Should I dual-class my kensai into a mage?

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ok, this is my secound time playing the game thorugh, and i've decided 2 play thorugh as a kensai. But i was thinking i might duel class him at lvl9?
I was wandering if after i get my abilitys back woud my kesai be a affective fighter later on in the game(could i keep him up front)? or would duel classing only make a mage that had a little more life?

[ April 01, 2006, 19:53: Message edited by: Taluntain ]

 

Your kensai will be still effective. And perhaps even much more effective since you can now Stoneskin/Mirror Image and Improved Haste yourself!

My advice:

Get the True Grand Mastery fix. It makes GM very powerful indeed!

Then get GM in a weapon. Perhaps in staves if you fancy using Staff of the Magi when you learn magery. In this case, get Two-handed weapon style too. If you prefer katanas or whatever, get GM in them, and use two weapon fighting!

I think you need to dual at a higher level than 9 though. Ask other, fighter-oriented guys here, there are some other bonuses for fighter levels, more weapon proficiencies, kensai abilities, and extra ½ attacks, etc.

Once you dual into a mage, it is VERY easy to gain levels as a mage. Just dump every NPC, gulp potions of genius, and scribe LOTS of scrolls, you will quickly rise in power to a decent level!

 

K/M is my most favorite of classes, so I so go for it! However, I'd wait to dual until level 12...for a very good reason that I just can't remember right now (it's late, and I haven't played a K/M in a little while...been experimenting with other classes).

My favorite tactic is to save all the scrolls you can (or SK them ) and wait until you dual. Then, chug a Potion of Genius or two, and scribe 'em all once. Depending on how many people are in your party (kick 'em out temporarily!), you can zip through levels super-fast!

Edit: Damn you, Silverstar! You beat me!

 

I think i might duel class him then . but at lvl 12? would anyknow why?

@Silverstar
you said 2 get the true grand mastery fix? sorry this might sound newb but wat is it? a mod?

-edit
also just wandering which weapons you recommend using, i was thinking katanas,(celestial fury katana i think, and that bzukra is a katana as well i belive?) i'm duel weilding.

 

Dual him at level 13 for 1/2 more attack/round.
Your Kensai-Mage will be MUCH more powerful than a pure Kensai

Katanas fit better the Kensai's kit although I would take g.m. in flails and 3* in dual wielding.Flail of the Ages (the best weapon in the game IMHO) and Defender of Eastheaven in the off hand.

 

THAT'S what I meant. Level 13. Yeah.

And DEFINITELY take Celestial Fury!!!

 

Well. Grand Mastery is infact originaly very powerful. It is very powerful in BG1 and IWD at least. But it gets nerfed badly in BG2, for some reason. It is weak, and really not worth the extra slots given.

There is a small tweak. Not even a mod. It is very small. Don't worry. It will restore the GM into its former glory.Definitely get it if you plan on GMing a weapon.

Here is the link. The little file you need (1kb only) is at the bottom.

http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/BG2/index_mods_hosted_fixes_tweaks.php

Enjoy!

 

@thetruth: Damn..you stole my line!!

Anyway, like the man says, dual at lvl 13, that way you get the max number of attacks possible from being a kensai.

For proficiencies...I'd recommend you go the Quarterstaff route, mostly for the following reasons:

You've got a variety of arguably the most POWERFUL weapons in the game, especially for your class...

Staff of the Magi +5 - It's like a mage version of Carsomyr, just does less damage!

Staff of the Ram +6 - Does the MOST damage of any weapon in the game.

Staff of XXX Elemental - Useful for killing elementals quickly. Not a big bonus I know, but every little bit helps...

Staff of Rynn +4 - EARLIEST +4 weapon to be found in the game!

Etc etc...also, they do bludgeoning damage, which is the best damage type to be had in this game IMO...you'll never find a creature immune to it.

