best fighter fighter?

[StarVid]

I saw a poll earlier about the best non-fighter fighter, and now I'm curious. What is the best fighter fighter (melee), not just in attack power, but in defense power? I don't think the kensai would make it because their defense is pretty bad, even with all the attack bonuses. But anywhos, I'm just curious...

[SixOfSpades]

I'd have to go with the Berserker.....but then I hear that when you get really far along into the game, Armor Class becomes almost irrelevant (The bad guys' THAC0 is so good, they will hit you no matter what you're wearing), so maybe the Barbarian's greater hitpoints will rule the day. That is, if Barbarians can put more than 2 stars into a weapon....I don't think they can, and you also can't Dual them.

As for best NPC fighter.....I can't speak from experience, but I'd say either Keldorn with the Gauntlets of Dexterity, you-know-who in ToB, or Mazzy with a STR belt. And if AC truly becomes irrelevant, Valygar can Tank with the best of 'em.

[Magness]

I guess that I have to disagree about AC becoming irrelevant later in the game. While it is true that later bosses may have really low THAC0's, that doesn't mean that all the various other monsters that are floating around have those same low THAC0's. I always try to drive my party's THAC0's as far down as I can.

Also, despite his Stalker-class limitations (i.e. max of studded leather), you can get Valygar's AC down pretty far, particularly if you're willing to carry a shield.

[Ike YarakZ]

The Crowd goes silent, A big hush, a big bang, and there he is, the Dwarven Beserker! the crowd goes wild, chix throwing thier bras to the stage, homo-guys their undies ( do not imagine this )...

AC irrelevant..?!!?No Way... Even if u get hit u'll have HP ova 130 at level 13 or sumthing!

with axes and war hammers... it'll be u go Little man...!!!

[Jim]

May contain item spoilers
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Kensai all the way!!!

I have recently completed SoA/ToB using a solo kensai on insane difficulty and there was no one situation he couldn't handle. There are plenty of items to boost AC despite not being able to wear armour, and your opponents are mush before they can inflict much damage on you anyway.

Level 40 kensai = +13 damage
Belt of frost giant strength (SoA) = +9 damage
Belt of fire giant strength (ToB) = +10 damage
Grandmastery in weapon and ** in 2-handed weapon style = +6 damage

Obscene weapons:
Spear +3 Impailer (primary weapon in SoA) = 14-19 base damage
Staff of the Ram+6 (primary ToB) = 14-22 base damage

Therefore in SoA he was inflicting 42-47 damage attacking 4 times per round, and in ToB he was inflicting 43-51 damage attacking 4 times per round. If attacking an archer or an unarmed opponent, he gains a +4 attack bonus so in ideal circumstances can deal 55 damage on a single hit, thats 110 critical!! Some quintuple critical backstabs can't reach this value, and this is in melee combat. The ability to deal around 52 more damage *every* round over a normal fighter is well worth the sacrifice of armour IMO. Go on, brave the kensai, you'll like it......