Kensai -> Druid

[Gimli]

Hehe, a little hard to imagine a Druid siding with Gnolls to take out a Ranger

Jelboo, that sounds like a job for Shadowkeeper, you can steal points from another stat and add them to Con to make your cleric tougher, I don't see that as cheating so long as you don't give him more points than he started with.

I will tell you one thing, rolling this guy up is not easy, the best stats I've gotten so far:

ST - 15
DX - 18
CO - 14
IN - 9
WI - 18
CH - 17

The CHA requirement is tough one and I don't want a blathering idiot type or I would rob more from Int for Con. For STR I guess there are the girdles (are those usable by Kensai?). Or I can spend some more time feeling like I am at a slot machine rolling this guy up waiting for the jackpot roll, but I'm pretty happy with these stats.

I'm thinking of going with Nalia, Keldorn, and Anomen and would like one more pure tank type. Would Korgan give me grief with any of those NPCs? Are there any good tank NPC mods out there that wouldn't give me alignment issues? Otherwise maybe I'll make 2 PCs (kensai as the Bhaal child and then a tank, maybe a barbarian).

[ZFR]

Originally posted by Gimli: CO - 14

14 CON????

That's the worst possible. Giving exactly same bonus as 9 CON and taking up 5 more precious points.

[Gimli]

D'oh that's right, keep confusing 2nd and 3rd edition rules. Now that I look at the table in the manual it's actually the same a a 6 Con (only plus is N/A for the main character, the resurrection survival rate). Time to re-roll, but it will be a little easier now, thanks for the tip!

[Gimli]

OK, just re-did him and got a nice roll quickly too, here are the new stats:

ST - 18/80
DX - 18
CO - 9
IN - 10
WI - 18
CH - 17

I feel better knowing he's out of the stupid zone too (the 9 INT does have a -10% lore penalty). I also found a great thread here that reviewed alot of the modded NPCs, but still don't see one I think would fit in, so I think I will go with a Barbarian there who will do axes and avoid any issues with Korgan. I want someone who can stand in the front and take a beating (not to mention resist level draining, believe only Barb rage does that and not the Berserker variety). I am *definitely* going to choose the Shadow Thief route alliance-wise as the undead are particularly offensive to Druids. Also I am not sure now about going to 13th as a Kensai as getting to level 14 as a Druid can take a looong time so I might dual over earlier.

[SixOfSpades]

Originally posted by mad=dog: Wakizashi's are in the same proficiency group as scimitars meaning they are so close that they are inseparable

Proficiency does not equal usability. Druids are allowed to use Scimitars, but not Wakizashi or Ninja-to. This rule is hardly a well-known one, since there are hardly any Wakizashi or Ninja-to worth mentioning, except the one that is restricted to Monks.
Yamato is indeed a Wakizashi, not a Scimitar or Ninja-to (compare the Speed Factor and damage type with other weapons from this proficiency), so if Druids can use it, which appears to be the case, then that's a bug.

If this helmet is exploit-imported into BG2 it can be used to become neutral good in the hells.

True, but Kensai cannot wear helmets.

Originally posted by Gimli: I want someone who can ... resist level draining, believe only Barb rage does that and not the Berserker variety.

Both Barbarians and Berserkers gain immunity to Level Drain while Enraged, although only the Barbarian's Kit Description mentions this immunity. Chalk it up to BioWare running around like a chicken with its head cut off during production for this game.

[ 06-28-2005, 05:38 PM: Message edited by: SixOfSpades ]

[Gimli]

Six what about this quote though from Kryvias:

"Druids ar e able to use Yamato.The Scimitar/ninja to/wakazishi proficiency is all in one. I know this because I have my main char, a figher/druid, euqipping it right now."

I wonder if a multi or dual class Druid/Fighter allows the class to use the wakizashis and ninja-tos?

Thanks for the tip re: berserker rage. Now I'm leaning towards making my own Dwarf Berserker who will do both hammers and axes - won't need any ranged proficiencies with the dwarven thrower and all the good throwing axes out there. An angry, level-drain immune dwarf with Azuredge will be very effective against the undead

[ 06-28-2005, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: Gimli ]

[ZFR]

Originally posted by Gimli: I wonder if a multi or dual class Druid/Fighter allows the class to use the wakizashis and ninja-tos?

No...
Druids and clerics carry over weapon restrictions when dualled or multied.
If a fighter/druid can wield yamato (which indeed is a bug) so can a pure class druid.

[mad=dog]

I am still not sure if it is a bug. Why should Druids not be able to wield wakizashi's and ninja-tos? I would allow it as DM myself.

And indeed a kensai cannot wear a helment. My mistake.

EDIT: I believe the original idea is "any weapon with sickle shaped blade" since this is a sacred thing for druids. In the most fundamental rules this would be sickles and scimitars, but since the weapon list have expanded it would also include the aforementioned weapons and katanas for that matter. In short terms the druid restriction on swords is based on the shape of the blade and not on a cultural name.

[ 06-29-2005, 03:31 AM: Message edited by: mad=dog ]

[ZFR]

Originally posted by mad=dog: I am still not sure if it is a bug. Why should Druids not be able to wield wakizashi's and ninja-tos? I would allow it as DM myself.

What I meant it is a bug that druids can wield Yamato.
This is because they are not able to wield normal unenchanted wakizashis or niinjatos (you can check it) in the game.
So regardless of how it is supposed to be by the rules, they were not intended to be using wakizashis and ninjatos in the game. So it is a bug that they can wield that particular one.

[ 06-29-2005, 03:32 AM: Message edited by: ZFR ]

[mad=dog]

I get it now. You replied while I was editing. So the game has "decided" that druids cannot use these weapons... so be it. Hope someone makes an unofficial mod that allows these weapons for druids though.