Pure Kensai Viability/Build
KAZAMAJIN
Member Posts: 8
Hey guys, so I've cracked out the BG series and I really want to play as a Kensai (no multi/duel class), but opinions seem really mixed
I plan on using a party of 4 for the most part, jaheira, edwin, thief char for bg2, unknown as of yet for bg1
I'm just going to play on normal this time around, I plan on using katanas and I am wondering things like what my stats should look like besides maxing out str con and dex.
Also in terms of gear, is there anyway I can make myself act as the tank for the group?
Any tips would be helpful, if it turns out impossible I will try beserker perhaps but I am really keen to play Kensai, thanks in advance
I plan on using a party of 4 for the most part, jaheira, edwin, thief char for bg2, unknown as of yet for bg1
I'm just going to play on normal this time around, I plan on using katanas and I am wondering things like what my stats should look like besides maxing out str con and dex.
Also in terms of gear, is there anyway I can make myself act as the tank for the group?
Any tips would be helpful, if it turns out impossible I will try beserker perhaps but I am really keen to play Kensai, thanks in advance
0
Comments
As for the stats, it depends. If he's your face-character, you can go CHA for shop-prices and the reaction adjustment (and a free +1 dagger while still in candlekeep). If you're planning on taking him to BG2, go for INT to help against mindflayers (and possibly dual to mage at some point if you get bored).
My recommendation: Half-Orc (without a doubt the best race if you're not going to dual). 19 str, 19 con, 18 dex, 16 Int, rest in CHA, or WIS for a bit of basic lore.
As for weapons. I'd go two-weapon style, along with longswords and something else. Longswords are viable throughout the entire saga. Flails are great in SoA and ToB, not so much in BG1. Maces are great in BG1, not so much in SoA and ToB.
even though you can't tank, you'll have epic HP (45 by level 3, if you meta for the tome of con), so with the amulet of the shield, you'll still get hit more than most, but you can easily survive it
i went for 2 handed swords (for pure power gaming, go dual wielding), staffs would be good too, for the staff of striking+kai=epic damage.
dwarves might be best, you'll get the great HP, super saves and strength isn't a massive loss (it's big, but balances by the end of the game, especially with DuHM and the tome of str)
If you are going with the half-orc 15 intelligence is excessive and 16 intelligence is just wasteful. As long as your intelligence is 10 I'd favour putting towards Charisma instead of putting up intelligence past 10. At least provided you have enough points to get Charisma to 18 (you'll need to roll an 87 for this). Since you are a fighter and since Wisdom doesn't give a lore bonus until 15 lore is a pointless reason to put to wisdom (put it down to 3). I mean as a thief its somewhat more worth it to put towards, but not really. Obviously when it comes to charisma you can get a ring that sets your charisma in BG2 but you are better off wearing other equipment and avoiding the hassle of switching between rings. Mindflayers aren't really that big of a concern anyways, they are worthless against undead summons (especially skeletal warriors).
But yeah, that is the only thing the INT is good for. He won't be soloing, so CHA is completely useless as long as he uses a different face-char.
All he really needs is the STR, DEX and CON, but you might as well make the remaining points worth something, if even a little.
@KAZAMAJIN You can definitely use Jaheira as the main tank. She has the sturdiness of a warrior, coupled with great defensive divine magic, that only gets better the further into the saga you get. If you're not going for Jaheira in BG1, Kagain would be an obvious choice for a tank. The best there is really. He is evil though, so mind your reputation. Yeslick would be a good (albeit late) choice for a good-aligned tank. (What can I say, I like my meatshields dwarven).