fighter/mage, cant cast with armor ?

[dfrom975]

I kind of wish I made a fighter instead of dual class. From what I found on the web you cant cast spells if your wairing armor. However I guess its a popular dual class...what gives ?

How would you play fighter/mage ?

[Myrmidon]

Bare in mind whilst you can't wear armour per say you can still outfit him in a helmet and shield which makes a significant difference from a regular mage, he can also essentially use what ever kind of 1h weapon he wishes as well. My main character is always a Gnome Illusionist/Cleric, it's the only race that allows you to multi-class a specialist mage with a cleric and Illusionists have access to pretty much every "Zap zap shoot" spell there is. He's an extremely powerful mage but with a +2 large shield, +1 helmet, bracers, rings, cloaks etc and a Morningstar with Sling he can hold his own in melee against regular infantry type enemies.

[danconnors]

If you do switch to mage while still in Baldur's Gate be sure to get a archmage's robe (good if you're a good mage). Also put 18 into dexterity. That will give you an armor class of 1. You can then equip the +2 ring or +2 robe to give your mage AC-1 (not bad for a mage). If you want to push the limit get your constitution up to 19, and buy the cursed ring of some beast at the hedge wizard near Beregost. It will bring your AC to AC-2, but will knock -2 from your constitution, costing you about 12 hit points.

In BG 2 they have a set of bracers AC 3 your mage can get. A +2 ring becomes available early on, as well as robe of the sewer, and ring of earth control, giving your mage AC-5 wearing no armor. You can drop the cursed ring and get those lost hit points back. If you manage to get Kangaax's ring that raises you to AC-6, and a good shield will get you up to AC-9, the armor of a well equipped fighter.