Best weapon for kensai/mage?

[Shotgun]

I'm playing a kensai/mage for the first time and was wondering which weapons everyone think is best for him? Right now, I've picked bastard swords, axes, and quarterstaff, but I'm wondering if long sword or katana would have been a better choice? I'd like to dual-wield him, too. Any thoughts?

[ZFR]

I'm currently soloing one and having dual-wield katanas, but only for roleplay reasons. He's doing OK.
But the best weapon I think would be the staff of the magi.

Now I heard throwing daggers/axes are good for him but IMHO that's so unkensailike to use any ranged weapons.

EDIT: out of curiosity, at what level is he dualed and whats the rest of the party?

[ 06-22-2005, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: ZFR ]

[Morgeruat]

There are two ways to go, max out staves (and be vicious with the SotM) or max Katanas for Dakkon's Zerth Blade and CF.

[Aragorn1]

Katanas all the way for me!!
They end up being walking blenders

[ister]

It's very hard to argue with Dakkon's Zerth Blade. Staff of the Magi is too much like cheese for me, so I say you have to go with katanas.

[Shotgun]

I have a full party, including Jan, Keldorn, Jaheira, Aerie (their fights are quite interesting!), and Mazzy. Right now, my kensai (he's only at level 9, and I'm going to dual him until I hit 13) is the only one using axes and bastard swords. I like the axe since I have the Azuredge, so I'll likely keep that, as well as some proficiency in the quarterstaff since he'll need a weapon when he dual classes. Maybe I'll switch the bastard sword to the katana with Shadowkeeper. Sounds as though most people think the katana is it. Yes?

[Morgeruat]

Originally posted by Shotgun: I have a full party, including Jan, Keldorn, Jaheira, Aerie (their fights are quite interesting!), and Mazzy. Right now, my kensai (he's only at level 9, and I'm going to dual him until I hit 13) is the only one using axes and bastard swords. I like the axe since I have the Azuredge, so I'll likely keep that, as well as some proficiency in the quarterstaff since he'll need a weapon when he dual classes. Maybe I'll switch the bastard sword to the katana with Shadowkeeper. Sounds as though most people think the katana is it. Yes?

Katana has several important advantages over Bastard Sword, for instance a lower speed factor, higher damage, the "kewl" factor, and finally flavor. Kensai is an oriental class so it just makes more sense for one to use an oriental weapon as opposed to a northern european one. Along the same lines strictly roleplaying wise quarterstaff doesn't make much sense since a kensai is a SWORD-saint, but bo-staves were common weapons in the orient, and so it's not too far fetched to take as your weapon of choice.

[Neo the Warrior Cat]

That would be the Staff of the Macheese. (Staff of the Magi)

And later on, Staff of the Ram for ridiculous damage.

[krunchyfrogg]

Either Katana & Flail Dual Weild (I suggest the Flail of Easthaven for your offhand, Celestial Fury as your main weapon, and Flail of Ages against Clay Golems and switching to it full time in ToB) or quarterstaves.

You would do well for yourself specializing in Axes or Halberds as well.

[Klutz]

Two weapon types I'm surprised no one has mentioned.

Flail: Great for SOA and TOB if you play it. Flail of Ages is one of the best weapons in either game. Defender of Easthaven is a very good off-hand weapon, since it offers damage resistance in addition to an AC bonus.

Scimitar or Short Sword: Since you have Mazzy (Short Swords) and Jaheira (Scimitars), you may not be able to use these for your Kensai, but Belm (Scimitar) and Kundane (Short Sword) grant +1 attack per round, which is just about the best off-hand weapon ability a dual-wielder can ask for.

Also, if you've decided that you're OK with your Kensai using throwing weapons, consider Dagger for Firetooth.

As for Quarterstaff, remember that when you dual-class you will (temporarily) lose all your original Kensai weapon proficiencies. So if you want to use Quarterstaff as a Mage, the best way to do that is to NOT learn it as a Kensai, learn it as a Mage (proficiency), and then when you regain your Kensai class put one more point in it to specialize. You can do the same with Dagger, since it is a legal Mage proficiency.