Dual Classing Questions

[Tiresius]

well my monk i was playing was really cool but began to get borring and repetitive. I am hoping that this type of character is more enjoyable.

1) What are some good dual class characters? I know kensai/mage is supposedly the best in the game but i want to be more origional. would a kensai/cleric have any skill? i could use the Crom Fayre and the ability to heal myself and finger of death would be cool. but im sure there is a reason they are inferior to the kensai/mage.

2) Well after just typing the first question i think ill probably go with the Kensai/Mage. What stats do i need to dual class to a mage and how should i distribute them? do i want high str./dex. etc. or do i want to use more intelligence?

3) When do i dual class? i know you dont get any skills until you surpass your prior class's level. I want to have descent kensai level but i dont want to be at spell hold as a lvl 8 mage either.

Any tips on this type of class would be appreciated. oh...one more question.

4) Do you usually have a full 6 member party or is it better to limit to party? I plan to have me (kensai/mage), Viconia, Korigan, Jan -or- Yoshimo, and possibly Edwin. perhaps Keldorn to use the +5 pally sword but i dont think he would get along with my evil aligned party. I like being Chaotic Evil.

[Tiresius]

Oh yeah...i came up with another one

5) what weapon proficiencies? I thought at first swords or katanas but then i realized there are no good katanas in SoA and then i remembered i will soon be a mage. should i go with staffs and two handed weapons? or are there some good wizard swords i could use. I was hoping there would be something i could use single weapon style with for the AC bonus. anything with more that +4 so that i wont be completely helpless against kangaxx?

[Willard]

No good katanas in SoA? You are insane! I have two words for you:
CELESTIAL FURY. anyway, I think you should go for, with a kensai/mage, some slots in single handed weapons (or dual) and daggers. There are some very nice daggers in the game, the Pixie Prick, for instance. You should lower you charisma to 3, you get a charisma ring early in the game, and lower your wisdom, too. If you cast the spell Mordenkainen's Sword and pickpocket it, you will get an amulet that will protect you from ANY mind attack. spend the points on strength, constitution, dexterity, and intelligence, intelligence being the main one. You should stop as a kensai at about level 9 or 10. Have few characters in your party at first, you will need the extra exp. points. Later, when you catch up with the kensai level, if you want you should add more characters in your party. I like six, but I don't play dual-classed characters.

[Tiresius]

Oh yeah...where do i find that? I forgot where the Celestial Fury was. i think i remember finding it with my first character but i dont remember.

[Willard]

You find it on the second floor in the "Guarded Compound" at the Temple District.

[masteraleph]

OK

1) other good ones are Kensai/Thief (backstabbing with Kai is nasty) and Ranger/Cleric (you get the druid spells for your cleric). Kensai/Cleric loses the ability to lose armor, i'd suggest a Berserker/Cleric if you wanna go that route.

2)Ideally, you want high everything. You can roll a max (hypothetically) of 108. You want ideally a 90 (for a truly huge character). Say 11 wisdom, 9 charisma, 18 strength/dex/con/intelligence (which will put you at 92, you can roll that). That'll give you max HPs, max AC, max bonuses to hit and damage, and max spell memorization.

3) If you have only SOA (no TOB), dual at lvl 9 (you'll get an extra prof there). If you have TOB, do it at level 13 (you'll get an extra prof at 9, another at 12, and an extra 1/2 attack per round at 13).

4a) Save all the scrolls you can. As soon as you dual, start memorizing...that will give you some extra levels right away.

4b) Smaller is better many times. You may, at the very least, not want to take on the 6th character, that'll let you level a bit faster.

5) Personally, I'd go with 4 or 5 *s in quarter staff (4 if dualing at 9th, 5 if at 13th), 2 in 2 handed style, and 1 in sling or darts...then go get the staff of the magi. +2 to AC, and all kinds of other good stuff.