Why aren't Kensai talking about Soul Reaver?

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Im just curious, I've never played one. Usually when I read about them everyone is talking either longswods or katansa and usually dual wield but occoaionally single weapon style. Well, the Kensai's problem is AC. I can see how Celestial Fury is a help here with its stunning ability but what about Soul Reaver with its penalty of 2 to thac0 on every hit? Given the kensai's very low initiative and very high thac0 he should get a few hits in before the other guy is even swinging and now the enemy's thac0 is hurt by 4 or 6 already and the hits would just keep coming. If you'd dualed to a mage then by the time your stoneskins had worn off the enemy's thac0 would have to be ridiculously hurt. Looking over the swords available (he is a sword saint after all) I really think this is one of the better options but haven't seen anyone mention it. What am I missing?

Oh, I just thought of this because once again I was playing through the game and picked up that great sword which wasn't really suitable for anyone in my party so it just gathers dust and I started thinking about making a character with it in mind. Other than Gram(sp?) not really sure there would be any 2 hander I'd replace it with.

 

Equip the +4 longsword you find in the oasis to a kensai (I did so for my mc kensai-mage) ... the weapon is not evil either Well, I dislike two handed weapons anyway ...

 

I think the problem with Soulreaver is that it's Evil only. (iirc) Most people stay on the safe side of the good, because it's easier to roleplay good, and the rewards you get are usually better...

{Edit: Rewards aren't easier, they're better )

[This message has been edited by Faragon (edited May 13, 2002).]

 

I think the sword in the Oasis is the Answerer and I just realized it has the same Thac0 penalty upon hitting as well (Soul Reaver's penalty lasts for 20 rounds, imagine the cumulative penalty of increasing the enemy's thac0 by 40 or so points if they lasted that long, but I'm not sure how long the Answerer lasts) but I'm curious about the speed of the weapon.

I see that Soul Reaver has a speed factor of 6 and the Answerer has a speed factor of 9. The Kensai gets -1 speed for every 4 levels. I'm not sure how this works but it seems logical that by the time the Kensai is able to get the Answerer he likely has around a bonus of 5 or so to his speed factor because of character level and probabaly another 1 from moving from mastery to high mastery. So, the Answerer would be swinging at a clip of 3 while the Soul Reaver would be down to 0. The big benefit with a kensai and one of these type of swords is hitting first and often in order to rack up the penalty to thac0 on the enemy and the fact that Soul Reaver hits 0 so much quicker (as well as being available much sooner and doing more damage) seems nice. Now, the thing that may throw this off is I don't know the number of attacks available to say a level 20 kensai with Grandmastery with a 2hander vs. a longsword and also how dual wielding will affect things. I know I've read you can't ever have more than 5 attacks per round, and I've also read that translates to 4 attacks with the main and 1 with the offhand. If the 2 hander is stuck with only 3 attacks though and the sword can be involve with 4 attacks + one from the other weapon then damage wise the dual wielding really starts to outpace the 2 hander (with Soul Reaver and 3 attacks per round about 42 dmg without any bonuses and the answere and say either kundane or belm, not sure if this is the only way to get 5 per round or not, about 58 dmg.)

Sigh, I'm just looking for the character to make to take advantage of this great weapon.

EDIT--after making a test kensai even at level 40 it seems he gets 2.5 attack per round with a 2hander and only 2.5 attacks per with a long sword and single weapon style.

[This message has been edited by Laches (edited May 13, 2002).]

 

Soul reaver is 2-handed. This is the problem IMO because most people who i know who have used a kensai (including me) much prefer the dual wielding swords for the sheer style and quick hitting. The speed is good at that level certainly but by that level there are some very good dual wielding combos which combined will kill the foe quicker.

[This message has been edited by Lazy Bonzo (edited May 14, 2002).]