is it worth multiclassing? (fighter)

Schwoebli · Post by **Schwoebli** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 3:45 pm

hi everybody

I am starting a new char. race is human or dwarf -don't know yet. after playing through with a sorc I want to restart with a fighter. my question is: is it worth taking one level as a monk and two level as a paladin before starting with the fighter class? I like to have many feats.

Impaler987 · Post by **Impaler987** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 7:52 pm

From monk or paladin, not really. Those two classes, IMO, are best kept pure because of the unique progression of their powers. In fact, in actual PnP, they must be kept pure.

Some rogue to go with fighter is generally a pretty good idea. Nothing wrong w/ cleric, mage, or sorcerer as well.

Izgoth · Post by **Izgoth** » Sun Aug 04, 2002 10:47 pm

Or if you want to dual wield, ranger is a good second class because you get many feats for free.

If you get two levels as a paladin, you become immune to disease and fear and you get that charisma bonus added to your saving rolls, but not many fighters want to put alot of points to charisma.

Monk isn't very god at multiclassing. Most of the skills only work when unarmed or using kamas. You need to waste alot of levels to access the more useful bonuses.

Rogues get sneak attack at L1 (not too good at L1 tho), and evasion at L2. Uncanny dodge isn't that useful in my opinion because at L3 it only gives you the dex bonus when caught flat footed and I don't think that happens very often.

Phantom Lord · Post by **Phantom Lord** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 12:03 am

Since disease is annoying and you don't lose HP if you take some paladin levels, it sounds like a good idea to take two Paladin levels. I wouldn't take ranger levels because the dual wield doesn't work with heavy armor.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 12:37 am

My first char was a fighter/rogue (14/6) and was really nice to play, maybe a bit "powerplaying" but I had Daelan with me as henchmen, and I just let people attack him, and I could sneakattack them for +3d6 damage

(sneak attack with a greatsword

)

The Fighter/Cleric options is always viable, and am planning to try one of them out also. Planning on somthing like 3/17 to get level 7 spells.

Schwoebli · Post by **Schwoebli** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 1:44 am

thx all for your replies

I ll take 2 levels of paladin for sure. With two paladin levels you get:

- divine grace
- divine health
- lay on hands

- aura of courage
- smite evil

this way I will get almost all paladin abilities (no spellcasting of course)

one level of monk is also nice. because you get:

- cleave (don't have to take power attack first)
- evasion (does it work if you wear an (non monk) armor?)

btw did anyone try a ranger(1 level)/barbarian/thief?

Sirius_Sam · Post by **Sirius_Sam** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 2:01 am

I've kept all my fighters 'pure', so I couldn't tell you much about the pros and cons of multi-classing them, but I've had a great deal of luck multi-classing human sorcerers.

Pally 1:
Divine Grace and big time CHA (nuff said).
Divine Health (always handy to be immune to something).
Extra HP to start (d10 instead of d4).
Access to Clerical scrolls/items.

Monk 1:
Extra AC (you'll be wearing a robe anyway).
Evasion (did I mention your saves are GREAT!

).
Extra HP (d8 instead of d4).
Access to monk items (robes, boots, gloves, etc.).
*note: you can pretend to be a fighter sometimes too

.

Sorcerer 1-18:
Still have access to one 9th-level spell (usually Time Stop for me).
Access to the pixie familier (Don't have to hire Tomi)
Etc.

Anyway, as far as a min-max, good all-around character goes, this build isn't a bad one. He's effective in the early game even without spells and toward the endgame, gets really powerful

S_S

Wyvern · Post by **Wyvern** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 2:15 am

I have a fighter/cleric 6/14 and I'm very happy with him. I like playing him and I think it makes for a good combination.

Schwoebli · Post by **Schwoebli** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 2:19 am

@Sirius_Sam

Yeah this is a really powerful combo. I played a pure sorceror the first time through the game. It was way too easy. Almost all enemies died with finger of death (spell focus necromancy). In the final battle I only used one horrid willing spell, one greater stoneskin and transformation into a dragon.

I will do the same as you (fighter instead of sorceror and with two levels of paladin)

On the other hand a multiclass monk / sorceror sounds also intresting. A monk with greater stoneskin, tensers, bull strength, cats grace, owls wisdom and so on...

But i ll take a char with a greater item selection first.

Izgoth · Post by **Izgoth** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 8:27 am

Monks get cleave at L1? The manual doesn't mention it.

Schwoebli · Post by **Schwoebli** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 9:00 am

They get cleave at level 1. This and evasion are the reasons why I would take 1 level as a monk.

limorkil · Post by **limorkil** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 10:27 am

My favorite multiclass choices for a fighter are rogue, barbarian, and cleric.

I like rogue and barbarian because you don't have to weaken your fighting abilities by having higher intelligence, wisdom and charisma.

Rogue levels give you the ability to handle traps on your own, to persuade people, to backstab, to sneak and hide, to use magical items. The heavy armor you are likely to wear as a fighter makes sneaking and hiding a poorer option, but the other skills are all very useful.

A single barbarian level gives you the ability to rage once per day, which gives you a bonus to damage and health. Four levels will give you the same ability twice per day, plus barbarians get slightly more hit points.

Cleric is also a decent choice even though you have put some points into wisdom, which weakens your fighting abilities. I prefer a pure cleric to get the highest level spells, but a multiclass will get access to more feats. There are also some nice cleric Domains that help in combat, such as Strength and War.

I don't see the point in taking any paladin levels. Smite Evil is based on your charisma bonus and number of paladin levels, so it's not all that great if you only take a couple of levels. The ability to add your charisma bonus to saving throws is handy, but that means you have to put some points in charisma. I'm not sure it's worth taking points away from Str, Dex and Con just for that.

Mathurin · Post by **Mathurin** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 12:37 pm

Originally posted by Xandax
The Fighter/Cleric options is always viable, and am planning to try one of them out also. Planning on somthing like 3/17 to get level 7 spells.

A 17th level cleric will have 9th level spells. Clerics get access to 7th level spells at 13th level.

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 12:46 pm

Originally posted by Mathurin

A 17th level cleric will have 9th level spells. Clerics get access to 7th level spells at 13th level.

Whops - typo - of course, level 9 spells.

Mathurin · Post by **Mathurin** » Tue Aug 06, 2002 11:01 am

Didn't mean to nitpick, just thought you might have been thinking 2nd edition. In 2nd ed priests did top out with 7th level spells.