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Post by ikarius on Mar 28, 2010 20:19:09 GMT -5
Okay, so I'm back and fiddling around with Portralis after a long absence, and it's looking great! I've got a few questions about a build, and I was hoping someone would provide some quick advice.
I'm looking at a Celestial Kensai, wielding the largest sword possible (claymore?). I'm thinking of primarily focusing on combat-feated spin-attack as primary attack form.
What I'm struggling with is alternate-damage; An elemental lord can convert their weapon to an alternate form of damage based on their chosen element (I'm of course looking at Light), and the dropped "magical" weapons can generally convert between physical and element-based damage. What about crafted weapons? Is there any way to get a damage-type "toggle" on a crafted weapon?
On defense, I see some folks going soul-guardian in order to absorb damage with souls, but I'm not terribly keen on that. Are there other defensive approaches which mesh well with kensai?
One thing which looks a bit interesting is "Defense Transfer" for transferring the defense from one item to another, and the "Parry" skill. That could get you an interesting block-chance, though with Kensai, I'm more likely to have a lot of wisdom than strength/dex. Any comments on the viability of this approach towards end-game?
I guess I'm looking at the possibility of a Kensai/Enchanter, though if the Enchanter doesn't work well anymore, I could drop that. Any advice on what to combine with Kensai would be appreciated.
Thanks Ikarius
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Post by Gando on Mar 29, 2010 6:57:25 GMT -5
Kensei Enchanter is strong but only if you take the skills for kensei from the items you create. It is very important for Enchanters to focus their skills on Crafting (with the minimal in Alchemy for making whatever you need from that skill (20 bare min)).
Kensei Soul Guardian works fairly well as you get the souls to enhance your items with so you don't have to rely on finds so much. The downside is you have to be very patient to net the unique souls which are the only really good ones before level 30 monsters.
Once you can take on Mature Dragons and the like you are set for souls for a bit as those items can almost compare to found blues.
Abilities from other classes to consider: the paladin aura that heals you as you move, defense transfer from enchanter (since Kensei wants to wear light or no armor the best armor they can wear has low stats. transfer ups this considerably.) Warrior's counter attack is useful as a complimentary ability for Iajutsu in that it covers the times you do block. Paladin's holy bolt can be a good early anti phys immune until you can pick up the Dragon ability at class level 6 for Kensei. Though since you are going Celestial anyway you get Light as Free School.
Later when you get Focus up high and you toss tons of points into wisdom you can go dual wis caster/swords attacker. This is generally why Kensei is so effective. The stat boost from Focus (10 points is sufficient) to Dex means your to hit does not suffer from raising just wisdom. I will note that this strategy is likely to make the game way too easy for you. Also expect it to be heavily nerfed in .05.
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Post by sekira on Mar 30, 2010 13:18:32 GMT -5
Okay, so I'm back and fiddling around with Portralis after a long absence, and it's looking great! I've got a few questions about a build, and I was hoping someone would provide some quick advice. I'm looking at a Celestial Kensai, wielding the largest sword possible (claymore?). I'm thinking of primarily focusing on combat-feated spin-attack as primary attack form. As the author of the Kensai class, I'll put my $0.02 in here. Celestial is a good race for the Kensai. The claymore, however, is not an option for most of the Kensai abilities, because they require a 1 handed sword, and the claymore is a 2 handed sword. If you want big, go with the Katana or Saber, they are both good damage 1 handed swords. If you want a spin attack master, you could go with combat feats and the warrior's spin attack or you could just drop points in the Kensai's level 10 ability whirlwind. Whirlwind lets you move 3 spaces (plus 1 per 4 AP spent in whirlwind) and perform a spin attack after each step, all in the same action.It is true that enchanters can convert the base damage type of weapons using Essence fusion, but since I'm not a huge fan of crafting, I would suggest avoiding enchanter class and instead put 1 AP in either Elemental Lord's Elemental Weapon ability, or 1 AP in Kensai's The Dragon's Fury ability, or 1 in each. Actually it might be a good idea to also throw 1 AP in Elemental Lord's Wave of Elements ability, which lets you throw a wave of damage and clear out an entire line of enemies in one of the 8 basic directions, and 1 AP in Paladin's Holy Bolts ability. Some things to keep in mind: I wouldn't neglect ranged damage, and holy bolts will give you targeted ranged (hit anyone in your LOS, but only 1 enemy) and wave of elements will give you a kind of area ranged, the area is just everyone sitting on a line, but that makes hallways easy to clear. Sometimes you will need to take out monsters with multiple hits though, such as multiple lives monsters or huge hitpoints monsters. So in those cases, you will want to jump up to them and wail on them with a light based weapon, which is why elemental weapon is a good ability to have, or with The Dragon's Fury, which adds magical brand type damage to every hit with a melee weapon.Since the Kensai requires 1 handed swords, I think a good route is to raise your dex with various abilities (Focus, swashbuckler) and then rely on blocking, with two swords and the sword feat parry, you get 2 chances to block every melee or ranged attack. If you are willing to put 70 base skill points in dual wield skill, you can get a 3rd chance to block every attack.Well, parry relies on dex, not strength, and focus lets you get dex from wisdom. Because I'm no fan of enchanters I don't ever use defense transfer... I don't think it will work because you have to put so many AP in it as you level to keep it viable... You don't have a lot of AP to spare, because of your requirements for Focus, Honorable warrior, lightning strike, iajutsu, The Dragon's fury, holy bolts, spin attack, elemental weapon, wave of elements, maybe whirlwind, etc.
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