Kensai's special abilities. Speed factor.

jasiekzar

EDIT: I reported a suspected bug, but was wrong about the rules, everything is ok. This might be however interesting post for those, who don't know what speed factor is in BG.

Observed: Kensai does not get his +1 bonus to hit and damage every 3 levels and -1 to speed every 4 levels
Desired: He should get these bonuses.

Actually it's quite disappointing after some time of playing with a character which cannot wear any armour bracelets or helmets. I hope this gets fixed soon

Humanoid_Taifun

Are you certain of this? I just made a very simple test and damage at least works.

I could do further tests, but I'm actually confident that speed and THAC0 are in the game too.

jasiekzar

Ok, I may have made a mistake with TKAC0 and damage but as to the speed I'm kensai level 5 and my number of attacks are still 3/2, same as at the beginning of the game

Humanoid_Taifun

Number of attacks is not the same as attack speed.

Warriors (including fighters in general and kensai in particular) get 1 attack per round at level 1, 1½ attacks at level 7 and 2 attacks at level 13.
On top of that, they get an extra ½ attack for two points in a specific weapon (if they use that weapon in their main hand) and another ½ attack for five points in that weapon. They can also get one attack per round for any weapon in their left hand. This left hand will never do more than one attack per round.

Attack speed only determines when the first attack is executed. People with a good attack speed can attack first. If all it takes is a single attack to kill an enemy, then the enemy will never get a chance to fight back. (if you have a really good attack speed and if you are quick on your feet as well, you may attack enemies and retreat before they get a chance to hit you) Attack speed has no influence on your attacks per round.

ZanathKariashi

Speed has nothing to do with number of attacks, it effects how quickly you begin attacking during a round. If you have a speed of 10, you'll attack the very end of the round, if you have a speed of 0, his attacks begin almost instantly. Very important for a kensai, as his damage bonus and ease of getting 0 attack speed means he can often splatter an enemy before they launch their own attack (quite something to behold at higher levels when it becomes easier to get 10 attacks...the average enemy will be hit 4-5 times before they swing once, if they live that long).

Extra attacks only come from Dual-wielding, Grandmastery (depending on the prof chart used), and they get half-attacks for specialization (** in a weapon, warrior-type only), and lvl 7 and 13 for warrior-type classes.

3/2 = 1.5, so every other round he attacks twice.

At lvl 7, it'll become a flat 2 attacks per round. If the prof chart uses the original baldur's gate GM chart, level 9 (assuming you've been putting all available points in a single weapon for a total of *****) will be 3 attacks per round, and at 13, you'd have 7/2 attacks or 3.5...dual-wielding would push it up to 4.5, and wearing the gauntlets of extraordinary specialization from the sequel would give an even 5 attacks per round.

The haste spell (but not boots of speed) gives an extra attack per round, while improved haste (not available till the sequel) doubles you number of attacks (so 5 = 10 with IH)

There's also a potential bug (not sure if it's in this version or not) where boots of speed may or may not round half attacks up to 1 whole attack (so you'd have 5 attacks at 13, with BG1 GM in your wielded weapon while dual-wielding)

jasiekzar

Ok, now I understand EVERYTHING finally. Thank you, I guess I somehow overlooked that part while reading rules. I'll move this post to other section.