Which Class To Take First When Multiclassing?

[RÊYTH]

I read somewhere recently about respeccing Gale to Cleric-1/Wizard-11 and the author was emphatic that Cleric be taken as the initial class, but I don't recall that he explained WHY. So: Why?
And what about other classes? What are the things lost or gained by taking/not-taking them first?
Thanks in advance for your input.

[Kafik]

More HP.

[RÊYTH]

Originally posted by Kafik:

More HP.

That's all, really?

[edit: it was "Companion Respecialization" guide by Pera, btw.]

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Reyth:

Which Class To Take First When Multiclassing?
I read somewhere recently about respeccing Gale to Cleric-1/Wizard-11 and the author was emphatic that Cleric be taken as the initial class, but I don't recall that he explained WHY. So: Why?
And what about other classes? What are the things lost or gained by taking/not-taking them first?
Thanks in advance for your input.

The information you are looking for and more can be found here
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3114624793
To keep things short: it is about certain proficiencies your character gets only with your initial class. Those boni are not applicable later on as it comes with character level 1, if you will. To give you a hard example: Tempest Cleric 1/Wizard 11 - it is solemny all about the heavy armour and weapons proficiencies which can be only gotten with Tempest Cleric level 1. The rest is neglectable.

If you also check the follow up guide of mine you find even more information, which also includes why Tempest Cleric 1 is not as good as weirdly many guides elsewhere you will find claim it is to be. Same goes for Fighter Champion. My recommendation: do not take the red herrings which other like. Happy adventuring!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3124459563

[Sentient_Toaster]

You don't get everything from level one when you take it as a second (or third, etc) class rather than first. See the rules at https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/customization-options#Multiclassing

Notably, you don't get the saving throw proficiences from your second class. You don't get the full set of skill proficiencies. You don't get heavy armor proficiency from the /class/, but you would get it if that level one dip also includes a subclass that would provide it.

But... specific to BG3, there is also a weird behavior where your spellcasting modifier seems to be based off the last class you take. So if you go e.g. Cleric 1/Wizard 11, in that order, your intelligence would set the DC for all your spells. If you went wizard-11/cleric-1 in that order, suddenly your wizard spell DCs are based on *wisdom*. This is incorrect per tabletop rules, but that's what BG3 seems to do.

[Jeff]

There are several factors.

1) Taking a class like Bard or Thief first allows you to start with proficiency in skills.
2) Items that you use for spells, etc. use the spellcasting attribute of the LAST class you multiclassed into.

So let's assume you took cleric first, wizard second.
If you want to use an item to cast a spell, the spellcasting modifier will be intelligence because you took wizard second.
If you had taken wizard first, cleric second, it would use wisdom.

3) Taking cleric first will give you shield proficiency and armor proficiency. Taking it second will not.

So there are various reasons to determine your order. Do you want skill proficiency? Do you want shield or armor proficiency? Are you concerned with using items?

[pirate135246]

the last class you take is what determines the spellcasting ability used for spells that come from items and spells that have the ability to be recast once per turn (ie witch bolt) on their consecutive turns

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Reyth:

Originally posted by Kafik:

More HP.

That's all, really?

[edit: it was "Companion Respecialization" guide by Pera, btw.]

Funny how your reference underlines why I wrote my guide for beginners.
Wizard is the only class which is in my opinion working best without multiclassing. But heavy armour for beginners is mayhaps not a bad choice. It just seems too costly from my point of view, considering that if a Wizard played correctly, heavy armour is not needed for a strong and steadfast build.