Dual-classing question

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Hi all!

I'm replaying that godly game that is SoA, and I began with a human Kensai.

I dual-classed it at lvl 9 to a Thief, and I have a few questions, since it's the first time I experience with dual-classing:

1. Why can't I wear leather armors and use bows, since the kensai class is no longer active?
2. How is it I don't gain any Hit Points when leveling in my new class?
3. Once I reach lvl 10 in the Thief class, will I ever be able to raise the Kensai level again?
4. If not, what are the advantages of this dual-classing choice (besides the obvious don't-need-another-thief parameter, and the backstab multiplier)?
5. Do the proficiency points in weapons I chose as a thief cumulate to those chosen as a Kensai once I reach lvl 10?

Thanks in advance for your reading & answers, and sorry if some of these questions appear noobish, I'm a D&D 3.5 guy.

Tomz

 

1. I can't help you with that one, I'm afraid.
2.This is because the hitpoints gained in your new class aren't added to your total until it exceeds your "dormant" class. When you become Level 10, you'll start gaining thief HP.
3.No. The Kensai level is fixed, and you won't be able to gain XP for it.
4.Well, you're a Thief with a hefty Thac0 and damage bonus, and an ability which lets you do maximum damage every hit for 10 seconds. Maximum damage + bonuses + backstab= mamma mia. You've also got 9 levels worth of Fighter HP.
5. Nope.

 

Ok, thanks a lot.

I have some questions concerning Backstabing then, since it's also the first time I'll be playing around with it:

1. Is there another way to inflict these damages than being hidden in shadows? (Like improved invisibility or something)
2. How much points do I need to put into Silent walking to be pretty sure I will never be discovered while hiding in shadows?

Thanks again!

 

Tomz - I'm guessing you don't have ToB installed. Kensai-Thieves are extremely popular in ToB because thieves get the special ability "Use Any Item" which, as the name implies, let's them use any item. Therefore, you WOULD be able to use things like leather armors and bows, and still be able to use all your kensai and thief skills.

Anyway, on to your new list of questions:

1. Anything that prevents your character from being seen works for pulling off a backstab. Thus, if you character is under the effects of some invisibility spell (whether that is invisibility, improved invisibility, or mass invisibility) you can backstab. Keep in mind that the spell true sight will break through any of these spells, unless you happen to be using a cloak of non-detection, but if you're a kensai-thief without Use Any Item ability, then you can't wear that item. Also, there are a few enemies in the game that can "see" invisible creatures, in which case those spells won't help at all.

2. Again, this is where Use Any Item would help a ton. There are many items in the game that increase your move silently and/or hide in shadows ability, but other than the Mercy Killer Ring, all of these items are considered "armors" and are thus unavailable to you. Obviously, the closer you can get both hide in shadows and move silently to 100, the better your chances are. By the time you get to the end of SoA, you should have both those abilities maxed out. However, a good rule of thumb is 80% in each tends to work most of the time.

 

I thought Kensais could wear cloaks.

in the backstab department, if you have ToB you can get the Assassination HLA which makes every hit in the next few rounds count as a backstab.

 

Kensais cannot use the items you mentioned and so your character cannot, even though you have dual-classed.

Kensais can wear cloaks (such as the cloak of non-detection) though.

I aim for 100 in both Move Silently and Hide in Shadows as that ensures that the character rarely fails a hide check.

 

His point was that there are thief ability boosting cloaks not just armors and the ring.

I agree that 100 in move silently and hide in shadows should be enough more than that would be a luxery.

 

I have ToB installed, but I didn't know that thieves had such an awesome high level ability (my fault for not reading my manual).

Thanks a lot everyone, all of my questions are answered! I'm gonna stick to the Kensai/Thief combo, it looks sweet to play.

Tomzon

 

Answers to the first set of questions:

Because you are still a Kensai, though not an active one.

Level 9 of fighter types gives you the maximum hitpoints. You gain extra points according to your class after that. Since you are now a thief, you gain +2 for each level (iirc).

No. Your Kensai is stuck at level 9.

A thief who can tank and deal out massive damage with a backstab.

No.

The second set:

Yep, using the invisibility spells and potions. The ring of air command gives improved invisibility 1/day.

There is always a chance your Hide will fail. Having Move Silent and Hide in Shadows at 80+ should keep you stealthed.

 

Re: Sneaking around...don't forget Boots of Stealth!

Kensai/Thiefs ROCK! My advice to you: grab every scroll of Mislead you can find, and hold on to them until you get Use Any Item. You will be a backstabbing juggernaut of destruction.

 

OK, since you have ToB installed, then that changes things a bit!

Once you get Use Any Item there are a whole mess of stuff you can get your hands on that will improve your stealth. Sure, there's the boots of Stealth as Gregor mentioned, but there's even the much overlooked Shadow Armor. Granted the AC isn't great (AC 4), but considering you were going with NO armor previously, it will still seem like a luxury. Even if you just put it on for when you were going to attempt a backstab, it will be worth it.

Don't forget other ability enhancing items that can be found in the game. There's a Ring of Lockpicks (for opening locks), Ring of Danger Sense (for finding and removing traps) and the bonus merchant pack has the Mercykiller Ring with gives bonuses to move silently, hide in shadows and set traps. If you plan on using the Shadow Armor, Boots of Stealth and the Mercykiller ring, you can probably get away with hide in shadows and move silently in the 60s, and get everything else from your items.