Kensai/Mage questions

Lord Delarue · 03-10-2002, 09:40 AM

Ok, i have tried to figure out what kensai/mages are so powerful for, i have figured it out for kensai/thiefs, they can backstab with kai ability, and can wear the armor, have a lot of attacks per round, and in TOB
Spoiler
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They can use 'use any item' ability, and are real killing machines
But what on the kensai/mage, please help

WhirlingDervish · 03-10-2002, 11:21 AM

The Kensai's fighting limitations make this kit very complimentary to the mage class. The most significant of these is the Kensai's inablity to wear armor. To make Kensai's viable fighters w/o armor they are given some special armor class adjustments. Once dualed you have a mage with special armor class adjustments. Also, the Kensai's Thaco bonuses combined with an ability to cast stoneskin or spell defenses on himself/herself results in a heavy hitter that can't be hit. The Kensai's special "Kai Shot" ability also gives you a good last resort measure, should you ever get into serious trouble. Last but not least... Minor Spoiler
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You can set up a Kensai Mage to dual wield (since you can't use a sheild anyway). Dakkon's Zerth Blade in the off hand gives a Kensai/Mage extra memorized spells and extra attacks, and leaves the main hand open for a more powerful weapon. (ie celestial fuery, also a Katana, so all prof point can be put into only two columns) {dual wield & katana}

Hopefully I've articulated this so it makes some sense, but basically the restrictions/advantages of the Kensai & Mage classes are very complimentary.

[img]graemlins/1druid.gif[/img]

[ 03-10-2002: Message edited by: WhirlingDervish ]

daan · 03-10-2002, 12:36 PM

And offcourse, at higher levels ... Time-stop / Kai-ability
is a nice combo, since Time-stops lets you hit every time you strike.
Time Stop, Improved Haste, (maybe Tensers Transformation), Kai-shot ..
That's more than any enemy can take [img]smile.gif[/img]

EDIT: Wait !, what am i saying ... tenser Transformation ... Forget that one, since i allready mentioned time-stops let you hit every single time you strike. No need for higher Thac0..

[ 03-10-2002: Message edited by: daan ]

SixOfSpades · 03-11-2002, 11:04 PM

Tenser's might still be good, as it doubles your hitpoints. My F/M/T already has 150, so with Stoneskin, Mirror Image, and Tenser's--HOLY crap!

Foo · 03-12-2002, 10:26 AM

I'm using a solo Kensai/Mage, and can say that it is truly an awesome fighter!

Dak'kon's Zerth blade also grants -2 AC, in addition to the extra spells.

My char is level 12/23 and Tenser's Trans gave me 334 HP!!!!! Dual-wielding katanas (Celestial Fury and the abovementioned Zerth blade) gave me 6 Attacks/round with THAC0 of -12/-9!!! Cast Ghost Armour, and got an AC of -13!!! Along with other buffs etc such as Protection from Normal Weapons/Prot from Magic Weapons, Impv Haste, Blur, Stoneskin there are very few battles that this char cannot hack/slash through.

Also, being such a high-level mage means access to Time Stop, Imp Alacrity, Abi Dalzim, Comet, Dragon Breath etc. So, if you want to use spells instead of hack/slash you can blow your opponents away before they have a chance to touch you! A Planetar also makes for a good 'sidekick' when you want to share some of the fun, as they cast my fav mage-stopping spell-Insect Plague.

oldbittercraig · 03-12-2002, 11:55 AM

Additonally, a Kensai/Mage CAN wear the "Robe of the XXXX Archmagi" (XXXX being Good/Mild/Evil) which will drop your AC...

uss · 03-12-2002, 01:06 PM

quote:
Originally posted by oldbittercraig:
Additonally, a Kensai/Mage CAN wear the "Robe of the XXXX Archmagi" (XXXX being Good/Mild/Evil) which will drop your AC...

why bother searching for "robe of the(alignment)archmagi" when you can get "robe of the vecna" from Deidre?

F. Gottwald · 03-14-2002, 07:09 AM

i prefer the robe of vecna for someone who is actually casting during a fight - a kensai/mage will typically beef up before a major ruckus and fight hand-to-hand, so the -4 to casting speed is wasted.
imo the choice is between robe of the x archmagi and robe of the apprenti...

Gheital · 03-17-2002, 10:04 AM

I'm playing a kensai/mage and I use magic pretty much in combat so I prefer Robe of Vecna.

Btw you should try putting 3 flame arrows or fireballs to spell trigger or spell seq. With flame arrows, if the monster fails his saving throws, I do about 100 damege maybe even more or maybe less if they succees in one of the STs. Tell me other good spells what I should put on spell trigger.

TDD SPOILER
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
In TDD the maker probably didn't know how to make saving throws to monsters because many of the 'tough' monsters never save vs anything. For example I killed the blue dragon(Tapanazkar or something like that) with CHROMATIC ORB. The sucker didn't save and... well he died [img]smile.gif[/img] One spell and 70k xp, the easiest 70k xp I've get [img]smile.gif[/img]

03-10-2002, 09:40 AM	#1
Lord Delarue The Magister Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: belgium Age: 37 Posts: 137	Ok, i have tried to figure out what kensai/mages are so powerful for, i have figured it out for kensai/thiefs, they can backstab with kai ability, and can wear the armor, have a lot of attacks per round, and in TOB Spoiler . . . . . . . . . They can use 'use any item' ability, and are real killing machines But what on the kensai/mage, please help __________________ If death would die, would everybody die or would everybody live?

