BG2 run, Kensai/Mage dual or Fighter/Illusionist

[Makabb]

So i want to make bg2 + tob full run, i'm gonna solo it and what would be better, a kensai/mage dual class or a gnome fighter/ilusionist multi class

A fighter/ilu i could play as a warrior with spells whole game. A kensage i heard is best to dual at 13 but then i would have to play only as a mage for the next 14 levels.

Thoughts ?

 

[octavius]

What do you mean by "better"? Most powerful, or most fun?
If you want the most mindnumblingly boring class ever, pick the Kensai/Mage.

 

[TigerKnee]

I think Berserker/Mage is actually more popular than Kensai/Mage nowadays.

But really, they're both considered some of the top tier classes in BG2 and you basically answered your own questions in your own post - it all depends on how much you can tolerate the Dual transition period.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Barbarian.

 

[DragoFireheart]

What do you mean by "better"? Most powerful, or most fun?
If you want the most mindnumblingly boring class ever, pick the Kensai/Mage.

psh, fuck that noise.

Go Fighter/Mage in BG1 and win right from the start.

 

[DraQ]

Berserker/Mage.
Named Egil, obviously.

 

[Makabb]

So yea berserker/mage is better than kensai, the immunities help a lot.


Dualing at level 9 berserker seems to be also the best.

 

[Johannes]

Multiclass is both more fun and more powerful in a solo game.

 

[Makabb]

Multiclass is both more fun and more powerful in a solo game.

not realy, immunites are waaaaaay important against imprisoment/maze/levell drain

 

[Lonely Vazdru]

Aren't the other, more conventional, RPG boards supposed to be the place to discuss this kind of shit ? Or is BG2 so old now that its considered hardcore enough to open an Nth thread about kensaï/mage/urmom here ?

 

[laclongquan]

BG2? Bioware forum? Anywhere more approriate than here?

 

[Johannes]

Aren't the other, more conventional, RPG boards supposed to be the place to discuss this kind of shit ? Or is BG2 so old now that its considered hardcore enough to open an Nth thread about kensaï/mage/urmom here ?

If only the developer ghettos weren't polluting the main GRPGD, it wouldn't be a problem.

Then we could have these threads in multitude instead of just a big BG2 MEGATHREAD.

 

[Lhynn]

What do you mean by "better"? Most powerful, or most fun?
If you want the most mindnumblingly boring class ever, pick the Kensai/Mage.

Why would kensai/mage be the most boring? its literally playing a Mage with better thac0.

 

[Somberlain]

Berserker Rage immunities aren't really that big of a deal. Spell Immunity makes you immune to any spell school of your choice, Amulet of Power and various weapons make you immune to level drain.

 

[octavius]

What do you mean by "better"? Most powerful, or most fun?
If you want the most mindnumblingly boring class ever, pick the Kensai/Mage.

Why would kensai/mage be the most boring? its literally playing a Mage with better thac0.

Because you spend a great deal of the game being a wimp and then suddenly you turn into an invincible Lilura.

 

[Lhynn]

Because you spend a great deal of the game being a wimp and then suddenly you turn into an invincible Lilura.

Kensais are hardly wimps, and you level mage so fast with scrolls that you are competitive before you know it.
Its hardly an invincible combo either way, its just a mage with better thac0, you will still get destroyed if you dont know what you are doing. Thing is, if you know what you are doing BG2 is as easy with a kensai/mage than it is with a bard.

 

[octavius]

Well, I found the Kensai/Mage very boring to play. But that was a regular game, not solo.

 

[oldmanpaco]

Also depends if he removes the xp cap or not.

And the best class is a berserker/mage named Lord Paco.

 

[Rivmusique]

Play PoE or SoD instead. BG2 is obsolete now.

 

[DraQ]

Well, I found the Kensai/Mage very boring to play. But that was a regular game, not solo.

Solo game is boring regardless of build.

 

[Makabb]

Well, I found the Kensai/Mage very boring to play. But that was a regular game, not solo.

Solo game is boring regardless of build.

It's not after you played the game 10 times with all NPCs and possible builds

 

[laclongquan]

It's a bloody long time since my last BG2 so my memory is hazy about Kensai Mage. WHat's good about it?

Sure, Kensai doesnt use armor so that fit nicely with Mage. BUT you are sacrificing mage level to get some kensai level: bonus to damage and tohit, bonusAC, fighter HP (7 or 9 level worth).
And what do you plan to fight with it? Long range use magic, short range use staff. AND? short range you are still screwed because no armor. And melee ability can not compete with summon spell to create meatshield.
The role of mage is high quality artillery, not melee fighter.
This make me curious?

 

[SwiftCrack]

Well you either used staff of the magi or dual katana/longsword (dakkon zerth/celestial fury and belm offhand) for K/M powergaming, it basically transforms you into a one hit killing machine since your mage spells take care of your protections, leaving you free to use no armor and to get full utilization of your class.

 

[Lhynn]

It's a bloody long time since my last BG2 so my memory is hazy about Kensai Mage. WHat's good about it?

Sure, Kensai doesnt use armor so that fit nicely with Mage. BUT you are sacrificing mage level to get some kensai level: bonus to damage and tohit, bonusAC, fighter HP (7 or 9 level worth).
And what do you plan to fight with it? Long range use magic, short range use staff. AND? short range you are still screwed because no armor. And melee ability can not compete with summon spell to create meatshield.
The role of mage is high quality artillery, not melee fighter.
This make me curious?

Because of the way leveling is set up in AD&D, you dont really sacrifice anything but a bit of exp that wont make a difference in the end. Gain better AC, good offensive capabilities, good hp pool, etc. Its exactly how it should be, level caps are a retarded idea that needs to die in a fire.

 

[Delterius]

Sure, Kensai doesnt use armor so that fit nicely with Mage. BUT you are sacrificing mage level to get some kensai level: bonus to damage and tohit, bonusAC, fighter HP (7 or 9 level worth).
And what do you plan to fight with it? Long range use magic, short range use staff. AND? short range you are still screwed because no armor. And melee ability can not compete with summon spell to create meatshield.
The role of mage is high quality artillery, not melee fighter.
This make me curious?

Arcane magic is so powerful in AD&D that even a Sorcerer with but a few casts can effectively tank from mid game forwards. Stoneskin and Mirror Image alone makes it all laughable. Just wait until you get things like Spell Immunity and Prot. from Magical Weapons. The question is wether you want to give up a single final level of Mage to gain 9 early levels of Fighter. Dual classing doesn't change your character the way Multi classing does.