should i dual-class or multi-class
i am planning on playing bg1+bg2+tob over again for the fourth time.(bg2 3times, tob once and bg1 once,tosc never, but i started the games many times with different characters but i got always stuck in the beginning at the game because i am a perfectionist when it comes to chosing npc's).
I always played good, this time i wanted to play with the chars i loved the most, but then it would be a mixed party, and it doesn't seems right somehow.
And i never played the game with an evil party, so i decided to go evil.
so here is my party: fighter/thief multi or fighter/thief/dual or assassin
Korgan
Sarevok
Viconia
Edwin
I think i will go with the sword angarvadul at the end of the game and in soa with celestial fury.
My main attack will be backstabbing
Any suggestions? Or tips? WHich class is the most efficient?Which class does the most damage with backstab?
What about those hla's and equipment?
fighter/thief multi or dual or assassin
if backstabbing is your main attack then i would recommend the assassin kit. if you are going to dual, you'll have to dual late to get the extra backstab multiplier (which is SO worth it). personally i'd stick with the kit, unless you dual to a mage (mislead cheese 
)
equipment:
SoA - shadow dragon armour
boots of speed
celestial fury
gesen/tuigan bow (for when you're not backstabbing)
ring of gaxx
sandman's ring
green ioun stone (the THAC0 one)
gauntlets of weapon expertise
cloak of non-detection (how the heck did i miss this?? thanks mirk)
)equipment:
SoA - shadow dragon armour
boots of speed
celestial fury
gesen/tuigan bow (for when you're not backstabbing)
ring of gaxx
sandman's ring
green ioun stone (the THAC0 one)
gauntlets of weapon expertise
cloak of non-detection (how the heck did i miss this?? thanks mirk)
here's my 2cp (maybe longish, since i like the warrior/rogue combination and have explored it a little bit):
1st, if you haven't done so already, I heartly encourage you to run a search on this board for "assassin", "fighter", "thief", "backstab" - you'll come up with numerous threads discussing this issue, and benefit from the wisdom of people that are no longer visiting this board... ah, the nostalgia...
here's what i think:
multy ftr/thief - you get to be the balanced rogue/warriror from the start, and you progress as a balanced char all the way through the game. both your you fighter and thief abilities advance - at the proper rate, without you being in dire need your party babysitting you. You get the elven 19 Dex (and you WANT to be an elf for it, right?). you get both fighter and thief HLAs, and you get them earlier than the dual-classed classes, allowing for some INSANELY powerfull combos (time trap + wirlwind attack... you get the picture!).
other races will do not too shabby too (dwarves especially). your choice.
the downside is the slightly less powerfull backstab. but it will be still enough for the "one-swing-one-kill" tactic used on the more problematic enemies (read: mages) we thief-lovers all SO love to employ
this one is probably the most well-rounded combo af all.
dual-class ftr/thief - you have to be human fo this one. this can be a pro or a con - it's up to you (i, for one, don't like the human chainmail avatar, and some of the good thief armours are chainmails). consider the +/- to the abilities, also.
one thing to notice here are the kits - why be a regular fighter, when you can be a wizardslayer/beserker/kensai? each one provides interesting bonuses to the dual-class:
wizardslayer: some MR never hurts, and UAI plainly removes the only hindarnace the kit provides. plus, you get the non-disruptable CUMULATIVE Miscast Magic, THAT WORKS THROUGH STONESKIN! that means that after ONE round (if you did 5 hits on the mage, which is not that hard...) your opponent will be standing there, waiting for his stoneskin to expire... after that, you can hit him with a toothpick... still, a bit too specialised for me.
beserker: an exellent rage will help you do better damage and defend yourself from almost everything... not bad! (you won't be using much missile weapons, though).
kensai: pure damage. the best MAXED OUT (by the Kai) backstab damage of the dual- and multi-classed combos. the cheesy UAI eliminates this one's hindernace too. but he will be obseenly powerfull even if you don't use armor. VERY in character with the katana theme... (besides, i don't like the elven avatar with a katana. it looks as though the char is too short to weild this one). the kensai-thief is my personnal favorite.
when to dual-class? IMHO, level 13. this is the point where the fighter class has achieved it's main benefit - 5/2 attacks with a weapon you have ** or more in. I wouild feal I missed something if I'd done it earlier, and waiting for later bonuses means waiting longer for getting the fighter abilities back.
