Ok, i have tried to figure out what kensai/mages are so powerful for, i have figured it out for kensai/thiefs, they can backstab with kai ability, and can wear the armor, have a lot of attacks per round, and in TOB
Spoiler
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They can use 'use any item' ability, and are real killing machines
But what on the kensai/mage, please help

The Kensai's fighting limitations make this kit very complimentary to the mage class. The most significant of these is the Kensai's inablity to wear armor. To make Kensai's viable fighters w/o armor they are given some special armor class adjustments. Once dualed you have a mage with special armor class adjustments. Also, the Kensai's Thaco bonuses combined with an ability to cast stoneskin or spell defenses on himself/herself results in a heavy hitter that can't be hit. The Kensai's special "Kai Shot" ability also gives you a good last resort measure, should you ever get into serious trouble. Last but not least... Minor Spoiler
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You can set up a Kensai Mage to dual wield (since you can't use a sheild anyway). Dakkon's Zerth Blade in the off hand gives a Kensai/Mage extra memorized spells and extra attacks, and leaves the main hand open for a more powerful weapon. (ie celestial fuery, also a Katana, so all prof point can be put into only two columns) {dual wield & katana}

Hopefully I've articulated this so it makes some sense, but basically the restrictions/advantages of the Kensai & Mage classes are very complimentary.

[img]graemlins/1druid.gif[/img]

[ 03-10-2002: Message edited by: WhirlingDervish ]</p>

And offcourse, at higher levels ... Time-stop / Kai-ability
is a nice combo, since Time-stops lets you hit every time you strike.
Time Stop, Improved Haste, (maybe Tensers Transformation), Kai-shot ..
That's more than any enemy can take [img]smile.gif[/img]

EDIT: Wait !, what am i saying ... tenser Transformation ... Forget that one, since i allready mentioned time-stops let you hit every single time you strike. No need for higher Thac0..

[ 03-10-2002: Message edited by: daan ]</p>

Tenser's might still be good, as it doubles your hitpoints. My F/M/T already has 150, so with Stoneskin, Mirror Image, and Tenser's--HOLY crap!

I'm using a solo Kensai/Mage, and can say that it is truly an awesome fighter!

Dak'kon's Zerth blade also grants -2 AC, in addition to the extra spells.

My char is level 12/23 and Tenser's Trans gave me 334 HP!!!!! Dual-wielding katanas (Celestial Fury and the abovementioned Zerth blade) gave me 6 Attacks/round with THAC0 of -12/-9!!! Cast Ghost Armour, and got an AC of -13!!! Along with other buffs etc such as Protection from Normal Weapons/Prot from Magic Weapons, Impv Haste, Blur, Stoneskin there are very few battles that this char cannot hack/slash through.

Also, being such a high-level mage means access to Time Stop, Imp Alacrity, Abi Dalzim, Comet, Dragon Breath etc. So, if you want to use spells instead of hack/slash you can blow your opponents away before they have a chance to touch you! A Planetar also makes for a good 'sidekick' when you want to share some of the fun, as they cast my fav mage-stopping spell-Insect Plague.

Additonally, a Kensai/Mage CAN wear the "Robe of the XXXX Archmagi" (XXXX being Good/Mild/Evil) which will drop your AC...

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by oldbittercraig:
Additonally, a Kensai/Mage CAN wear the "Robe of the XXXX Archmagi" (XXXX being Good/Mild/Evil) which will drop your AC...<hr></blockquote>

why bother searching for "robe of the(alignment)archmagi" when you can get "robe of the vecna" from Deidre? :D :D

i prefer the robe of vecna for someone who is actually casting during a fight - a kensai/mage will typically beef up before a major ruckus and fight hand-to-hand, so the -4 to casting speed is wasted.
imo the choice is between robe of the x archmagi and robe of the apprenti...

I'm playing a kensai/mage and I use magic pretty much in combat so I prefer Robe of Vecna.

Btw you should try putting 3 flame arrows or fireballs to spell trigger or spell seq. With flame arrows, if the monster fails his saving throws, I do about 100 damege maybe even more or maybe less if they succees in one of the STs. Tell me other good spells what I should put on spell trigger.

TDD SPOILER
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In TDD the maker probably didn't know how to make saving throws to monsters because many of the 'tough' monsters never save vs anything. For example I killed the blue dragon(Tapanazkar or something like that) with CHROMATIC ORB. The sucker didn't save and... well he died [img]smile.gif[/img] One spell and 70k xp, the easiest 70k xp I've get [img]smile.gif[/img]