How to make a good Kensai Mage?

Remove all ads!

Yes well I have played SoA now with various parties many times through so I think it's time to go a bit solo. I have never even duall classed my PC characters so I'm going to need a bit help making one of these Kensai Mages. I would like to know how the levels should be divided and should he begin as a kensai or a mage. I would also like to know if there is any "must have" spells that must be used in order to keep him alive.

(This might have been discussed here a million times but after a quick look I didn't find any threads about the subject)

 

About when to dual class: I think there was some debate between dualling at level 9 and level 11 or so. For me, I'd do the math and pick the level based on being able to reach the max mage level without exceeding the exp cap - sorry, don't have the exact level memorized.

As for spells... stoneskin is crucial. As a kensai, your AC is already less than spectacular, and having stoneskin negates this.

 

Heh well because I have ToB installed the exp cap shouldn't be a problem. (I suppose and hope you meant the SoA exp cap here and not ToB exp cap)

 

You'll have to be a Kensai first since you can't dual to a kit. If you're a solo player, I'd go for 13. In order to stay alive while you're waiting for the dual-class, I recommend doing some quests to get to level 13, but don't go back to the person who gave you the quest. That way you can go back when you've dualled to a mage and get lots of XP so you can get to the dual-class quicker.

 

yes dual at level 13.

if i remember right, you will get mage level 31 when doing this.

also do as the guy before me said.......do some quest but dont actually finish it before you dual class, when you are kensai level 13, dual class to mage and then finish up the quests to level up quickley. It shouldnt be a problem though since you will level up pretty quickly when soloing.

i solo and have just traveled to brynnlaw (chapter 4) and my char is bounty hunter\fighter level 25\17.

(and i didnt do all the quests before i left for brynnlaw).

And you haven't tried dual classes yet? bleh.

try it, some of the dual classes is among the most powerful characters you can make.

for example kensai\ thief or assasin\fighter makes two damn good characters.

the possibilities is endless too......so keep trying.

why not try a kensai\mage level 21\21 too?
having a good meelee character that can cast all those nice mage protection spells rocks.
on top of that, you will be able to cast some other types of spells too.

reminds me of a character i saw, a assasin\fighter who could deal 300 backstab damage, and thats sweet. top that with good combat abilities and you have one cool character

as said, the possibilities is almost endless.

and just to finish it all up.
Dual classes can be fully custimized, letting you decide what kind of character you wish, and what he\she will focus most on.

hmm.....i suggest you get the multiclass\dualclass guide to become more familiar about dual classing and multiclassing....

oh well, just type in further questions if you have any

[ September 22, 2003, 11:21: Message edited by: Death Whisper ]

 

Well now I have played a bit and have a 13/10 kensai mage but I started to wonder now if I can still wear robes and bracers when I get to use my kensai skills again? I wouldn't want to buy an expensive robe just to find out I can't use it after a couple of lvls. Oh and thanks for all the advice earlier

 

AFAIK a kensai/mage can wear robes, so you can buy the robe of Vecna safely. I'm not really sure about bracers though.

 

One thing to note, though: Dual-classed characters apart from Fighter/Clerics quickly lose their effectiveness at high levels.

The Kensai/Mage is awesome. Only if you don't plan to go beyond SOA and into TOB.

 

Yep! They will lost their effectiveness at high levels, because, they can hardly have both class's HLA. For example, for Kensai/Thief, the HLAs you can get well most likely be only the thief's one, making your Kensai/thief not so powerful anymore.
Why not try a swashbuckler/mage? He will be able to disarm traps and unlock locks to gain XP faster, and also to avoid traps injuries. Anyway, it's just a suggestion.

 

Maybe dualclass characters lose effectiveness in ToB relatively, but they are still awesome. A Kensai/Mage will always be more powerful than a regular Mage. The only difference is that he couldn't choose a kit for the mage part. Because since the last couple of levels cost so much XP, you will probably only miss out on one or two levels of mage.
You could also go with a fighter/mage multiclass, but it will make your mage part a lot weaker than a regular mage. But on the other hand, you're a stronger fighter than the Kensai/Mage (with the HLA's and all).

 

A spectacular way of dualling a Kensai is as they said dual at lvl 13 but for proficiencies put 5*s in quaterstaves and 2*s in 2 handed weapon style, and then leftovers in whatever you want. Sure it'll be difficult while still a kensai but whenu dual you can wear robe of vecna and weild staff of the ram +6 a very nice staff that gives a 15% chance of stunning and knocking the target back and does 1D6+12 crushing damage+1D4 piercing damage. Seeing as your a mage you can cast some good protections and some bloody good offense but doing a solo the enemies enetually close on you. Then you just take out your staff of the ram that you have 5*s in and @ in two handed, and go to work. If this is to difficult or people say that they are not powerful enough at higher levels dual him lower at lvl 9 like I did. The experience from level 1-9 isnt sufficient to add another level by endgame anyway so it doesnt matter.

 

I think I'd go for staves too, but more so for the Staff of the Magi.