EDIT: just remembered, a dual-classing tip: after you dual-class, get your thief to the _LOWEST_ LEVEL YOU CAN LIVE WITH for a while. (i once did it with a Kensai 13/thief 3!). your friends will babysit you for this time. then, when you have enough XP for Fighter X / thief X+1, level up. This way you don't have to waist proficiency points on weapons you are not going to use, but instead invest them in the weapon of your choice (or two). It is quite possible to get your char to Grandmastery in 2 weapons and ** in a weapon-style by the time he has regained his fighter abilities. For level 1 thief i usually get * Dagger, * 1- handed style, and use the throwing bumerang daggers for a while. (you get 2 attacks with them even when you use them as a melee weapon).
assassin - this one will be able to do the most damaging backstab of them all. he will not be as reliable in hitting the target up untill later in the game, and he will be _much_ more fragile in combat. i played an assassin through the game once, but i liked the other classes better.
another option for you to consider is the stalker - even his x4 backstab will do well enough damage to put out that unsuspecting SPECIAL ROBED GUY STANDING BEHIND HIS LOYAL FIGHTER BUDDIES... and he'll get the almost pure fightrt levels progression.all in all, a very solid char. and between us, ** in a eapon is all a backstabber really NEEDS... no go if you're evil, though.
equipment:
the MOST IMPORTANT ITEM for main character if he is a warrior/rogue type is, IMHO ... drum roll ... no, not the uber-backstabbing weapon. it's a plain cloak you get just after you enter Athkatla - the Cloak of Non-Detection. The reason for this is simple - while wearing this cloak and hiding in shadows, True Sight does not reveal you. you understand what this means... yep, "one-swing-one-kill... of a neurotically TrueSighting mage".
you are your partie's scout and "behind enmy lines (literally) specialist". you CANNOT allow youself to be detected. not before you have gathered intelligence, prepared your troups and positioned yourself for the kill. if you feal you can, maybe you should consider playing another class .
note: (spoiler) if you have completed Jaheira's Harper plot, with or without romance, you will get an amulet that will provide non-detection - utterly useless to Jaheira herself. you can wear it with UAI. it's not that out-of character story-wise, I think. (end spoiler)
the second most important item are Boots of Speed. they complement the scout/startegic backstabber role just like no other pice of footware. the extra 1/2 attack they grant is nothing to complain about, either.
main weapon: whatever you like. many good choices here, from daggers to greatswords. note that you DON'T have to continue to fight with the weapon you started the fight (backstabbed) with. Out of my many Kensai-Thieves, the one doing the most damage on a backstab, would use Staff of the Ram for a backsta... ahem... for a backstump (?), 99.9% killing the boss enemy, and then switch to the Silver Blade to clean up the flour. the same goes for one-handed or duel-weilding: backstab with the Celestal Fury -> slow your enmies to a stupor with the Flail of Ages, or decapitate them with the Axe of the Uneyelding.
off-hand (if 2-weilding): in general, use a weapon that adds extra attack (Belm, Kundane, Scarlet Ninja-To - with UAI). The extra attack, added to the MAIN HAND, is always better. Use these weapons even if you don't have proficiency in that weapon type.
in specific situations, a protection/bonus the weapon provides can be more useful than an extra attack. good choices are The Equaliser, Dragonslayer, Arbane, Blackrazor, Crom Frayer, Defender of Easthaven (especially if combined with Jan's armor) are all good choices. Use according to enemy type / ypur partie's spell situation.
armour: your choice. i really liked Valigar's. good protection, bonuses, etc. You can use it WITHOUT UAI with some ofthe combos, if your stats are equal or better than Valigar's. other good choices are Shadow Dragon Armor, Aeger's Hide, White Dragon Scale. Armor, too, shlould be switched according to situation.
other than that, get what you like/need. don't be afraid to switch equipment according to situation. here's couple of my favorites:
Belt of Internal Barrier, Gauntlets of Weapon Spec., Amulet of the Master, Helmet of Defence, Helmet of Charm Protection, Ring of Gaxx (naturally!), Ring of Free Action... but use what you have/like.
phew, that was long...
hope it helps
1st, if you haven't done so already, I heartly encourage you to run a search on this board for "assassin", "fighter", "thief", "backstab" - you'll come up with numerous threads discussing this issue, and benefit from the wisdom of people that are no longer visiting this board... ah, the nostalgia...
here's what i think:
multy ftr/thief - you get to be the balanced rogue/warriror from the start, and you progress as a balanced char all the way through the game. both your you fighter and thief abilities advance - at the proper rate, without you being in dire need your party babysitting you. You get the elven 19 Dex (and you WANT to be an elf for it, right?). you get both fighter and thief HLAs, and you get them earlier than the dual-classed classes, allowing for some INSANELY powerfull combos (time trap + wirlwind attack... you get the picture!).
other races will do not too shabby too (dwarves especially). your choice.
