2 Party Combo: Kensai/Thief and Beserker/Mage

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 5:54 am

I was just about to make a Beserker/Mage, and then I thought of doing Kensai/Thief and Beserker/Mage together. I think its a pretty good idea. Only downside is it will take a bit longer to level up. I'd like your opinions to maybe think of a similar combo, or if it's just a plain CRAP idea. I've already started it, just got out of Irenicus's dungeon.

I think its a pretty good combo because the B/M can distract enemies while the K/T backstabs them. I thought of equipping B/M with Flail of Ages and Dakk'ons Zerth Blade, and the K/T has Celestial Fury and Belm.
**Update** Just went in to the Copper Coronet, freeing the slaves. The Kensai is damaging a lot, while the Beserker tanks. It's looking pretty damn good.
**Update** 01/02/2010 I just killed Firkraag. Easily as well! I went out, and got some fire protection scrolls, set up both on one end of each other. Got Kerosene (my K/T) to attack it first since it damages it quite a bit, then got Captain Fantastic, (my B/M) to dispel effects and just smack it away. Berserk helps A LOT. I wouldn't have been able to kill it without it, or else chaos and other effects would have fudged me up.

Thanks guys.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:20 am

XP is no problem. Just hire less NPCs. If you want a party which doesn't need NPCs add a ranger7/cleric to get access to cleric spells.

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 6:54 am

I don't really want a cleric though. I just want healing spells just so it can heal my party when I rest. But that's troubling me as well, because I don't have a healing spell with my characters. Normally the characters I make end up with minor healing spell or whatever its called. Anyone know how I would get any kind of healing spell to heal my party? Or does it come when you dual in to a mage? I also need a bit of help with experience, anyone got ideas? I'm thinking of doing that graveyard quest with the boy's teddy bear and the paladin quest. I also think that the quests now are getting a bit more harder, or are they actually not that hard?

By the way... Should I dual at level 13 or 9? (I got experience cap remover)

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:14 am

Your main character should start with special abilities depending on alignment which can be used for healing. If you use draw upon holy might to boost constitution above 19 for resting you'll heal quite some hitpoints. You can also pickpocket a ring of regeneration from Ribald.

If you don't have ToB installed dual at level 9, with ToB I'd dual at level 9 to mage and at level 13 to thief.

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 7:26 am

Yeah I got ToB, and I just hit level 9 both characters.

But I didn't get any healing spells, probably because I went Chaotic Good. At the moment I got Jaheira in my party so I can heal. Also started that quest where she gets cursed... Forgot about that one =D

But still, any ideas for experience?

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 8:41 am

Only Clerics and Druids have healing spells that actually does anything. Rangers can learn the most simple ones as well at high levels, but Paladin and <CHARNAME> gets them as innate abilities.

How did you make a CG Kensai? Kensai cannot be CG?

Kensai-Mage and Berserker-Mage are arguably the most powerful classes in the game. personally I prefer a Kensai-Mage-Thief (using Shadowkeeper) as I see the Kensai's Bushi Do compatible with the contemplation and mental balance necessary for utilisation of magic, while a berserker's training and rage hardly is. But that is just my opinion. Whatever you prefer you should run with, but be aware that only Cleric-Druids have useful healing, others must rely on potions and temples.

RPGguy · Post by **RPGguy** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:08 pm

I never waste spell slots on healing spells until you can get 'Heal' or 'Mass Heal'. Too much dinky partial healing is not worth all the mouse-clicking.

Since you accumulate way more gold than you can ever possibly spend, why not just become a potion junkie? Potions are ever-ready and you can down them during combat. Casting spells, not so much and generally a bad idea.

:2 cents

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 1:06 am

RPGguy wrote:Since you accumulate way more gold than you can ever possibly spend, why not just become a potion junkie? Potions are ever-ready and you can down them during combat.

That's a good point. It's just giving me the ****s because my mage is taking a bit too much damage. I'm using stoneskin, but health is still a problem. I guess I'll just have to wait then. And how would you go about backstabbing with 2 weapons? I've heard of people equipping 2 weapons and backstabbing, but I've tried it but its not working. (I'm new to the thief). Am I doing something wrong?