Also...it fits the image of your character a lot better IMO. If you were a lvl 40 Kensai, I would agree with thetruth, but you're NOT! You're only going to have about 13 lvls of Kensai and 40 lvls of Mage! Therefore...this uber powerful mage who uses his mystical staff to lay the smackdown on the enemies with a fireball thrown here and there fits the image of a Kensai/Mage a lot better.

 

^All valid points, for these reasons you can think TRUE grand mastery in quarterstaves, you will lay waste to many opponents with it. And get as many as you can in Two-hander weapon style. It will improve your alrady improved weapon speed and you will score more criticals! Nasty that!

 

thankz for the advice . wish thier was a reputation system.

@Silverstar
jsut wandeing after dling the file would you know were i hsould put it? also the link is down .

[ April 01, 2006, 12:53: Message edited by: Rockem sockem robots ]

 

IIRC you need to put it into override folder as usual. It will overwrite the existing GM file though.

Oops, I didn't know the link was down indeed. Sorry. Maybe we should ask Taluntain about it?

Edit:You will have, shall we say, 7-8 weapon proficiencies at level 13. If you put 5 in Staves, you can still put 2 in Two-handed weapon style.

If you can not get true GM fix, do not get GM, it is not worth it. Get two-handed weapon style and any other weapon you fancy. However, always do get Specialise in weapons, (2 slots), specialisation is mighty indeed: +1 to hit, +2 damage, +½ attack per round!

 

ok i just did a serch for the gm fix it file. found it on infinity engine. thier a few thier porbably gona go with one of the mix mods . though it would be helpful

http://modlist.pocketplane.net/index.php?ax=search


-also might have 2 start over agian. screwed my proficiencys .


- ok i've been having some porblems with the mod i just found. If anyoen out thier has a link please post it thank you.

[ April 01, 2006, 12:39: Message edited by: Rockem sockem robots ]

 

@rockem sockem: Why don't you just install it out of Ease of Use mod? Go through the mods section here on SP, you should be able to find it. I use that particular fix thru the mod, and have no problems whatsoever.

Also...with regards to your proficiencies, use Shadow Keeper to reset them how you want them to be. Again...going through the BG2 section here on SP is your best option. I'm too lazy to post links at the moment!

 

Nope.Flail of the Ages +5 does more damage.And with it's slow(with NO save) effect it cannot even be compared to the Staff of the Ram

IMHO it's MUCH better for a fighter/mage to take g.m. in a one handed weapon and 3 * in Dual wielding,because this way he will have 2 more attacks/round with improved haste.
And improved haste will be your GWW attack ...

The Staff of the Magi is awesome for it's dispel/hit but you can still use it when you need even if you are not proficient in staves

 

I suppose you COULD chuck a couple of prof. points into it and then whip it out everytime you have to fight an annoying mage type character.

But I dunno...it just feels so much more in character, to use it like that, instead of just for cheesy insta-invisibility every time you cast a spell...

I admit, its a bit rich coming from a hopeless munchkin such as moi...but still!

 

Then...

5 points to flails (for FoA +5, I agree it is devastating!) and 3 points to Two weapon fighting. This will cost a total of 8 slots. At level 13 you will have only 8 slots too! That means you put ALL of your proficiencies into this built. Then, once you dual class to mage, pick staff w proficiency instantly.

After you activate your kensai class, you will still gain new weapon proficiency slots, abeit slower, at a rate of 1 per every 6 levels. You can still put points into other weapons usable by kensai. Can you still get specialise and beyond? Don't know that?

 

Yes, once you reactivate as Kensai, you can get grandmastery in everything...if you were so inclined.

 

But it would be so slow, as you will use mage advancement in weapon proficiencies, righto? This means you will gain new proficiencies at levels 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36. Hmm, yes you can GM a weapon in the faar end.

 

Only if he has the XP-CAP remover.Otherwise he will gain only 2 prof.points after he reactivates his kensai class (13-28 at the XP CAP)

 

^Right. I forget that not all of the peoples games share the same traits as mine...and possibly yours.