Dual or Multi Fighter/Druid

cbarchuk · Post by **cbarchuk** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:44 pm

Getting ready to play through IWD/HoW/TotLM again and I'm wanting to try out a druid this time around. I'm just not sure whether to dual class or multi class and if dual class, what level is good? 6 maybe?

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:22 pm

Dual. Warrior class bonuses are lower than Druid ones. IE games are ran by spells.
Dual as soon as you max proficiency in weapon of choice, which sadly has to be one that druids can use!

Unless you want to go the OTHER way around and dual from Druid to Warrior.. I'd be speechless then.
It's a good idea only for Clerics to dual TO warriors.

kmonster · Post by **kmonster** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:52 am

Both multi- and dualclass have their advantages. The multiclass offers druid spells from the beginning while the dualclass will get access to highest level spells late in the game.
It's hard to get a good roll for dualclassing since you need at least 17 cha and can't dump it. If you can't get a roll above 90 you'll have to dump dex or con.
Good levels for dualclassing are 3,7 or 9, specialize in scimitar and sling.

cbarchuk · Post by **cbarchuk** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:39 pm

Yea I had to end up with a low DEX score of 12. Is that okay? I heard dueling at level 6 is good too. Is that accurate?

Dante2377 · Post by **Dante2377** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:05 pm

cbarchuk wrote:I heard dueling at level 6 is good too. Is that accurate?

No, not at all. You might as well go to level 7 and get the extra 1/2 attack, especially if dualling to a druid since they need so little XP to get to level 8.

cbarchuk · Post by **cbarchuk** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:44 am

Wow, I'm truly misinformed. I've been following this PC guide on gamefaq. Okay does the 3,7,9 also good dual levels for a fighter/mage cause I dualed mine at level 2? I might as well get some feedback on my party too. I'm always so confused on whether to go multi or dual. Everything I've read says only multi fighter/thieves and cleric/rangers are any good cause any other combination takes too much XP to level. I don't know if this is accurate but its more or less what I've read. Anyways here is my party:

1. Human Paladin
2. Elven Fighter/Thief
3. Human Fighter that will dual to a druid at either level 3 or level 7 (Thanks to you guys)
4. Human Fighter who just reached level 2 and I dual over to a mage
5. Dwarven Pure Cleric. (I just think they're cool)
6. Half-Elf Bard

Any helpful suggestions on the multi and dual dilemma would be great. I really just want to know what multi combinations are really good and which aren't. Thanks guys

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 8:07 am

The Mage generally depends on how you'll use him. If you intend to buff him up, I'd say dual him at 9, to get max proficiency points in a weapon. If you just intend to start from Fighter to give him better HP and make him passable with a bow/other ranged weapon, then dual at 2 or 3.

cbarchuk · Post by **cbarchuk** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:07 am

Thanks for the reply Gawain. What other multi classes are considered solid? I mean right now I have a level 2 fighter that I just dualed over to a mage. Would an elven fighter/mage be just as good? I also have a dwarven cleric. Would I be better off making him a fighter/cleric or perhaps going human and dualing from fighter to cleric? I've also heard good things about cleric/rangers but if I have a druid, do I really need a ranger? Good grief I'm confused...:laugh:

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:40 am

I'll repeat myself : Never multi spellcaster classes in Icewind or Baldur games, unless you go for Mage/Cleric.
Loosing high level spells is never worth an extra +X THAC0 and XX hp.

cbarchuk · Post by **cbarchuk** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 9:52 am

Ok so no multi class fighter/mages, cleric/rangers. fighter/clerics, or fighter/druids. Well that definitely helps me out. Gives me a good idea on what NOT to do. Okay so what multi class combos are good? I know fighter/thief is. What else?

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:01 am

Oh wait, Cleric/Ranger. :laugh:
I never played one, so this may be an exception.

Other people may have different opinions, and they will inevitably voice it out, but in my opinion only C/M and F/T are worthwhile multi-classes.

Majorman · Post by **Majorman** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:01 am

Dual- and multiclassed spellcasters gain new spell levels and spell slots at a slower rate. And early in the game you'll probably die a lot (face it - even an average fighter with his 10 HP is two hits (or even 1 critical hit) away from death). So, I think that healing is much needed - thus I always have a single-classed cleric.

Then, in a party of 6 everything is possible and you can try and experiment a bit. You asked about good multiclasses and can say that probably the best is mage/cleric multiclass. This is probably the best supporting character in the game, loaded with a barrage of spells.

Another thing I reccomend is never using a singleclass thief. Thieves have one major purpose: looking for traps, and once you boost their trap detection ability to, say, 85%, there isn't much use of them. So, try to create a multiclass thief, like Thief/Mage (armed with a bow and long-range spells) or Thief/Fighter (which I prefer, either using a bow or backstabbing). If your party has only one thief, never try to duall him/her - it's a disaster, traps might kill you before thieving abilities re-emerge.

As for the ranger, there's one (and only one) reason to chose ranger over fighter: two-weapon fighting! Just make sure that your of-hand weapon can surpass the penalties to THAC0. There are some nice off-hand weapons, like every magic weapon with "Defender" in the name.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 10:14 am

While higher-lvl spells certainly are enormously effective, mutliclasses have their advantages, to a degree.
They're more noob-friendly, as you don't have to read and sift through every spell and they're a bit more sturdy.
They're generally better at those "trash mob" battles, if you don't want to blow your spells on them and consequently rest a lot.

That's why I always run my game with one arcane caster multi-classed, and one full. Same for a Divine caster.

