Single, Dual or Multiclass

[Rhymar]

i ask this as short as possible^^
are there much benefits in one of them or can a single class group do as good as
a dual or multiclass one?

[Axz]

I really can't remember much about multi / dual classes, but I do remember that in the original you can't further level a class that you change from (a cleric to a dual cleric mage can only level mage and a dual cleric mage to a mutli cleric mage bard can only level bard).

There was also somthing about magic, but I can't remember what it was. I think you can't use magic if you change to a non-magic class but you can if you change FROM a non-magic class (a mage to a dual mage fighter can't use magic but a fighter to a dual fight mage can).

I could be wrong, sorry I know that's not much help, but I was quite young at the time and reading / rules weren't my strong points haha.

EDIT: I also THINK that everytime you take a new class your EXP requirements to level up reset to the level of the class you change too (level 1). So you can fit a LOT more levels into one character, but never the "end-game abilities / stats" of any of them.

[Herr Kruelbar®]

My two cents: I dont like multi/dual class, as it takes FOREVER to climb up a level.

It can be very time consuming as well and you may find yourself underpowered in critical parts of the game.

HOWEVER: If you do put the time in and get to a high level in both classes, your party is far, far more powerful than "normal". If every member of the party can cast "fireball", then its going to be a serious baddie BBQ ......

This walkthrough discusses the pros/cons in detail -

http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/256221-icewind-dale/faqs/55628

Good Luck!!

[Nogan]

Publicado originalmente por C01t.45 SS Herr Kruelbar:

My two cents: I dont like multi/dual class, as it takes FOREVER to climb up a level.

It can be very time consuming as well and you may find yourself underpowered in critical parts of the game.

This isn't correct. Your multiclasses don't lag that far behind the pure variants, and the benefits usually far outweigh being slightly underleveled. Cleric/Rangers, for instance, are monsters, and Thief is pitiful on its own. To offer some perspective, in Chapter 3 my Archer is level 7 and my Cleric/Ranger is level 7/6.

I don't have much experience with dual classing, but I've heard people claim that leveling back up isn't as time consuming as it first sounds on paper. I can't stand having a useless party member for the sake of later powergaming, though.

[Rhymar]

the final benefits of a full lvled dual class is nice
see a Fighter 9 or 13 dual class to a cleric and gain lvl 38 in bg2ee if you
get it to max exp.

but with normal playing multi class seems more reasonable then dual class.
and yeah i hate it to if someone is useless in my group^^

[Ancient Toaster]

I like Multi-Class characters, they are very versatile and don't seem to be much weaker than a pure variant. Dual Classed Humans tend to be the most powerful character classes in 2E, certain combos like Kensai Mage for instance are just stupid good but they take time to set up. I think a Half-Elf Fighter mage is still pretty good. I like Half-Orc Fighter Cleric, such a monster. As others have said before, Ranger Cleric is a good combo as well, but I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that they aren't nearly as godly as they were in BG2.

[Incomparable Groan]

It depends on how you're going to play. If you're planning continous playthroughs, then definitely multi/dual class. As far as I know (and have experienced), Icewind dale doesn't have an EXP cap like the Baldur's gate series, only the 30th level cap. This means that once your party is "maxed out", a Fighter/Mage will have the exact same amount of levels that a single class Fighter AND mage character would have. Be aware that multiclasses will have their exp split into their amount of classes, meaning they will progress much slower than a single class would.

Personally I'm really fond of any thief multi/dual class. The thief class has some of my favourite abilities, but I've always felt like you'd be gimping yourself by playing pure-class thieves. In my most recent party, I had a Thief/Mage with trapping and sneaking skills (along with spells, obviously), and a 19STR dualwield Swashbuckler/Fighter for lockpicking, trap disarming and heavy damage. The party got very strong, very fast... if I may say so myself.

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

Single classes like Paladin/ Anti-Paladin, Archer (for bow use), Barbarian, Monk, Sorcerer, Bard (Jester is quite fun), are single class only.

You also get access to certain abilities if you single class and go with a sub class (though as a human you could tecnically dual class with most of the standard ones).

You also gain the benefit of race abilities.

There is one ability like leveling faster that you do have, though it is minor in the long run.

Short Term= Single Class Power (faster leveling).
Long Term= Multi-Class Power (lower level, lots of different abilities )

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

Currently my favorite group is:

Bard (Jester)
Fighter/ Druid
Barbarian
Sorcerer (Dragon Disciple)
Cleric/ Rouge (Gnome)
Anti-Paladin (though I'm a little unsure of her since she's an archer based, may switch her out in future groups).

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

Druid needs it if you want them to be able to use a lot of armors, making them solid defenders (especially with Iron Skin), and rouge needs something like cleric to give them something else to do, like casting support spells or hold to assist.

A wizard type might also need it as they are lacking in low level abilities (fighter/wizard archer type, for example)

Which is why I have a bard who can do their jester song when not casting spells (for anti-group control), my Sorcerer can also cast a number of spells, with some extra health, ac, and a dragon breath.. it may not trade out in the longrun but.. meh.. worth it )

Otherwise it's debatable.

