Ranged Kensai: Elf or Dwarf?
mylegbig
Member Posts: 292
I'm thinking making a ranged Kensai using throwing axes and daggers. I find it interesting since it's a different take, and it also offsets the Kensai's bad AC. One thing I'm having trouble deciding though is the race.
Elf: Better thac0 due to 19 dex. Virtually immune to charm. More romance options.
Dwarf: Better fit for the throwing axe concept. Better saving throws.
The higher constitution of dwarves will not be a factor since I'll be purposely setting the con low (to about 10). That is so that I'll be less tempted to simply start chunking things in melee, and also it just makes sense for a more fragile fighter to fight from a distance.
Elf: Better thac0 due to 19 dex. Virtually immune to charm. More romance options.
Dwarf: Better fit for the throwing axe concept. Better saving throws.
The higher constitution of dwarves will not be a factor since I'll be purposely setting the con low (to about 10). That is so that I'll be less tempted to simply start chunking things in melee, and also it just makes sense for a more fragile fighter to fight from a distance.
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That's a nice little loop hole you found. Just tested it and you can use both throwing daggers and axes even though kensai's are not allowed to use missile weapons. Careful though, they may close this loop hole in the future.
I'd do Elf with axes as there because of the magical returning one.
I would discourage you from gimping your Constitution. You will already take a +4 AC penalty for using a ranged weapon in melee range. At least I think that's the penalty.
Anyway, I picked axes (and single-weapon style) simply because they do more damage than daggers, and in BG2 (vanilla, even!) there are 3 returning axes, and just one returning dagger. Keep in mind that throwing axes are incredibly heavy at 5 lbs each. I've only just started this build, so I'm not sure if it will become an issue (and I managed to roll an 18/00 in about secs of rerolling!). I expect to be doing at least some melee until I dual class it or get returning axes. (Note, also, there are no returning daggers, axes, or hammers in BGI)
I hope they implement dual-wielding throwing weapons... but that might be game-breakingly powerful.
If I was doing pure Kensai, I would actually choose Dwarf for the constitution and flexibility to enter melee when needed. Otherwise, you just have a faster-leveling Archer that uses really expensive (and heavy) ammo.
Throwing Dagger = 2 APR, Throwing Axe = 1APR, Dart =3 APR. Darts don't get a strength bonus but the other two do.
Anyway, that would put daggers ahead of axes as my weapon of choice. Eventually you'll get enough weapon proficiency points that you can switch between the two, anwyay.
If you decide to go the Hammer route, you may want to pick up TeamBG's weapon pack mod so that there will actually be a throwing hammer in BGEE for you to use. Because in vanilla the one Dwarven Thrower is the only throwing hammer that exists in either game.
While looking this up I noticed the Dwarven Thrower doesn't count as crushing but as generic missile damage with all the disadvantages that brings. After thinking about it, throwing doesn't have much to recommend it besides the range and it's only in BG1 that being ranged is really killer. Maybe someone wants to convince me otherwise?
That being said, if you do decide you want a ranged specialist, a throwing kensai can rival or even exceed an Archer in that role due to a variety of factors:
A) Bow/Crossbow damage takes a dive in BG2 because you generally can't get launchers with good damage bonuses and the elemental ammunition is nerfed, while thrown axes get a strength bonus.
C) Kensai level faster than Archers and don't suffer a slow down in the rate at which they get their hit/damage bonuses.
D) The utility role a (Cross)bow wielder can gain over a hurler is reduced because utility ammo is less common and enemy saves are better.
E) If you're fighting something you just can't handle with ranged weapons thanks to immunities, the Kensai is going to be a lot more capable in melee than the Archer is likely to be.
On the subject of interruption, I've noticed the Firetooth dagger travels quite slowly and a quick character can actually outrun it
Anyway, given that you wouldn't be using the dwarf's CON bonus but you would use the elf's DEX bonus, there really is no question...
One nice thing about the dwarven thrower is it seems to do crushing damage (according to item description) whether in melee or ranged. Unlike every other ranged/melee weapon which do missile(pierce) damage. Though I've never played one, I'm guessing it would eat iron/adm golems/giants up.
Also, makes crom faeyr a lovely melee weapon for you as you would have the specialization with no means to get your str that high due to class.
1) Archer w/Tuigan and Quiver of Plenty +2 (has to burn ammo to hit +3 or better enemies)
2) Kensai with Fire Tooth (throwing dagger +3, assuming no strength mod as in vanilla BG2)
3) Kensai with K'logarath (ignoring the on hit effect, if you debuff saves this goes up a bit)
4) Archer with Gesen
5) Archer with Firetooth (crossbow)
I assumed no ammunition stacking on Gesen and Firetooth. If you use that exploit, Gesen jumps to the top and Firetooth ends up a little below Tuigan. At strengths higher than 20, K'logarath edges out Fire Tooth, but isn't going to match up to Tuigan unless you have strength 25. If Fire Tooth gets the strength bonus, it jumps way out front, out damaging even ammo-stacked Gesen by a significant degree.
After level 18, Archer only gets +1 hit/dam every 5 levels, while Kensai gets it every 3 levels, and the Archer levels up every 300k exp instead of every 250k, so things slowly skew in favor of the Kensai as you reach very high levels. Kensai still needs extremely high strength to keep up with Tuigan, though.