty…but you can deal with them later. Allowing an enemy mage to set off an Abi-Dalzim’s Horrid Wilting or even a charm spell can mean a lost battle for your party. by all means, sneak up on groups of enemies and draw away their fighter protectors to deal with them first. But in an all out battle you always concentrate you power on the strongest member of that enemy party.


Problem 6. Raging Minsc is a dangerous option. If you told me that he hasn’t gone after you and the other party members while he is enraged I would be shocked.


Problem 7. the only way to get skill with mage spells is to use them...you gotta have them to learn about their abilities.

Problem 8. Healing by cleric spells should take place after the battle is done…as sort of a clean up. When you do it during battle you are removing one fighter from the battle as well as endangering both that cleric and the person trying to be healed. Make use of healing potions for in battle heal ups


So if I had to sum up the advice I was offering:
1. hold off on the kesai/mage till you can get yourself through the game and have gone through several times.
2. you might best be served by playing a single class mage yourself…to force yourself to become proficient at the spells.
3. if you are roleplaying good…then pick good (or at the very least neutral) teammates.
4. while you are learning, save before each battle and replay that battle several times trying different tactics and strategies.