monk v. kensai v. barbarian v. berskerker

[Troll Slayer]

I was thinking about making a type of character that can simply be sent into a room full of badies, and hack and slash there way out. I am looking to create a characer that can do TONS of damage per round. Defense is sorta an afterthoguht. I have played a monk, and like them. In TOB they rule. Until level 15 or so however, they need alot of help. I have also played a berserker. They are great also. I guess what I am really getting at is......anyone who has played a pure kensai, give me some input on how they did for you in SOA and also in TOB. Any tricks or tips for palying them. Not just your thoughts on equipment, but on stratagy, and how to effectivly use the kai. It seems to wear off so fast.

Just late night ramblings....

[nk2]

A kensai can do a lot of damage and have qite good ac. i had one with -10. ust make him dual 2 katanas and he will deal out 40 d(on high levels) per hit and he hit a lot with THAC0 down to -20 -30. think he is better than anny of the other combat classes
so give him a trie

[Glod]

For melee damage from a single class toon you can't beat a kensai. Berserker is a lot better defensively due to armor and all those berserk immunities but falls behind in damage per round as levels rise. Never done kensai with ToB installed so I don't know but I assume you can kai with whirlwind. For most of SoA the AC and immunities of berserker easily beat the damage capability of kensai IMO, but later on armor starts to mean less as everyones to hits are insane and those kensai damage bonuses just keep on climbing. Kensai can also gain some pretty huge advantages from dueling to mage or thief.

[Alson]

IMHO, the most balanced of them all is the monk.
A wonderful combination of low AC, amazing damage, and important immunities.
Plus, kong fu animations rocks

[Craig]

Barb, 20-40 damage norm is good, now wait for A crit!!!

[Bruide]

I would also go for a barbarian every time.

The extra movement speed helps too. Move fast, hit hard. None of this namby-pamby aspects of being a kensai sword saint, or all the martial training and dedication of being a monk. Just get the biggest weapon you can find and charge really fast in shouting 'RRRRUUUUAAAARG' and hit things.

Works every time. Except when it doesnt.

[UserUnfriendly]

ok, big problem with monk and barbie...

if you equipp ring of free action or cast spell, you could lose that extra speed, perminently!!!

this is a known bug with the kit, and so far unfixable..saw that somewhere, never tested it, but quite plausible...

alson, the kung fu part looks dso good i tried having a bun bun with monk avatar, when you equipp two handed sword or staff, when you attack the avatar kicks and punches, but the staff or sword kinda floats around, like seeking sword or orbits the avatar like some imp or hummingbird...disappointing, and very annoing...
sigh...wanted monk avatar for bun bun...

sigh...

kensai is the best, imho...dual to mage, wear robes of vecna, and you really rock, better protection and killer skills, daul to thief, wear reddragon scale, and tank up...

the kensai kit is the ultimate in kill really fast kit....you can duplicate anything a kit provides with devices....

do a little hacking, just a bit, and make a kensai thief multi, or dual high, with about 2-5 g whirlwinds, then dual to thief....

best done if solo...

wear robe of vecan, boots of speed, amulet of 5% magic resist or amulet of power, holy avenger and ring of gaxx...

install sola mod, kill lich in docks, and get cloak of bauduran...

100%!!!!!! magic resist...

i also do average of 40 per hit on greater whirlwind due to kensai kit bonuses...

can switch over of dual whwn you run out of whirlwinds...

i dont like the barbi much, enrange cant protect you against imprison, so no cheap ring of gaxx....