Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Dual Warrior-Mage's Downtime

Mahokenshi · 12-21-2006, 04:32 AM

Right now I'm playing through with the infamous Kensai (12) - Theif. I've never dualed before, never played a Kensai before, and never gave the Heavanly Cheese Stick (the sword's in game colour even LOOKS like it's literal cheese) to anyone with more than one star in Katana.

This is a fun character, even though I'm in the downtime period and she's gone from a walking Slay Living spell (Katanas shouldn't have a stun setting

) to weak as a trap-disarming kitten.

I went for the level 12 dual as opposed to 13 as I have the "origional grandmastery" mod, and the extra 1/2 attack at my combat level just didn't seem worth an extra 500k experience in "development time."

My question is though, in my next playthrough I would like to play a slash-and-caster. And so I'm thinking of, yes, the even more infamous Kensai - Mage.

But here's the the rub for me:

Getting to 13 th level as a fighter takes 1 250 000 exp. Getting to 12 takes a cool 1 000 000 exp. Getting to level 14 as a mage takes 1 500 000 exp (1 125 000 exp for 13.) So a 13/14 Kensai - Mage would need 2 750 000 exp ( 2 125 000 for the 12/13 version.)

Now, that's not far shy of the SoA exp cap. I do have ToB, but my question (at last

is thus):

For those of you who have played Kensai - Mages in a party (not solo; at lest 4 or so members incl PC) does it really take most of the game to reactivate a 13/14 (or even 12/13) Kensai mage? Power is fun, but I'd like to have a realized character before it's time to save some dippy elves.

My alternative idea would be a berserker (9) mage, for a more defensive oriented dual (lots of hps, rage is like a mini-spell trigger of immunities, etc.) Sure he won't easily toe to toe the Throne of Bhallers, but I'd have a fun and full, happy dual at a measly 500k, which you can get in chapter 2 before you even really start rolling (esp with the mage scroll cheese trick.)

So what's it like. When do you have a kensai (13) - mage reactivate? Is playing a "down time" PC for so long fun? When you get your abilities back, is there enough of the game left for the ride to have been worth it?

Fire away; I'd love to hear. My only previous "long term dual" was the time I made Imoen a thief (7) - mage (8) in BG1. That happens just at the exp cap, and even in a party of 4 she was barely ready in time for Durlag's Tower (which I did dead last.)

12-21-2006, 04:32 AM	#1
Mahokenshi Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: December 10, 2006 Location: Japan Posts: 44	Right now I'm playing through with the infamous Kensai (12) - Theif. I've never dualed before, never played a Kensai before, and never gave the Heavanly Cheese Stick (the sword's in game colour even LOOKS like it's literal cheese) to anyone with more than one star in Katana. This is a fun character, even though I'm in the downtime period and she's gone from a walking Slay Living spell (Katanas shouldn't have a stun setting ) to weak as a trap-disarming kitten. I went for the level 12 dual as opposed to 13 as I have the "origional grandmastery" mod, and the extra 1/2 attack at my combat level just didn't seem worth an extra 500k experience in "development time." My question is though, in my next playthrough I would like to play a slash-and-caster. And so I'm thinking of, yes, the even more infamous Kensai - Mage. But here's the the rub for me: Getting to 13 th level as a fighter takes 1 250 000 exp. Getting to 12 takes a cool 1 000 000 exp. Getting to level 14 as a mage takes 1 500 000 exp (1 125 000 exp for 13.) So a 13/14 Kensai - Mage would need 2 750 000 exp ( 2 125 000 for the 12/13 version.) Now, that's not far shy of the SoA exp cap. I do have ToB, but my question (at last is thus): For those of you who have played Kensai - Mages in a party (not solo; at lest 4 or so members incl PC) does it really take most of the game to reactivate a 13/14 (or even 12/13) Kensai mage? Power is fun, but I'd like to have a realized character before it's time to save some dippy elves. My alternative idea would be a berserker (9) mage, for a more defensive oriented dual (lots of hps, rage is like a mini-spell trigger of immunities, etc.) Sure he won't easily toe to toe the Throne of Bhallers, but I'd have a fun and full, happy dual at a measly 500k, which you can get in chapter 2 before you even really start rolling (esp with the mage scroll cheese trick.) So what's it like. When do you have a kensai (13) - mage reactivate? Is playing a "down time" PC for so long fun? When you get your abilities back, is there enough of the game left for the ride to have been worth it? Fire away; I'd love to hear. My only previous "long term dual" was the time I made Imoen a thief (7) - mage (8) in BG1. That happens just at the exp cap, and even in a party of 4 she was barely ready in time for Durlag's Tower (which I did dead last.)