Help - Octavia and multiclassing

[Stagnetti]

I don't really understand how you're supposed to build Octavia, and how multiclassing really works. I don't actively use her, just level her up because I have the setting that lvls all companions along with your party.

I've just been putting alternating levels into wizard and rogue but it appears I've missed something, I was watching some youtube about the game and she's supposed to be an arcane trickster?

https://i.imgur.com/FwAa0QU.png

So just wondering how that works - If she has 1 level in rogue and wizard then you can pick another multi class using those as requirements? Is this the only way you're supposed to multi class?

[Duder]

Arcane Trickster worked great for me.
Especially once she gets surprise spells.

Yeah just need the one level in rogue. Take the extra sneak attack feat to make it sneak attack 2 and your lore requirements. Take it as soon as possible.
Although someone may have a better idea

Remember you can always respec too

[Gresh]

Originally posted by Stagnetti:

I don't really understand how you're supposed to build Octavia, and how multiclassing really works. I don't actively use her, just level her up because I have the setting that lvls all companions along with your party.

I've just been putting alternating levels into wizard and rogue but it appears I've missed something, I was watching some youtube about the game and she's supposed to be an arcane trickster?

https://i.imgur.com/FwAa0QU.png

So just wondering how that works - If she has 1 level in rogue and wizard then you can pick another multi class using those as requirements? Is this the only way you're supposed to multi class?

Yeah generally people build her as an arcane trickster. You can multiclass at any level up as long as you meet the class prerequisites.

Octavia's 'default' build usually goes like this:

Start at level 2 with Rogue 1 / Wizard 1. At each level up you pick Trickery and Mobility as mandatory skills.

At 3rd level you pick Rogue 1 / Wizard 2 and the Accomplished Sneak Attacker feat. Accomplished Sneak Attacker should give you enough sneak attack for AT's prereqs

At 4th level you take Rogue 1 / Wizard 3, which should give you access to level 2 spells.

At levels 5-15 you take Arcane Trickster and Octavia will level up as a rogue/wizard hybrid.

What this does for you:

Arcane tricksters basically combine rogue/wizard so your sneak attack and spells develop concurrently. They specialize in ranged spell sneak attacks. At first you're limited to ranged touch attacks and ray spells, but at level 10 in the class all spells qualify for sneak attacks with Surprise Spell.

if you were a pure rogue, you'd be a better sneak attacker, and if you were a pure wizard you'd have stronger spells, but arcane trickster gives you a moderate progression of both. Your current build basically makes Octavia a weak rogue/weak wizard instead.

[dwarfpcfan]

Octavia is one of the strongest party members you can recruit. As long as you take the time to understand how magic works, she can solo entire encounters without effort. She gets all the necessary cc spells and she can spam excellent damage by adding sneak attack dice to spells which is something you can absolutely abuse.

rogue 1/wizard 9/Arcane Trickster 10 and choose the right spells.

[Zzyl_tsw]

And the "if you were a pure wizard you'd have stronger spells", while true, mainly means you are one level behind in term of spells (because of the one rogue level)
You do not really loose much while gaining at lot of sneak attack, that does work on cantrip (level 0 spells, that you can cast without limit). So even her "basic attacks" when you do not cast a real spells does 'decent' damage (compared to a basic mage or even bad range bard)

[ptirodaktill]

Octavia is a bit ruined with her low int , 3 wasted feats, wrong aligment and useless specialisation. You can turn her intro arcane trickster, but she will be a dead-weight for like 3/4 of the game that way. In late game with proper items she oneshot trash encounters with AoE spells and bosses with hellfire ray, but, till lvl 14 she is merely a buff bot with a few gimmicks.
I level her as eldrich archer if i need one. She is doing the same as AT that way, but more consistent.