fighter/mage multiclass build

[Zara]

im going to play a true neutral fighter/mage but there a couple things im wondering
1 best weapon/style
long swords or maces or bows
two weapon style or sword and shield style
2 should i treat dexterity and wisdom as dump stats
3 should i make his magic primary buffs to enhance his fighting abilities or focous his magic on both damage and buffs

[Shackler316]

Why would you treat Dex/Wis as dump stats?

The only dump stat you should be using is Cha and take that all the way to the lowest score possible. Before people say that you need Cha for conversations and buying/selling things...you don't.

Don't take any total rolls less than 93.

[fauxpas]

(A) The "best" weapon depends on your play style, although the Fail Artifact in BGII is considered to be one of the best by pure numbers.

(B1) DEX should NEVER be a dump stat.

(B2) WIS 15 (Before the three Tomes, you want to end with WIS 18) if you are planning on going all the way through BGII.

(B3) Once again it depends on your playstyle.



Although I have to ask, what is your reasoning for Multiclass as opposed to Single Class, there isn't anything wrong with multiclassing, but your questions leave me wondering why you choose it.

[fauxpas]

As much as I hate to admit it, you are right about CHA being a "safe" dump stat.

[Shackler316]

Most likely what he enjoys.

However, there is nothing like a human with 19 for stats that dual classes into say a Magic User or Thief that's specialized in the Hammer of Tunderbolts or Silver Sword.

I do have a F/MU that I play regularly that is pretty potent.

[Shackler316]

Originally posted by fauxpas:

As much as I hate to admit it, you are right about CHA being a "safe" dump stat.

:) Ring of Human Influence if you're playing the long game.

[fauxpas]

Originally posted by Shackler316:

Originally posted by fauxpas:

As much as I hate to admit it, you are right about CHA being a "safe" dump stat.

:) Ring of Human Influence if you're playing the long game.

Worst Magic Item Ever

[Shackler316]

Originally posted by fauxpas:

Originally posted by Shackler316:

:) Ring of Human Influence if you're playing the long game.

Worst Magic Item Ever

lol I agree but not when you don't have any rings.

[fauxpas]

Originally posted by Shackler316:

Most likely what he enjoys.

However, there is nothing like a human with 19 for stats that dual classes into say a Magic User or Thief that's specialized in the Hammer of Tunderbolts or Silver Sword.

I do have a F/MU that I play regularly that is pretty potent.

True, but the OP's questions leads me to believe that he probably isn't familair with ADnD so he might not understand what a multiclass fighter/mage actually is.

Originally posted by Shackler316:

Originally posted by fauxpas:

Worst Magic Item Ever

lol I agree but not when you don't have anything rings.

Well to be fair, I don't like ANY of the STAT 18 items/spells because they allow for "dump stats" ... I'd be fine if they offered a straight bonus.

[Shackler316]

Originally posted by fauxpas:

Originally posted by Shackler316:

Most likely what he enjoys.

However, there is nothing like a human with 19 for stats that dual classes into say a Magic User or Thief that's specialized in the Hammer of Tunderbolts or Silver Sword.

I do have a F/MU that I play regularly that is pretty potent.

True, but the OP's questions leads me to believe that he probably isn't familair with ADnD so he might not understand what a multiclass fighter/mage actually is.

Originally posted by Shackler316:

lol I agree but not when you don't have anything rings.

Well to be fair, I don't like ANY of the STAT 18 items/spells because they allow for "dump stats" ... I'd be fine if they offered a straight bonus.

I would agree with items but not for spells. That's one difference between a vid game and the tabletop game.

Side note I cringe when I see people say they give the stat books to NPCs in their party.

[fauxpas]

Yeah, I see your point on spells, although I grit my teeth when I realize that a magical "buff" could make a character weaker.


I tend to agree with the Tome issue, although I can see maybe using them on a favored NPC that you know is going to get "carried over" and you intend on fixing that NPC with Keeper. ... Although even then I have to surpress cringing.

[wendigo211]

If you intend on going all the way through, you're probably better off with a dual classed fighter/mage than multiclassed fighter/mage.

Multiclassed characters get the benefits of all the classes they have with a couple limitations:

• Fighters do not get advanced specialization (they can only put two proficiency points in a weapon style)
  
• Thieves can only backstab with thief weapons, and they can only use theiveing abilities (other than detecting traps) if they are in studded leather or lighter armor.
  
• Mages can only cast spells if they are not wearing armor.
  
• Priests and Druids are limited to the weapons for those classes.

They also split their XP equally between their classes. This isn't that bad for BG, because the XP for the next level tends to be double what it was for the last level. So a multiclassed character is only 1 level behind a pure class character. However in BG2, the XP tends to be fixed amount for each level, so multiclassed characters start to fall behind further. This is rough on the casters, who are delayed in getting their higher level spells.

Dual classed characters are human only. They start as a pure class character and can make use of class kits. Then when you reach the level you want to stop as with that class, you dual class. When you dual class you start back at level 1 with your second class and you have none of the benefits of your original class other than hitpoints and saving throws. When your level in your new class is one level higher than your original class you get back all the abilities of your first class. From that point onwards you progress only as your second class. This really good for the Fighter/caster classes because:

• Fighters really don't get anything past level 13 (and really they only get an extra 1/2 attack a round from level 7)
  
• You get to make use of your fighter specialization, so you can get grand mastery (+3 to damage, -2 to hit and another 1/2 attack per round over specialization.
  
• You get full fighter hitdice for those early levels, so more hit points.
  
• Once you start progressing as a caster you only progress as a caster, so you end up earning your new spell levels faster than a multiclassed caster.
  
• You get kits.

The downside is:

• Once you stop progressing as a Fighter, you can never progress as a Fighter again.
  
• With mages, your ThAC0 will be a bit higher than a multiclassed Fighter/Mage, but this isn't much of a problem because there are not too many negative AC enemies.
  
• Playing the levels before you get back your Fighter abilities is unpleasant.

Kensai and Berserker Mages tend to be popular with either 7, 9 (for Kensais) or 13 being the popular levels for dual classing to Mage.

[fauxpas]

Berserkers do get one of the better defensive Buffs.

[Whirl]

Actually, Dexterity can totally be your dump stat. You get Bracers (Gauntlets?) of Dexterity in the Gnoll Fortress. You don't even need to hunt for them; they just drop from the two losers 'guarding' the bridge; no, I don't feel like paying the toll thankyou very much.

They bump Dexterity to 18. It's fine to drop Dexterity to about 9 because everybody gets to the Gnoll fortress by about Chapter 2. If you don't want to go there with Minsc, you can always pick up Edwin.

[fauxpas]

Maybe, but something to consider is that you're giving up your bracers slot as well as not being able to give them to a NPC.

[Shackler316]

If OP is playing a F/MU and most likely choosing an Elf as his race, having Dex as a dump stat is just silly. Doesn't matter if there are Bracers. Bracers won't give you a 20 Dex. 19 max at start for being an Elf and +1 for the Dex Tome.