Multiclassing

[CornPuffBuddha]

So, as I'm still very early in on my first run through the game, I decided not to multiclass for my main character. Question is if it's worth multiclassing other party members - is it really as difficulty enhancing as the game makes it out to be, or am I missing something?

[snuggleform]

The answer is it's complicated. IMO there are certain classes that are probably better left single classed

- wizard: has amazing t9 spells. Being able to use concelhaut's special skill in his grimoire at 13 instead of 19 is also a big deal. Wizard's spells in general really enjoy the bonus power level that being single class is.
- chanter: getting animated weapons 6 levels earlier than a dual class is amazing, and also they can improve animated weapons at t9 which a dual class can't. And they also get an armor pen aura at t9.
- cipher: I use the cipher as a debuff bot and man, he is HUNGRY for skillpoints. I can barely get the skills I want, and I still have to skip some nice passives. Dual classing it makes it even harder to get all the good skills, as well as prevents you from accessing the +8 pen buff at t9.

And IMO there are certain classes which I think you almost always should dual class

- monk/rogue/barbarian/ranger/fighter/paladin : I believe all the weapon damage classes, and tank classes (pal/fig) benefit greatly from dipping into another classes' passives. It's true you lose some power level so monk fists and sneak attack for example will both be weaker than a single class, but I just don't think the small loss is that big in comparison to getting the passives and basic skills from another class. The level 8/9 for all these classes are relatively meh compared to things like better animated weapons (chanter) or minoletta's nuclear bomb (wizard).

examples: I would pair fighter with paladin for a sturdy tank, they both have really nice defensive passives that go well together like deep conviction and guardian stance.

rogue with monk for single target melee

rogue with ranger for single target range

barb with monk for aoe melee

As for the druid and priest, I am undecided on them. I simply haven't played druid much at all, and priests seem to me like they revolve around getting a Brilliant buff on them so they can use certain spells over and over.

That being said, this game is complicated enough that there are exceptions to the rule, and there's no accounting for taste at the end of the day either.

One exception I would make is dual classing a chanter is sometimes ok, provided you don't care about summoning animated weapons. If you're using the chanter's buffing aspect and ignore the summoning aspect, it's an all right addition to any class because you can give yourself a lot of pen (Solo the Barbarian Horde) or your team a lot of buffs repeatedly.

[Fendelphi]

Speaking of the companions that you get through story, I would say dual classes for most of them. Depending on what you think would fit your playstyle, ofc..

I always keep Eder as a pure Fighter though.
- Rogue is, to me, an unimpressive mono-class, as most of their best tools are available to multiclass characters as well(solo runs are a different matter though).
- The Swashbuckler(Fighter+Rogue) is not that good without subclasses(the Streetfighter subclass in Rogue would have been ideal, but it is not available to Eder) and Eder does not really have the stats to be a decent debuffer(which is 1 aspect of the Rogue).
By going full fighter with a two-handed weapon, you focus on his strengths(in terms of stats) and it hurts the least in terms of lack of subclasses.

Aloth can work either way, as the wizard spells are very versatile and can compliment a lot of different builds.
Pallegina, Serafen and Tekehu can also easily use any of the 3 class options(I usually go Theurge with Tekehu, and focus on lightning and storm based spells).

I prefer Maia as a Scout(multiclass), but she can be fun either way.

I prefer Xoti as a Priest(mono), but can be fun either way.


The reason why they warn about dual-classes is, you need a decent understanding of what each class brings to the mix, and pick skills and abilities that work well with each other.
Mono-clases have this built into them, as everything kind of works together already.

[Stefan]

Tekehu's multiclass is amazing. He gets special subclasses for both of them.

