Pure Kensai

Valkos · Post by **Valkos** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 4:16 am

Im playing a pure kensai

Right now I'm a bit confused about what weapons I should use and the style as well. I know a pure kensai is difficult to play, but good use of potions and other excellent items makes it a bit more playable. In the end he will be insane and connecting on almost every attack he makes.

I'm thinking two weapon style, but what I should dual wield - that I'm not sure of.

Some advice would be great and I'm doing him pure, so no need to talk me into making a kensai/something

Toxeus · Post by **Toxeus** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:48 am

Are you playing solo or with party? My funniest kensai was dwarf with 5* in hammers. The most time he used Dwarven Thrower, in ToB he wielded Runehammer and Crom Faeyr. Short, tough and deadly guy

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:04 am

The most effective combination for SoA is probably using the "Celestial Fury" katana (if you know how to get it) with "belm" in the off-hand for even more attacks.
Just keep in mind that you'll need an alternative for monsters which require +4 weapons or blunt damage.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 7:09 am

You might also consider adding in mods that provide a better selection of weapons for sale, well-balanced but representative of more types. (The Pocket Plane Group has a selection of these.) That way, you won't find the character whom you gave several proficiency points to in XYZ ends up only with one middling weapon, while that top-of-the-line ABC is out of your party's league.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 8:20 am

Don't put a 3rd star into dualwielding, it's wasted. A high level kensai will even laugh at a -10 penalty to hit, so profiency points in dualwielding or the off-hand weapon get quite useless after level 20.

If it's your first time through the game I recommend spending not more than 2 stars into the weapon types you prefer, bonusses for higher specialisation are very small and it really hurts if you don't find a proper weapon of the kind you use.
Once you've found your uber-weapons there's still time enough to increase profiency further.

The easiest solution is just taking quarterstaffs. The quarterstaff +4 you can buy from Ribald can do serious damage to any kind of enemies since it's both blunt and +4.
Because of the longer weapon range your other party tanks with better AC will be closer to the enemies and block most attacks.

Valkos · Post by **Valkos** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:19 am

I'm soloing through the game and I have ToB installed as well.

Fury and belm are excellent choices. Scimitars are also awesome in ToB with the spectralbrand or what it's called. Fury is one of the best katanas period. Not even ToB grants a much better version of katana than can compete with fury.

I chose axes to start with because you get stonefire axe pretty early. Also azure edge is handy when fighting undead.

What about staff of striking? That would be very bad arse if I go two handed?

As for quick lvling I'm kinda stuck after taking some rather hard minor quests. Mekrath is dead, serial skinner done, circus and den of seven vales. It takes some saving and loading and big use of potions. Where should I perhaps go next?

Jedi_Sauraus · Post by **Jedi_Sauraus** » Thu Mar 01, 2007 5:40 pm

IMO two handers give you more raw damage output meaning you'll kill faster, but on the otherhand dual wielding can give you more versatility/protection while still being a nasty killing machine.

Celestial fury + anything will be a great combo, you don't need to use Belm since you'll be using GWW anyway. but try the ravager +6 anyway

it just might be love at first sight with your Kensai bonuses.

my piece of advice to you is to get ***** in weapons contrary to what some people said. The reason is that you'll end up using 1 weapon 90% of the time and probably switch to something else when a specific situation arises. That being said as a kensai you'll have plenty of stars to go around, so don't be shy giving them to the weapons you know you'll use most. If this isn't your first time through you'll likely know what you want use.

rbeverjr · Post by **rbeverjr** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:34 am

The pure kensai is an excellent choice, particularly if you have someone who can cast spirit armor on you. He will do very well. Early in the game Celestial Fury and Belm are an excellent choice. I would put at least 3 stars in katanas. If you install the grandmastery mod, it certainly makes sense to have 5 stars in your chosen weapon eventually. Depending on what item upgrade mods you install, FoA will probably be the best boss killer in ToB. You could use FoA and Belm there. Of course, you should switch out to whatever weapons are appropriate for a specific encounter. For instance, I typically have 1 or 2 stars in mace (Mace of Disruption) and axe (Azuredge), depending on my team.

Dual wielding is the way to go if you are in the team. Improved Haste will give you 9 or 10 attacks for a much longer duration than GWW, allowing you to use other HLA's. The off-hand weapon can also give you needed immunities in various battles. And so on. Of course, it won't make much difference in the unmodded game. Ravager +6 and GWW is a deadly combination - at nearly the end of the game....

Valkos · Post by **Valkos** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 11:38 am

I haven't any patches or mods at all.

If someone could link them it would be nice.

Well I'm soloing all the way except the times I need a thief or need the NPC to complete a quest.

Right now, I'm trying to complete BG TotSC, because I want the experience from BG to BG2.

rbeverjr · Post by **rbeverjr** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:01 pm

I bet you will find soloing a kensai to be a challenge. I would probably rather solo a barbarian. If you don't find soloing a kensai challenging enough, then add Improved Anvil, Ascension, and/or the Tactics mod to make it so. You should be able to google these mods by typing their name and bg2.

I do suggest that you use the latest patch for the game and the fixpack.

Jedi_Sauraus · Post by **Jedi_Sauraus** » Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:44 pm

Yeah Soloing the Kensai is difficult................... unless you dual to mage

Valkos · Post by **Valkos** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:14 am

I don't need mods to make it harder, because it is tough enough

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 7:09 am

Then if you just want to check out the mods available, look in the sticky thread about mods, at the top of the forum.