9 réponses à ce sujet

[Krazy Solo]

I'm preparing another playthrough of BG-2 no mods and no BG-1,  While I am playing through with my Druid Shifter I notice a character concept I would like to RP with my next playthrough.  This where my delima smacks me in the face.

I'm uncertain which route to go.  Blade is pretty good single class, but I am also tempted to play Kensage as well.  At this time I would prefer to only commit to one of the two.  What are the known weakness of both character concept?

I know Blade can reach lvl 6 spell slots, but can cast higher lvl spells via scrolls?!  Where the Kensage can cast all lvl spells via learning em.  I'm not a spellcasting mastermind so would the blade be a better choice?

Weapon wise both will be using simular item selections, in the case of Blade bracers and helms are available.

As you can see I have a major conflict as i cannot decide on one or the other was looking for better information on the two.  Please comment only on the Blade and Kensage.

[hannibal555]

Both are powergaming classes.
You don't even need a party (though I recommend one for better flavor),
they can both easily solo.
Actually the Blade is pretty cheesy with his HLAs you'll get at approx. 3mill XP:
- Improved Bard Song: cancels his penalty outright, can be abused with summons even if soloing.
- Use any Items
- the improved traps are utterly overpowered.

Even without HLAs the blade levels faster, thus he has stronger spells compared to a dual-mage at same XP.
Nevertheless both are powerfull and it is more a question of flavor whom to choose, imho.

Btw, if going Kensai-Mage, I'd go F9->Mage, though F13->Mage would be better, powergaming wise, but it can become tedious to get the Fighter levels back, once switching to mage.
As a sidenote, a lot people consider the Berserker-Mage as superior, but I guess they are both powerfull enough,
with addon, I'd prefer a multiclass Fighter/Mage, because he can choose improved whirlwind.

Modifié par hannibal555, 12 juillet 2011 - 09:50 .

[Sparky The Barbarian]

I prefer a Berserker Mage to a Kensai Mage. Love the immunities in the Berserker state.

[Saint of Sinners]

I'm running a Solo Blade on No Reload right now and it's much better than a Kensage, gameplay-wise. With the Rogue Rebalancing mod installed, they've become much more of a threat than their vanilla counterparts. Their HLAs were change but that only made them much fun and varied to play than the thief class (because in vanilla, they were painfully very much alike to a thief).

A few changes were:
- 3 points in Two Weapon Style, as per PnP rules
- Sound-based HLAs (mostly ignores MR)
- access to at most 2 8th-level spells
- Whirlwind HLA
- UAI is still there
- a really powerful variation of the Magic Flute
- new equipment
- the best skill of all: scribing scrolls from your spellbook in exchange for gold

Of course, this means you have to install a mod so it's not really a purist's pursuit, but as a purist I want to be as close to PnP as possible, even with some liberties taken. Whatever advantage the Kensage has, the Blade in my game can do somewhat better, especially because I can equip anything I want (Carsomyr with Whirlwind? Sure.) and cast mostly any defensive spells that matter (most useful defensive spells stop at lvl6 or lvl7 anyway).

However, if you don't want to use a mod, a Blade will lag eventually in powergaming aspects compared to a Kensage, and it might not be as fun when you start considering how much power a Kensage actually has. With just a lvl6 spellbook, the best buffs you can regularly cast is split among ProMW, Imp. Haste, and ProME. Even if you aren't a spellcasting mastermind as you say, the ability to access more spells is always better, bar none. This disadvantage can be circumvented by the UAI, however, as you can just keep hanging on to items and switching them as you see fit.

Domination thrown your way? Equip Shield of Harmony. Hold? Arbane. Level Drain? Mace of Disruption +2 or Amulet of Power. This kind of variety is something a Kensage will never have. Sure, he's got Planetars and IA and stuff, but Planetars get Horror'd to death and IA is just for casting more spells in a round. Not much of a biggie if you can actually hold out getting interrupted and cast with Vecna+AoP combined with your an uber-loaded-with-immunity Blade.

I say, even if unmodded, that a Blade has the glaring advantage of being able to wield any item he chooses which is more than enough to break the game without resorting to insane spellcasting power.

[ussnorway]

Playing without mods... IMO take the Kensai-Mage with a range weapon as the game already has a Blade, that is a better (Melee) fighter than the pc can become.

[hannibal555]

@Saint of Sinners
I don't know why the Blade would need such a mod.
He's powerful enough as he his, I tested him on solo until the end of the underdark and got bored because it was too easy (and party play is more fun anyway because of banter etc).

@ussnorway
Actually, A Blade PC can become a lot better than Haer Dalis

Modifié par hannibal555, 13 juillet 2011 - 01:07 .

[Saint of Sinners]

hannibal555 wrote...

@Saint of Sinners
I don't know why the Blade would need such a mod.
He's powerful enough as he his, I tested him on solo until the end of the underdark and got bored because it was too easy (and party play is more fun anyway because of banter etc).

It's more of a change of flavor than anything else. The blade, and every bard for that matter, is just a thief clone. Even their HLAs aren't unique or encouraging to play. Besides, RR's blade rebalancing is a much better fit for me especially because I haven't played parties in a long time and I don't play without SCSII installed.

YMMV, of course, but I think I like a couple of revisions to one of the coolest classes around.

[hannibal555]

Hmm, sure, concerning changes in gameplay such mods might be welcome.
In my opinion it is just over the top to give the Blade up to 8th spell level and on top of that THE best fighter HLA.
Otherwise fun in gameplay is important,too, so it's more a matter of taste, I guess ^^.

[Krazy Solo]

Thank you for the information... Although I'm still uncertain which I would pick, I am incline to probably go with Kensai-Mage over blade atm. As I'm interested in playing more of a Mage playthrough as such Kensai-Mage will essentially by higher HP mage with same spell lvl in the end.

This doesn't mean I wont be playing a Blade either, just deciding which to play next so I have something to look forward when I complete my Druid playthrough...

[Krazy Solo]

So far I've manage to clear initial dungeon without a hassle which is no suprise(playing on Core Rules). So far I've not found any reason I couldn't get to lvl 9 Kensai soon. As soon as I do so I will have a substantial amount of scrolls waiting for me to pop in as i reconfigure my party at that time.

Essentially I can take advantage of being solo when I gain my mage lvls when i learn my spells. Then I will hire on NPC's that I want for the long haul (I don't do all the NPC quest in single playthrough).