RPGguy · Post by **RPGguy** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:28 am

I am not an expert in rogues but my understanding (and experience) is that the backstab only applies to your first swing as you emerge from the shadows or from an invisible state...your first swing (hit or miss) and not all of your attacks in in the first round (main + offhand x attacks per round).

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:33 am

Oooooh, okay, I get it now. Man my thief is gonna be pretty damn powerful with Celestial Fury and Belm. By the way, anything stronger/better for thief than Belm? Or Celestial Fury? I've got Flail Of Ages on my mage, planning to give my mage the Dak'kons Zerth Blade as well.

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 2:42 am

Also, what should i put my points to? I've got Hide Shadows 145, Set Traps 130, and Move Silently 120.

RPGguy · Post by **RPGguy** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:39 am

Like I said, not an expert in rogue by any stretch but I believe some skills don't improve past 100.

Personally, I would disregard pick pocket and wouldn't go above 100 for 'find traps'.

I like your idea of cranking hide/move silently because failing those attempts is a pain. Make sure they don't cap out at 100.

And ya, traps are uber powerful tools so cranking that is a priority. Failing to set one up and having it backfire on you is painful.

If I come across a thread with the info, I'll let you know. Try searching these forums before you start allocating points.

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:59 am

There is loads of posts on it, my own Kensai-Mage-Thief always have CF and when Tactics installed the acid blade as well. Without Tactics, I would use Dak'kon's to get ekstra spells.

You need to find some of the experts, Crenshinibon can give very good advice. I forgot the others. Do some snooping around in the forum.

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:33 am

I think Kensai/Mage/Thief (forgot the correct path) is WAY too over powered. I mean, it's just ridiculous. :mischief:

I wanna play it just normal. Have a SLIGHT challenge.

Going good so far anyways. I'm probably going to get Hide Shadows to 250 so I have more chance of hiding, and then probably set traps. Must have ring is the Mercy Killer ring. It boosts Hide Shadows, Set Traps and Move Silently by 20%.
That makes you even more lethal. :devil:
Non-Detection cloak I'm using at the moment as well.

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:40 am

There are even better cloaks, just you wait ;-)

Kensai-mage-Thief is quite powerful, but I play heavily modded games (when I can get them to work) and the levelling up is insanely slow. especially as I play with a full party for the roleplaying aspects of it. The PC brings an elven sorcerer homemade, rest are BG and mod NPCs to enjoy the banter and adventures stemming from them. I do not think I will ever do a non-evil runthrough without Minsc. I missed his friendly madness when I exchanged him for the dreary Valyagar.

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:54 am

K/M/T Multi or dual? If it's multi, god damn, I wouldn't have the patience.

These "Better" cloaks interest me,

What's some of the better cloaks? I might look up how to get them. If there's one that boosts Hide Shadows and such, you gotta tell me that one =D

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:44 am

It is multi, sucks at first for the slowness, but suddenly you take off and is a powerhouse. Bear in mind I play a lot of mods, so my games are longer than most and as ToB ends I am most often capped out (even removing XP cap) in all three classes.

The better cloaks? I ain't a'telling ya dooorling. You must go and find them. I am not certain there are any related to thievery, but there are some that are really good for other things.

Kerosene · Post by **Kerosene** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 11:50 pm

Oh man! I hate you! :laugh:

I also wonder... How would one go about the Kensai/Mage/Thief?
I'd really like to try it, and I'm wondering if you could solo the game with it

Edar Macilrille · Post by **Edar Macilrille** » Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:02 am

I do not know, as I do not Solo, Minsc has his place at my side for one, etc, bla- bla ;-)

I would guess you go about it carefully, at least I do. You have to utilise your many skills the best way possible as your level is low. Haste and sneaking is very useful to get close to enemies where a Kensai is nasty, backstab does a lot of damage. I do not think much about it, I just play. It is not a natural class, but a cheat from Shadowkeeper. But since I have known soldiers who were expert at sneaking, yet still experts at killing things and blowing things up;-) I use it (of course these were from the Danish Jægerkorps, so...).

Just go looking for the cloaks, belts and rings, SoA is ripe with loot.