Dual-class kensai/mage or multi-class fighter/mage?

Remove all ads!

Which is better to solo with, a dual-class kensai/mage or a multi-class fighter/mage? I plan to play through the entire BG saga (BGTutu, SoA, and ToB) solo with this character.

One thing I dislike about the kensai/mage is that he won't get fighter HLAs, so he won't get whirlwind attacks and such.

What is the best time to change classes if going the kensai/mage route?

 

I'm personally a huge fan of the Kensai/Mage, RP-wise and i simply love the class. However, since you're going through ToB as well, I'd go with the Fighter/Mage. The main reason is that when you solo with ToB installed, you hit HLA's quite early; I had them before I went to Spellhold - Firkraag doesn't like Imp. Alacrity and Time Stop ...

Berserker/Mage is another popular build, but I think it deverts too much when taking RP into consideration. If you don't care about that, the Berserker/Mage is a very versatile class, IMO mainly because if you solo and get mazed = game over.

I'd go with the multi-class Fighter/Mage since you're going through ToB. In SoA, I'd go with Kensai or Berserker/Mage.

If you choose Kensai/Mage, I'd dual at lvl 13 for some neat bonuses. Alot of people level at 9 when playing with a party since you fall behind too much otherwise. Saving every scroll you find helps you to pick up some lost levels, some call it cheese, but I don't since if you're planning on becoming a mage, you'll save all the scrolls you can find.

Cheers.

 

Well, with some SK'ing, you can get a multiclass kensai mage and get teh best of both worlds.

Some people find those too powerful though.

 

I've never soloed BGI, but I'd recommend going the fighter/mage for ToB; theres a lot fighting to be done and timestop+GWW is full of win.

If you do decide to go the kensai/mage route the two main levels to consider are 9 and 13. There are already a few threads discussing this point (link 1, link2)

 

Yes, so is Shapechange:Iron Golem (or Mind Flayer...) + GWW.

 

Another nice HLA combo is a fighter/thief with some of their time traps.

Time trap + asssassination = bad things happen to people.

 

The multiclass is far better.
Not because of the HLAs, because of the horrible time you'd have with a kensai, no armor, no bracers, no helmets. A normal fighter can wear full plate AC1, gauntlets of weapon specialisation and a magical helm, a kensai can't.
Enemies won't have trouble hitting your kensai, you can't even prevent them doing double damage with a critical.
So unless you want a challenge, take the multiclass. A gnome fighter/illusionist is even more fun and powerful than a fighter/mage because of the additional spell power.

 

@ Kmonster - A Kensai has no problems with that, and if you dual/multi with a mage, you're not going to wear armor anyways. I've played numerous Kensais and never had any problems with that. Enemies WILL have a trouble hitting you, especially if your Dex is fairly high. They gain extra armor per levels and if you dual to mage, you've got various protection spells like stoneskin and prot. from magic weapons. Get the Robe of Vecna and Ring of Gaxx and you're golden, whatever class you're playing. I've soloed two Kensai/Mages and it's just a deadly combo.

I don't think a Fighter/Illusionist is more powerful since you loose all necromanctic spells, Abi-Dalzim's Horrid Wilting and Finger of Death to name two.

I'd still go with the muti Fighter/Mage since you're going through ToB. You'll pretty much max both classes and it's just a deadly combo.

 

Actually I did the same thing you want to do here once, took a Kensai through BG1 and dualed him at lv.9 in BG2 to mage. I've had problems with him at the beginning of BG1 because of the low AC but you can manage it with a party. After you dual it's not a problem to get your fighter levels back, again party plus scrolls save the day. It's a killer character, stormed through the entire Tactics/IB without a problem.

So my advice to you is to go with F/M multi, should be more fun

 

I think Ioun Stones can prevent criticals.

 

@Proteus_za: I know Ioun Stones can prevent criticals. But there's no Ioun Stone in BG.

@spetznaz: Kensais don't gain extra armor per level, they get only +2 AC from the start. Did you solo a kensai in BGTutu ? I've the impression you're only talking about one of the 2 games Gafgorkion wants to play.

The necromancy spells you mentioned (I doubt the usefullness of FoD since you also have chromatic orb or feeblemind) aren't available in BG or early in BG2, but the extra spell per level always applies to the fighter/illusionist. Even at the end it makes a big difference when you have 3 instead of only 2 HLA spells per day.

 

The 19 INT means you never have to gulp potions to memorize scrolls either.

Besides, a F/M (at least my F/M's) use spells to make themselves better fighters. The classic bombadier wizard type is a different character.

F/Ill's get better saves, and more HP that an Elf F/M. And they're just cooler!

BTW, a F/M may never wear armor, but the option to use a shield or wear bracers helps a whole lot. If you're going to dual class, I recommend a Berserker over a Kensai. That Rage can save your hide in so many different spots. It's a better defensive weapon than an offensive one.

 

19 Int is going to give you 95% to learn spells, but there is always a small chance of failing to learn them even with 100%.

Fat bellies, big noses and crazy demeanor. So cool. You can go for an half-elf for F/M. Illusionists have one bad feature, they are unable to cast abjuration spells, which for spellswords is critically important.
Admit it, you just love gnomes.

And how can you romance anyone when using a gnome?

 

It's necromancy spells, actually.

 

Well, that depends on your style of play albeit that F/M's are more melee capable than regular wizards. I often play a more mage type of character when I play F/M or any variation of the class. Probably because I just enjoy arcane casting more than anything in the game, but it's still a way to go.

I think that most caster classes combined with a fighter class are mainly using defensive spells since it just gives you increadible bonuses.

Fighter/Illusionists are very powerful, but so are all F/M classes. Personally I favor necromantic spells over the specialization bonuses. That's just how I want my game

 

I might be confusing it with IWD forbidden schools. In IWD Illusionists have both Necromancy and Abjuration as forbidden schools.

 

Ah yes, in BG2 it's just one opposite school and it's necromancy for illusionists.

 

That's not what I meant. I was referring to the total number of spells in the spellbook.

We're all the same height laying down.

 

To quote Ironhawk - ROFL

 

Lol, and imagine all the tricks an illusionist would be able to pull off in there