[Aeon]

I prefer multiclass whenever it's possible. The fewer party member you have the more important multi or dual class is to your team (beacause they fill more roles in a team than single).

Many hardcore players love dual more than multi since you can change what class to level at the perfect level creating the best character there is, but the multiclass you get a bit more than you need, but at least you get them. There is always a debate of when to dual class. And I hate having my head in a manual all the time to get it right. I want to experience both class on my own.

Dual explained:
If you dualclass a thief to a fighter you stop improving the thieving skills when they are at max and then only focusing on the fighter skills. Making a better overall character.

Multi explained:
You get later level, but you increase both classes untill you reach the xp cap.

Single explained:
You only have one class, but then again you get faster level and you are more focused in the classes you pick.

I personally prefer Multi > Single > Dual. But in the hardcore world the poll would be more Dual > Multi > Single.

Single character work best when you pick them a kit or go for classes like Sorc, Bard, Paladin or other powerful caster classes. Nearly all melee fighter classes are great to use multi or dual.

There is also possible to have 3 classes, but dont do it. Unless you are playing a small team on 1-3 character. You will be underleveled the whole game but really shine in the end. Not actually worth it imo.

[tfreeman413]

Publicado originalmente por Aeon:

I personally prefer Multi > Single > Dual. But in the hardcore world the poll would be more Dual > Multi > Single.

There is also possible to have 3 classes, but dont do it. Unless you are playing a small team on 1-3 character. You will be underleveled the whole game but really shine in the end. Not actually worth it imo.

Actually, I think for the ultimate hardcore world in Icewind Dale, because the cap is not experience based but lvl based at 30, Multi>Dual>Single. multiple Fighter lvl30/Mage lvl30/Thief lvl30 in the end game is far superior to a dual class person of Fighter lvl 29/Mage lvl30.

It does not take too long to level up if you save before resting. I remember resting and than monsters like 6 ice trolls ambushing my rest. I would just keep resting to fight these trolls to get the maximum level i could get for that stage of the game. There is an infinite amount of exp this way and it comes fast. I never worried about being under leveled with Multi class jobs cus i grind monsters that disrupt resting.

This is another thing better about multi than dual in Icewind dale. you get to use all the jobs abilities throughout the game. There is a max of exp that can be obtained from killing monsters in each stage of the game. I grind monsters from rest until i hit that max (or get close to it, so i dont enter into a huge time consuming grind). Then i continue the game. Quest exp is still obtained, even when monsters no longer give exp cus ur at the max level for that stage of the game.

It really doesn't take long at all to level up this way. In my opinion, 6 Fighter/Mage/Thief or 6 Fighter/Mage/Clerics or any combination of those two are super OP from beginning to end of the game if you keep your characters close to the max for exp gain from monsters by rest grinding monsters.

I personally liked playing 4 fighter30/mage30/thief30 and 2 Fighter30/Mage30/Cleric30. However, if you grind, this team makes the game too easy and is too OP. But I personally like to be OP in games.

[D'amarr from Darshiva]

Publicado originalmente por tfreeman413:

Actually, I think for the ultimate hardcore world in Icewind Dale, because the cap is not experience based but lvl based at 30, Multi>Dual>Single. multiple Fighter lvl30/Mage lvl30/Thief lvl30 in the end game is far superior to a dual class person of Fighter lvl 29/Mage lvl30.

As you want to level up quickly if starting a Heart of Fury mode game at level 1, you want to prefer dual-class characters. You need them in the first few fights as to reach Kuldahar. Adding two multi-class casters to the party works fine, though.

[mikexor]

If you look at a dual wielding Fighter/Druid (same goes for the Cleric) multiclass as opposed to a dual wielding Fighter-3/Druid dual class with grandmastery in this game, you'll notice there isn't much difference in terms of health, APR, THAC0 or damage. However by about 50000 XP your F3/D already has more spells than the multiclass counterpart, more health and better THAC0 :-) Of course multiclass will overtake later, but the game would be over by then. As a bonus you can pick up a Berzerker kit and don't have to play as a pansy Elf. Win win :-)

[mikexor]

Publicado originalmente por mikexor:

If you look at a dual wielding Fighter/Druid (same goes for the Cleric) multiclass as opposed to a dual wielding Fighter-3/Druid dual class with grandmastery in this game, you'll notice there isn't much difference in terms of health, APR, THAC0 or damage. However by about 50000 XP your F3/D already has more spells than the multiclass counterpart, more health and better THAC0 :-) Of course multiclass will overtake later, but the game would be over by then. As a bonus you can pick up a Berzerker kit and don't have to play as a pansy Elf. Win win :-)

And F3/D keeps the top position until ~600 000 XP. That's a very large part of if not the whole game :-)

[Rej72380]

If I remember my experiences of Baldur's Gate correctly (pun semi-intended), the character's share of XP is split evenly amongst the classes he or she has for his or her dual-class or multi-class setup.

Long story short, only go for a multi-class character if you're looking for a challenge.