dual classing question

howlur · Post by **howlur** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 5:34 pm

At the moment, I am trying to dual class a swashbuckler into a ranger.

The future ranger has stats of 18str/dex/con/wis, 10cha, 3int. He's chaotic good. The alignment is one that both characters can use, and he has 18 in every major stat for both characters. When I hit the dual class button however, the only characters it will allow me to dual class him with are fighters and clerics.

What am I doing wrong? Is it an attribute/alignment problem or is it just that a swashbuckler can't be dual classed into a ranger?

Also have a skald I am trying to dual class into a cleric.

She has 12str, 18dex, 16con, 13int, 18wis, 15cha. I realize that the intelligence needs to be boosted up to 15 and that she needs a neutral good alignment of some sort. But can a bard be dual classed into a cleric?

glenfar · Post by **glenfar** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 5:58 pm

Sorry, you're out of luck ... you can only dual class if it's a valid multi-class combination.

That means only a Cleric can dual to a Ranger. And a Bard can never dual.

howlur · Post by **howlur** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 7:45 pm

thanks for the info, that helps out a lot

howlur · Post by **howlur** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:04 pm

Reading through the 2nd edition dnd rules and it indicates that a druid and a ranger can be a multi-class option. Following your suggestion, I tried mating the two in a dual class character, but I couldn't. Why is it that a druid and a ranger can't be a dual class option in BG2 but can be under dnd rules.? Am I missing something?

Also, I'm not yet familiar with many of the mods, but I remember reading something that said there is a program which would allow me to change the rules so that this mating might become an option. Anybody know the program's name and/or a link to a download?

Thanks for the help so far!

glenfar · Post by **glenfar** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 10:25 pm

Couldn't tell you why it doesn't follow the D&D rules ... I just know BGII doesn't allow it. The allowable choices are any two of Fighter, Thief, Mage, and Cleric. Plus Fighter/Druid and Ranger/Cleric.

I believe the program you're looking for is ShadowKeeper. I don't remember where I got it from, but just do a search and you'll find it (just make sure you get the BGII version - not BGI).

However, it's not going to help you in this respect ... the game doesn't know what a Ranger/Druid is, so you're not going to be able to do that. But you can use it for example to apply a kit when normally it's not allowed (like on a multi-class).

glenfar · Post by **glenfar** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:36 pm

Just to add something - you can fake a dual class to some extent. Basically start as a Ranger. When you want to dual, go into SK, change class to Druid, and XP to 0. From then on you'll level up as a Druid, but still have your Ranger skills. However, the game will consider you a Druid, which means you have a Druid interface - so for example you will not be able to hide in shadows because Druid's can't do that. But you can fake some otherwise impossible dual classes that way.

howlur · Post by **howlur** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 11:46 pm

thanks glen. how going from a rogue to a cleric...will the cleric's heavier armor prevent the rogue from using his abilities?

sorry, have a ton of questions and hate spending the 3 or so hours it'll take me to level them up to figure it out, especially if somebody already knows on the forums.

Thrain · Post by **Thrain** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:25 am

heavier cleric armour will indeed stop the rogue skills. rogues cannot use their theif skills in anything heavier than studded leather.

if you want to experiment with levels and suchlike, use the CLUAConsole cheats so you can set your exp to whatever you like. (someone will be along later to explain just how to do that)

araknid70 · Post by **araknid70** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:53 am

That is, until you get Use Any Item for a high-level thief.

glenfar · Post by **glenfar** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 9:41 am

[QUOTE=araknid70]That is, until you get Use Any Item for a high-level thief.[/QUOTE]

First of all, if you're dualing from a Thief to a Cleric, you're not going to get any Thief HLAs, so no UAI.

Second, even UAI doesn't let a Thief use their Thieving skills while wearing heavy armor (it just lets them wear it period).

However, you will be able to use helmets, gauntlets, and shields without any problems. And you can wear Elven Chain with only a slight penalty. Also you can detect traps wearing heavy armor (but you'll need to take it off to disarm them).

And BTW - if you do get SK, that can be an easy way to find stuff like this out. Just SK yourself the XP you need, level up, and see what happens. (Not that I mind answering, but you can probably get the answer faster that way

).

Ekental · Post by **Ekental** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 12:12 pm

If your lazy like me and don't want to go to google, shadowkeepr can be found here

howlur · Post by **howlur** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 2:35 pm

Oh wow, this helps out a lot. Going to fool around with SK when I get a chance later tonight. Really want to make that druid/ranger.

Thrain · Post by **Thrain** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 2:59 pm

why? the druid/ranger is just a mediocre version of the cleric/ranger is it not?

SP101 · Post by **SP101** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 3:19 pm

Druid/Ranger and Cleric/Ranger look a little like the same, but it isnt the case.

1st : Druid/Ranger will receive druid's spells instead of cleric's spells.
2nd : Druid/Ranger will have the ability to shapeshift (It can be *useful*)
3rd : Druid/Ranger will have the Druid stronghold, not the Cleric one.

Someone see a 4th?

Raumoheru · Post by **Raumoheru** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 3:29 pm

then just be a cleric ranger and give urslef shapeshift and the druid spells via SK

SP101 · Post by **SP101** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 3:31 pm

You've got a point here. (Can I say it like this? English is my 2nd language)

howlur · Post by **howlur** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 11:07 pm

Very good reason why I want to make a druid over a cleric....I'm a treehugger at heart.

Actually, wanted to play the totemic druid, then switch to the ranger. But in addition to changing the spell line up, I'd also have to fiddle with taking off turn undead and putting in the summon spirit animal ability wouldn't I?

Thrain · Post by **Thrain** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 5:04 am

which, as it's hard coded into the game, may be nigh on impossible.

and you get the druid spells as a cleric.ranger

JackOfClubs · Post by **JackOfClubs** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 7:57 pm

[QUOTE=SP101]Druid/Ranger and Cleric/Ranger look a little like the same, but it isnt the case.

1st : Druid/Ranger will receive druid's spells instead of cleric's spells.
2nd : Druid/Ranger will have the ability to shapeshift (It can be *useful*)
3rd : Druid/Ranger will have the Druid stronghold, not the Cleric one.

Someone see a 4th?[/QUOTE]

1. As Thrain points out, Ranger/Clerics get both variety of priest spells.

2. Cloak of the Sewers allows shapeshifting, in addition to improving AC.

3. This is the only real advantage to being a druid (although I prefer the Cleric Stronghold).

4. There are some Druid only magic items (such as the Staff of the Woodlands and Oaken Ring) but they are not that interesting IMHO.

glenfar · Post by **glenfar** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 8:37 pm

You can always make a Cleric/Ranger and just SK the special ablities in (shapeshifting or summon spirit animal).

One other difference between a Cleric and Druid though is choice of weapons - for example, a Druid can use a Scimitar, a Cleric can't.

Something else I was just thinking of though - a Ranger has to be Good, a Druid has to be True Neutral ... so how could they be a valid multi-class by D&D rules?