[Dovahhkiin64]

It all depends on the class. Rogue should always be multiclassed with fighter, paladin, cipher, or chanter. Fighter can be good as a solo class, but a cipher multiclass can fix it's lackluster will defense. It would also give it the ability to lower enemy's defenses, and do more damage with cipher's soul whip. Druid can be multiclassed with fighter or monk if you choose the shifter subclass. Paladin is good on it's own, but it could be amazing with a cipher, chanter, or fighter multiclass. Barbarian is good on it's own, but if you want team support it can do good work as a multiclass with chanter. Troubadour is an excellent choice alongside barbarian for longer healing while you cut your enemies down. Chanter is pretty great on it's own, but it can be interesting with cipher. Imagine summoning drakes while dumping stat debuffs with your cipher abilities, and using a warbow from afar.

[snuggleform]

Well single classing is also powerful, getting t7 abilities at level 13 instead of 19 is a huge chunk of the game, and some t8/t9 can be fun or useful to build around.

[Stardama69]

My MC is a cipher/ghost ranger hybrid using firearms and it's a lot of fun (playing in turn-based mode). The hard thing though if that I can almost never bring myself to pick a passive over a skill because I receive so few perk points.

[snuggleform]

Ain't that what I said earlier, ciphers are super skill point hungry? :D

Your choice is very good though, rangers are an excellent choice for passive weapon damage due to gunner, marksman, hunter's mark.

[Stardama69]

Originally posted by snuggleform:

Ain't that what I said earlier, ciphers are super skill point hungry? :D

Your choice is very good though, rangers are an excellent choice for passive weapon damage due to gunner, marksman, hunter's mark.

Well yeah kinda but you need less skills to operate at peak efficiency than a wizard or a druid, since you can cast them repeatedly, so that balances it out. The ability to replenish your resources in combat is a HUGE advantage of this class in my opinion. Yesterday as I fought the necrophages in the old city while searching for Bottaro my team was eventually reduced to melee attacks after having exhausted their powers and I kept them going by spamming charm and mass paralysis on the remaining opponents. A single shot would give me enough focus back for two or three casts.

If there's one thing I dislike in my build, it's that improved firearms are HARD AF to get. Most merchants and armorers do not sell them, the very first one you can encounter that does is hidden deep inside the Gullet which you'll only reach after about 10 hours of gameplay and his ware isn't even good, it's just +1 ("fine") overpriced upgrades, apart from his one unique rifle. Meanwhile you can obtain two of the best swords in the game by having the smith in Periki's overlook repair the fragments you brought from Ced Nua for barely more money than any of the very average weapons being sold around. I don't get it.

[snuggleform]

You haven't done your homework, here are a few easy to get firearms

- Red Hand unique arquebus, easily one of the best weapons in the game it's in a chest in delver's row that requires about 13 mechanics (yes that is easy to get early in the game since one of your guys should be focusing mechanics, then use an unguent and resting bonus if required)

- Sayuka has a superior arquebus in the fleet masters office that is trivial to steal

- Uto's gunsmithy has an exceptional blunderbuss that is trivial to steal, and if you put in a tiny bit of effort there's a unique pistol to steal.

- Blightheart soulbound arquebus is easy to acquire (exceptional arquebus), can use intimidate 7 or be on good terms with huana to peacefully get past the guard encounter to it

- Eccea's blaster (superior unique pistol) is easy to get, you just have to wait for her to stand watch alone and you can easily overwhelm her at extremely low level.

Uto also sells exceptional firearms (brass citadel), so it sounds like you didn't search properly.

[Stardama69]

Originally posted by snuggleform:

You haven't done your homework...

I've been playing this game for 25 hours according to Steam and I haven't yet reached the people you mentioned apart from Ernezzo as I said earlier. That doesn't invalidate my point. Especially if the only way to get those guns is to steal them (or spens insane amounts of money at them). No need to belittle me for this. Maybe I'm just too used to Original Sin 2 where new loot drops every 30 minutes but in a pirate game I expected to pick up a few decent guns before reaching the farthest district of the biggest city in the game. Nit the most legendary items, just meaningful upgrades. That would be like if in Witcher 3 you couldn't obtain any proper sword until Novigrad.

[snuggleform]

The brass citadel is one of the first areas the game encourages you to explore (it gives you a quest to go there), and it's hard to miss the gunsmith there. If you played DOS2 then you should know that thieving is profitable.