How much multi-classing for a beginner party?

[mike.xulima]

How many times should I be multi-classing to have characters that end up being strong enough to finish the game in the novice mode?

Also while I understand that as you level up, you get a pool of bonus attribute points and you can save those for after multi-classing (probably want to save them until you reach your "retirement" class) - can you also save the initial bonus points from character creation if you take those as attribute points?

It seems to me you want to start in a class with the lowest attribute requirements and only spend what you need to make the switch to whatever class you want to go to next, so that you'll be wasting as few points as possible when the attributes reset.

This also means though that your characters will be weaker at the start because you won't be raising their attributes at early levels. Is it possible and maybe even easier for a beginner playing in novice mode to either switch just once, and early, or not multi-class at all then? Or to maybe just do it once and use the first class to either beef up or gain some skill you won't have in your final class?

For example, I've been thinking about taking a Giant, starting as a Warrior, and then after level 4 switching to Metalsmith. I'd only use attribute points to meet the Metalsmith class requirements, and the Warrior levels are for the extra HP. Once switched I'd have him develop Lethal Blow and Metallurgy to be more well-rounded. Is that enough for Novice, or am I going to end up with not enough HP because of not getting enough levels from taking more classes?

[Tyler Durden]

I didn't multiclass and I had a smooth run. Its completely up to you

[Oblivion]

I multi-classed my Wizard just because the poor guy takes way too long to regain spell points at resting. I turned him into a sage at level 8, now he regains spell points faster than my necromancer. One thing to know is that when you switch class you need to finish the original classes experience points requirement to start leveling up at a faster rate. To explain, when I changed my class to sage I still need 340,000 experience points to level up to level 2 sage, which is bizarre really and if I did not need the spells my Wizard got at level 8 I would have not really done it. Once your character reaches the experience points necessary for their original class then they level up like they did in the start of the game, this will add lots of spell points to your character very fast and you can gain more spells a lot faster whilst keeping your old spells as well.

If you want to change class, be sure to do it right before your character is about to level up, not after, unless you want one last set of high level spells, or unless you do not mind having to get 100,000 or more experience points to level up to a new level 2 character on already high level characters. It seems a bit of a design flaw, but I am sure they had their reasons.

[mike.xulima]

Originally posted by Oblivion:

I multi-classed my Wizard just because the poor guy takes way too long to regain spell points at resting. I turned him into a sage at level 8, now he regains spell points faster than my necromancer. One thing to know is that when you switch class you need to finish the original classes experience points requirement to start leveling up at a faster rate. To explain, when I changed my class to sage I still need 340,000 experience points to level up to level 2 sage, which is bizarre really and if I did not need the spells my Wizard got at level 8 I would have not really done it. Once your character reaches the experience points necessary for their original class then they level up like they did in the start of the game, this will add lots of spell points to your character very fast and you can gain more spells a lot faster whilst keeping your old spells as well.

If you want to change class, be sure to do it right before your character is about to level up, not after, unless you want one last set of high level spells, or unless you do not mind having to get 100,000 or more experience points to level up to a new level 2 character on already high level characters. It seems a bit of a design flaw, but I am sure they had their reasons.

Hmm I thought spell point regeneration was based on Race and Metabolism. Why does having more than one class also give it a bump? I was pretty set on using Barrower and Wolfin for caster races to help with that.

If I do multi-class I will probably do it as soon as I can which I think is after turning level 4 (provided you meet the new class attribute requirements).

I've been thinking of using a Giant Warrior -> Metalsmith, a Rattus Thief -> Pirate, and possibly a Sage -> Wizard, mainly so it gets access to Ancient History.

Otherwise the rest would be single class - a Bard, Cleric, Thaumaturge, and Berserker. I'm unsure about the last slot, might take a Ranger so someone will be a bow user.

[Oblivion]

I have no Idea why my Wizard had spell regen problems, I put boatloads of points into MET and he still has problems.

There is one thing that may have helped but it contains a spoiler so I can not say what it was other than something I drank somewhere but I really believe it is because I changed his class to a Sage.

[ElJag]

You may want to look at the post "My first party, first impressions", another user answered a lot of multi-classing questions there.