Kensai or Barb

Maleous · Post by **Maleous** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 5:05 am

Im creating a party with the following characters.

Sorcerer
Ilusionist
Ranger-9/Cleric
Bounty Hunter
Monk

The Ranger will dual wield hammers and flails (FoA + CF)
The Bounty Hunter will be mainly for bows and stuff.
The Monk is just there for insane dam + sneaking up on spell casters.

I want a second fighter, Two questions

1. Should I have Kensai or Barb, Which is more powerful at high levels.

The Kensai gets +1 to hit and dam each 3 lvls, The barb gets +4 to hit just from rage add in armour, magical effects from armour, and immunities to mind affecting spells + ability to sneak up on mages. The Barb does seem to rock, So why does everyone seem to like the Kensai?

2. Should I dual wield Long sword and Katana or just go for 2handed swords and Halberds?

Which is the most powerful at high lvls???

Also, any suggestions on the other classes, I selected them for power, not Role playing value. (Underneath im really a powergamer)

Rattman · Post by **Rattman** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 6:55 am

the are both good for diffent things

IMHO Kensi's are best if duled to a mage

i wuld go for the bard but that is for my own fighting style

if you go for 2 handed swords then who will use the CF

and if you go for longsword/katanas who will use the vorpal sword?

i think you will have to decide what you prefer best

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 11:41 am

For powergaming reasons the barbarian should have Defender of easthaven in the off hand.
I think the barbarian is more powerful in SoA...go for dwarf for better saves.

JackOfClubs · Post by **JackOfClubs** » Thu Jun 13, 2002 5:43 pm

*Spoilers*

I would go for the barbarian. As rattman says, the Kensai is best when dualed to mage. A half-orc barbarian with 19 STR and CON and 12-sided hit dice is the ultimate tank.

I would go for dual-wielding katanas, since they do as much damage as a two-handed sword but are faster and allow the extra off-hand attack. But you do want to think about the fact that there are some monsters in SoA that can only be hit by +4 weapons. There is one +4 two-handed sword but no katanas in SoA. But this is a minor point, since you can always use a non-proficient weapon and just take the -2 penalty to hit.

Bruce Lee · Post by **Bruce Lee** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 12:00 am

For absloute maximum tanking ability:
Human barbarian with ability scores greater or equal to valygars.
Get his armour. Wear belt of inertial barrier and wield defender of easthaven in off hand and improved Foebane in main hand.
Helmet of defense as head gear.
Now you are 40%resistant to physical damage and 75 percent to magic damage and after bonuses in hell some 70 to elemental damage, most of them atleast.
And every time you hit an opponent with you main hand you heal 4 hps.
Seriously with this setup you never die.

Alson · Post by **Alson** » Fri Jun 14, 2002 9:36 am

Whoa, Bruce, that's one amazing tank...
Too bad that the Baldurdash patch fix that exploit with Valygar's Armor

.
Nevertheless, it's an amazing tank.