Do you just not level up?

[DarthMalevolent]

I've seen mention on here once or twice references like "Take a character up to level five before you go Jedi"...

So how do you avoid the XP? Or do you just not level up the character until the Jedi Academy?

[DesR85]

Originally Posted by DarthMalevolent

So how do you avoid the XP? Or do you just not level up the character until the Jedi Academy?

I don't know if this question have ever been answered somewhere before. Anyway, the answer to the first question is no. You cannot avoid exp. As for the second question, yes, you can store your experience and not level up at all. According to the game guide by Gamespot, you can just leave your character at level 4 and then keep fighting and gaining experience (without leveling up, of course) until the day you leave Taris for Dantooine. Once you've become a Jedi, you will have a lot of reserve experience to level up your character to your liking.

Hope you find this useful.

[Sith Commando]

So......... do you not level up the whole time you`re on Taris?

[mr_sir]

It is possible to finish Taris at level 2 simply by not levelling up at all, then when you become a Jedi you will get 6 or 7 level ups in a row. Basically, decide what level you want to become a jedi, then stop levelling up when you reach that level and don't level up again until Dantooine.

[DesR85]

Oh yeah, forgot to add something. According to Gamespot's game guide, be prepared to die a lot if you're willing to try this method and constantly use your buddies as human shields. This is not a joke. I'm serious here.

[DarthMalevolent]

Alright, that's pretty much what I figured, thanks for the info.

Going into the final battle with Darth Malak should be a lot easier as a Level 17 Jedi/Level 3 Soldier character than the other way I did it... which was to level up every time an opportunity came up, and I was only able to be a Level 12 Jedi/Level 8 Soldier... kind of left me short in the Jedi department, and I had to use a freakload of medpacs to stay alive during that fight.

Lemme ask another question - So far the combination I've found most useful is to start as a Soldier, and go with Sentinel as a Jedi... I can put up with the slight loss in fighting ability more than I can the ludicrously low Force points of the Jedi Guardian - what are your favorite combos, and why?

[Xandax]

It is not terrible difficult, I think most of us who've played a number of times have done this strategy.

Having level 2 scoundrel might be tricky on tanaris but by not mean terrible difficult if you use your party as well.

Personally - in KOTOR1 I have a fondness for the scoundrel/guardian path due to sneak attack (or what it was called) working with force jump attacks.
But I also enjoyed the scout due to the free implant feats and the amount of skill points he recives.

[mr_sir]

My favourite character was scout level 6, consular level 14. You have more force points than you really need, loads of skill points, and loads of force powers. Its great if you like force users rather than melee characters. You get 2 extra jedi levels, which give a few more powers, and level 6 makes Taris no trouble at all to complete.

[DesR85]

Well, as for me, since I chose a soldier when first played the game. Went the regular way and leveled up to Soldier level 8 before becoming a Jedi. Then as a Jedi, I only reached level 12.

There could be better combinations like scoundrel->guardian or scout->guardian since to me, the soldier->guardian path feels slightly lacking. Anyway, I like to upgrade to a Jedi Guardian since I myself am a combat oriented person and I prefer a sturdy character who can manage to survive most battles.

[DarthMalevolent]

Originally Posted by DesR85

Well, as for me, since I chose a soldier when first played the game. Went the regular way and leveled up to Soldier level 8 before becoming a Jedi. Then as a Jedi, I only reached level 12.

There could be better combinations like scoundrel->guardian or scout->guardian since to me, the soldier->guardian path feels slightly lacking. Anyway, I like to upgrade to a Jedi Guardian since I myself am a combat oriented person and I prefer a sturdy character who can manage to survive most battles.

Yeah, that's how I played it the first and 2nd times I played the game. The third time I went with Soldier/Sentinel which seemed to give me a pretty good balance between melee combat abilities and force powers/points. With that character, I also only leveled him up to 7th level soldier, but the one extra jedi level didn't really seem to be much of a help.

[DarthMalevolent]

Well, I'm not yet brave enough to try getting a level 2 character all the way through Taris, but in the game I just started last night, I'm most of the way through Taris with a level 3 soldier - haven't died much either. I'm just about to fight the Base Commander or Governor (can't remember what he's called) before going to Davik's Estate.

We'll see how it works out.

[darkrauser]

You don't really need to do it. Your character will be powerful enough not doing it at all. The only reason to do it is to get more force powers but as a Jedi Guardian you only need a few force powers. Heal, Master Force Speed, Master Force Valor, and Force Immunity. Your DC isn't high enough to stun enemies very often with Stun, Stun Droid, or Force Push so you don't need them. It should be more of a consideration as a Jedi Consular because you depend on your force powers all the time. My first character was a 12 Jedi Guardian/8 Soldier and he was plenty strong throughout the game even against the final boss.

[DarthMalevolent]

Originally Posted by darkrauser

You don't really need to do it. Your character will be powerful enough not doing it at all. The only reason to do it is to get more force powers but as a Jedi Guardian you only need a few force powers. Heal, Master Force Speed, Master Force Valor, and Force Immunity. Your DC isn't high enough to stun enemies very often with Stun, Stun Droid, or Force Push so you don't need them. It should be more of a consideration as a Jedi Consular because you depend on your force powers all the time. My first character was a 12 Jedi Guardian/8 Soldier and he was plenty strong throughout the game even against the final boss.

I've played it through that way once... and frankly to me half the fun of playing a Jedi is having Jedi powers. The Force Point reserve of the Jedi Guardian leaves a little something to be desired.

[DarthMalevolent]

Well, I finished out the game as a Level 3 soldier/Level 17 Guardian, and with the Circlet of Saresh and Star Forge Robes, I had 260 Vitality, 261 Force Points, and a character that was way more capable with a lightsaber (or two), making combat a lot more fun. I think next time I'll try it starting with a Scout.

[JundlandBanshee]

Originally Posted by Xandax

It is not terrible difficult, I think most of us who've played a number of times have done this strategy.

Having level 2 scoundrel might be tricky on tanaris but by not mean terrible difficult if you use your party as well.

Personally - in KOTOR1 I have a fondness for the scoundrel/guardian path due to sneak attack (or what it was called) working with force jump attacks.
But I also enjoyed the scout due to the free implant feats and the amount of skill points he recives.

Woohoo! The Flying Sneak Attack! That definitely made the Scoundrel/Guardian combo my favorite as well. Was taking rancors down to half life with one hit and finishing them off before the rest of the party caught up with my character.

For my second choice, I'd agree with Mr_Sir, and the Scout/Consulor combo.

Malak is easier to take as a Sentinel due to the immunity to his stun attacks, but ah well.


On another note, I did once beat Taris as a 2nd level Scoundrel. It was Not like shooting womprats, in Beggar's Canyon back home. You can get by with arming Carth for melee while you stand back with a blaster, and I was even able to beat the dueling ring by using excessive amounts of grenades and energy shields.

For the Vulkar Swoop Fight, however, I ended up having to slap on an energy shield, running like the wind for the furtherest corner to hide in, when I turned on my stealth field and waited for Bastila to finish them all off.

I must say, it's the only time I did not feel annoyed about her complaining about my rescue attempt.