Bottomline: if you want to most effectively deal with enemies: full casters. If you're not comfortable with all the spells: don't be afraid to try the multiclasses.

IIRC, you don't find the scrolls/can't scribe the scrolls necessary to cast the highest (8-9) lvl mage spells in IWD, unless you run a mod.

Sykar · Post by **Sykar** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:07 am

Stworca wrote:I'll repeat myself : Never multi spellcaster classes in Icewind or Baldur games, unless you go for Mage/Cleric.
Loosing high level spells is never worth an extra +X THAC0 and XX hp.

My first playthrough with my elven F/M vanilla BG1+BG2 (dual wield) was great, there was a reason I called him 'flying rotorblade' in jest, multiclassed characters have their merits and especially druids can get level 6spells easily as multiclass just level 7 is delayed noticably. And back then I was oblivious to the power of MMM. With those and Imp. Haste and the fighter THAC0 it was terrific ranged damage dealing capabilities.
Dual class either lacks in their first class or their first class is turned off a very long time if you go late into dual classing aking them a big liability for the party since they cannot contribute much.
Multiclassed characters always have both classes available and can get them to a sufficient strength and that is a decent advantage over multi classed ones.

I really don't see a reason to avoid multiclassing spellcaster classes.

Depending on playstyle those extra attacks and extra HP can come in handy.
Jaheira for example was an extraordinairy tank in BG2 and I doubt a multi classed Fighter/Druid could do it better since either they don't progress as druids sufficiently which nets them less spells per day or they forfeit fighter class which means Jaheira has the better HP and THAC0 progression giving her better steady damage output.

Jan Jansen for example was one of the strongest characters in BG2 and he was a multiclassed theif/illusonist.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:45 am

Sykar wrote: Jan Jansen for example was one of the strongest characters in BG2...

The same can be said, and has been said countless times, about every character in the saga, except Nalia.

the power of MMM. With those and Imp. Haste and the fighter THAC0 it was terrific ranged damage dealing capabilities.

A single class mage has no trouble hitting with MMM either, with his poor THAC0.

I really don't see a reason to avoid multiclassing spellcaster classes.

<insert my arguments here>?
No, i'll instead quote myself.
Other people may have different opinions, and they will inevitably voice it out, but in my opinion...

To me your arguments are mostly invalid, but you play in a different way, so while i disagree, you too may be right - for a different playstyle. My strategies.. bla, bla, bla... walls of text. I've done my share of text walls before on this very subject. I'm not here to argue, mostly because every party can easily beat all Infinite Engine games.

Kind regards

cbarchuk · Post by **cbarchuk** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 11:52 am

Wow! I'm currently trying to roll stats here for my dual fighter/druid and I'm having a hard time since I need a high STR, DEX, CON, WIS, and my CHA has to be a 17. My only dump stat is INT. This is going to take forever...lol.

Sykar · Post by **Sykar** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 12:04 pm

Stworca wrote:The same can be said, and has been said countless times, about every character in the saga, except Nalia.

A single class mage has no trouble hitting with MMM either, with his poor THAC0.

<insert my arguments here>?
No, i'll instead quote myself.
Other people may have different opinions, and they will inevitably voice it out, but in my opinion...

To me your arguments are mostly invalid, but you play in a different way, so while i disagree, you too may be right - for a different playstyle. My strategies.. bla, bla, bla... walls of text. I've done my share of text walls before on this very subject. I'm not here to argue, mostly because every party can easily beat all Infinite Engine games.

Kind regards

1.) I did not see anyone being able to convince me that any non arcane caster being stronger than any arcane caster. Therefore only valid complaint about Nalia is her being multiclassed incredibly early making her a very poor thief. Otherwise she is just as much a powerhouse arcane wise than any other arcane caster.
Jan on the other hand gets the best of both worlds and even gets access to both HLAs mage and thief and thief HLAs are among the strongest abilities out there. With traps, backstab and arcane magic there are few who have such a vast amount of resources and options to deal massive damage albeit they do not require as much micro to get the fullest out of their potential.

2.) He has no problem hitting low AC opponents like other mages but then again that got nothing to do with her THAC0 but with their terrible AC. I remember enough fights where my figher/mages easily hit all MMMs into the target while Imoen missed about half of hers and that's especially true for the relatively early phases of the game. The +5 bonus to hit brings most mages to an effective THAC0 of about ~12 while any F/M gets easily to 7 or even lower and I am not talking about ToB stages of the game.

3.) Well don't worry I find your arguments equally poor as well. You could not even properly adress any real points of mine in the first place but whatever.
We will have to agree to disagree.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:09 pm

Sykar wrote: 3.) Well don't worry I find your arguments equally poor as well. You could not even properly adress any real points of mine in the first place but whatever.
We will have to agree to disagree.

I do not worry, kind sir. You had no real points to begin with. Thus it is best that we indeed agree to disagree, before it escalates.

Sincere regards and best wishes.

Wow! I'm currently trying to roll stats here for my dual fighter/druid and I'm having a hard time since I need a high STR, DEX, CON, WIS, and my CHA has to be a 17. My only dump stat is INT. This is going to take forever...lol.

Why are you going with Druid and not Cleric anyway?
Correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't Cleric as second class require somewhat lower stats than druid? (lesser spread at least)
The spell difference is minimal.

GawainBS · Post by **GawainBS** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:30 pm

Druids have pretty good attack spells in IWD, IIRC.

cbarchuk · Post by **cbarchuk** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:31 pm

Man I got a pure dwarven cleric already. I just heard that druids were really good in IWD and since I didn't play one my first time around, I figured I would throw one into the mix to shake things up a bit