03-10-2002, 12:36 PM	#3
daan Silver Dragon Join Date: August 25, 2001 Location: - Age: 38 Posts: 1,644	And offcourse, at higher levels ... Time-stop / Kai-ability is a nice combo, since Time-stops lets you hit every time you strike. Time Stop, Improved Haste, (maybe Tensers Transformation), Kai-shot .. That's more than any enemy can take [img]smile.gif[/img] EDIT: Wait !, what am i saying ... tenser Transformation ... Forget that one, since i allready mentioned time-stops let you hit every single time you strike. No need for higher Thac0.. [ 03-10-2002: Message edited by: daan ] __________________ <strong> Odi et Amo. Quare id faciam facisse requires ? Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior </strong><br /><br /><strong> Amantem cogit amare magis, sed bene velle minus </strong>

03-11-2002, 11:04 PM	#4
SixOfSpades Dracolisk Join Date: September 16, 2001 Location: Bellingham, WA, USA Age: 46 Posts: 6,901	Tenser's might still be good, as it doubles your hitpoints. My F/M/T already has 150, so with Stoneskin, Mirror Image, and Tenser's--HOLY crap! __________________ Volothamp's Comeuppance Everything you ever needed to know about the entire Baldur's Gate series......except spoilers.

03-12-2002, 11:55 AM	#6
oldbittercraig Elminster Join Date: July 12, 2001 Location: Tucson, AZ, us Posts: 435	Additonally, a Kensai/Mage CAN wear the "Robe of the XXXX Archmagi" (XXXX being Good/Mild/Evil) which will drop your AC... __________________ <img border=\"0\" alt=\"[rant]\" title=\"\" src=\"graemlins/rant.gif\" />

03-12-2002, 01:06 PM	#7
uss 20th Level Warrior Join Date: November 16, 2001 Location: Estonia Age: 35 Posts: 2,775	quote: Originally posted by oldbittercraig: Additonally, a Kensai/Mage CAN wear the "Robe of the XXXX Archmagi" (XXXX being Good/Mild/Evil) which will drop your AC... why bother searching for "robe of the(alignment)archmagi" when you can get "robe of the vecna" from Deidre?

03-10-2002, 11:21 AM	#2
WhirlingDervish Dungeon Master Join Date: September 10, 2001 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 62	The Kensai's fighting limitations make this kit very complimentary to the mage class. The most significant of these is the Kensai's inablity to wear armor. To make Kensai's viable fighters w/o armor they are given some special armor class adjustments. Once dualed you have a mage with special armor class adjustments. Also, the Kensai's Thaco bonuses combined with an ability to cast stoneskin or spell defenses on himself/herself results in a heavy hitter that can't be hit. The Kensai's special "Kai Shot" ability also gives you a good last resort measure, should you ever get into serious trouble. Last but not least... Minor Spoiler _ _ _ _ You can set up a Kensai Mage to dual wield (since you can't use a sheild anyway). Dakkon's Zerth Blade in the off hand gives a Kensai/Mage extra memorized spells and extra attacks, and leaves the main hand open for a more powerful weapon. (ie celestial fuery, also a Katana, so all prof point can be put into only two columns) {dual wield & katana} Hopefully I've articulated this so it makes some sense, but basically the restrictions/advantages of the Kensai & Mage classes are very complimentary. [img]graemlins/1druid.gif[/img] [ 03-10-2002: Message edited by: WhirlingDervish ]

03-12-2002, 10:26 AM	#5
Foo Dungeon Master Join Date: February 11, 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 72	I'm using a solo Kensai/Mage, and can say that it is truly an awesome fighter! Dak'kon's Zerth blade also grants -2 AC, in addition to the extra spells. My char is level 12/23 and Tenser's Trans gave me 334 HP!!!!! Dual-wielding katanas (Celestial Fury and the abovementioned Zerth blade) gave me 6 Attacks/round with THAC0 of -12/-9!!! Cast Ghost Armour, and got an AC of -13!!! Along with other buffs etc such as Protection from Normal Weapons/Prot from Magic Weapons, Impv Haste, Blur, Stoneskin there are very few battles that this char cannot hack/slash through. Also, being such a high-level mage means access to Time Stop, Imp Alacrity, Abi Dalzim, Comet, Dragon Breath etc. So, if you want to use spells instead of hack/slash you can blow your opponents away before they have a chance to touch you! A Planetar also makes for a good 'sidekick' when you want to share some of the fun, as they cast my fav mage-stopping spell-Insect Plague.

03-14-2002, 07:09 AM	#8
F. Gottwald Manshoon Join Date: January 9, 2002 Location: Göttingen, Germany Posts: 153	i prefer the robe of vecna for someone who is actually casting during a fight - a kensai/mage will typically beef up before a major ruckus and fight hand-to-hand, so the -4 to casting speed is wasted. imo the choice is between robe of the x archmagi and robe of the apprenti... __________________ The objective of persecution is persecution. The objective of torture is torture. The objective of power is power.

03-17-2002, 10:04 AM	#9
Gheital Dungeon Master Join Date: February 15, 2002 Location: Finland Age: 40 Posts: 55	I'm playing a kensai/mage and I use magic pretty much in combat so I prefer Robe of Vecna. Btw you should try putting 3 flame arrows or fireballs to spell trigger or spell seq. With flame arrows, if the monster fails his saving throws, I do about 100 damege maybe even more or maybe less if they succees in one of the STs. Tell me other good spells what I should put on spell trigger. TDD SPOILER . . . . . . . . . . . In TDD the maker probably didn't know how to make saving throws to monsters because many of the 'tough' monsters never save vs anything. For example I killed the blue dragon(Tapanazkar or something like that) with CHROMATIC ORB. The sucker didn't save and... well he died [img]smile.gif[/img] One spell and 70k xp, the easiest 70k xp I've get [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ -Gheital

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