the downside is the slightly less powerfull backstab. but it will be still enough for the "one-swing-one-kill" tactic used on the more problematic enemies (read: mages) we thief-lovers all SO love to employ
this one is probably the most well-rounded combo af all.
dual-class ftr/thief - you have to be human fo this one. this can be a pro or a con - it's up to you (i, for one, don't like the human chainmail avatar, and some of the good thief armours are chainmails). consider the +/- to the abilities, also.
one thing to notice here are the kits - why be a regular fighter, when you can be a wizardslayer/beserker/kensai? each one provides interesting bonuses to the dual-class:
wizardslayer: some MR never hurts, and UAI plainly removes the only hindarnace the kit provides. plus, you get the non-disruptable CUMULATIVE Miscast Magic, THAT WORKS THROUGH STONESKIN! that means that after ONE round (if you did 5 hits on the mage, which is not that hard...) your opponent will be standing there, waiting for his stoneskin to expire... after that, you can hit him with a toothpick... still, a bit too specialised for me.
beserker: an exellent rage will help you do better damage and defend yourself from almost everything... not bad! (you won't be using much missile weapons, though).
kensai: pure damage. the best MAXED OUT (by the Kai) backstab damage of the dual- and multi-classed combos. the cheesy UAI eliminates this one's hindernace too. but he will be obseenly powerfull even if you don't use armor. VERY in character with the katana theme... (besides, i don't like the elven avatar with a katana. it looks as though the char is too short to weild this one). the kensai-thief is my personnal favorite.
when to dual-class? IMHO, level 13. this is the point where the fighter class has achieved it's main benefit - 5/2 attacks with a weapon you have ** or more in. I wouild feal I missed something if I'd done it earlier, and waiting for later bonuses means waiting longer for getting the fighter abilities back.
EDIT: just remembered, a dual-classing tip: after you dual-class, get your thief to the _LOWEST_ LEVEL YOU CAN LIVE WITH for a while. (i once did it with a Kensai 13/thief 3!). your friends will babysit you for this time. then, when you have enough XP for Fighter X / thief X+1, level up. This way you don't have to waist proficiency points on weapons you are not going to use, but instead invest them in the weapon of your choice (or two). It is quite possible to get your char to Grandmastery in 2 weapons and ** in a weapon-style by the time he has regained his fighter abilities. For level 1 thief i usually get * Dagger, * 1- handed style, and use the throwing bumerang daggers for a while. (you get 2 attacks with them even when you use them as a melee weapon).
assassin - this one will be able to do the most damaging backstab of them all. he will not be as reliable in hitting the target up untill later in the game, and he will be _much_ more fragile in combat. i played an assassin through the game once, but i liked the other classes better.
another option for you to consider is the stalker - even his x4 backstab will do well enough damage to put out that unsuspecting SPECIAL ROBED GUY STANDING BEHIND HIS LOYAL FIGHTER BUDDIES... and he'll get the almost pure fightrt levels progression.all in all, a very solid char. and between us, ** in a eapon is all a backstabber really NEEDS... no go if you're evil, though.
equipment:
the MOST IMPORTANT ITEM for main character if he is a warrior/rogue type is, IMHO ... drum roll ... no, not the uber-backstabbing weapon. it's a plain cloak you get just after you enter Athkatla - the Cloak of Non-Detection. The reason for this is simple - while wearing this cloak and hiding in shadows, True Sight does not reveal you. you understand what this means... yep, "one-swing-one-kill... of a neurotically TrueSighting mage".
you are your partie's scout and "behind enmy lines (literally) specialist". you CANNOT allow youself to be detected. not before you have gathered intelligence, prepared your troups and positioned yourself for the kill. if you feal you can, maybe you should consider playing another class
. note: (spoiler) if you have completed Jaheira's Harper plot, with or without romance, you will get an amulet that will provide non-detection - utterly useless to Jaheira herself. you can wear it with UAI. it's not that out-of character story-wise, I think. (end spoiler)
the second most important item are Boots of Speed. they complement the scout/startegic backstabber role just like no other pice of footware. the extra 1/2 attack they grant is nothing to complain about, either.
main weapon: whatever you like. many good choices here, from daggers to greatswords. note that you DON'T have to continue to fight with the weapon you started the fight (backstabbed) with. Out of my many Kensai-Thieves, the one doing the most damage on a backstab, would use Staff of the Ram for a backsta... ahem... for a backstump (?), 99.9% killing the boss enemy, and then switch to the Silver Blade to clean up the flour. the same goes for one-handed or duel-weilding: backstab with the Celestal Fury -> slow your enmies to a stupor with the Flail of Ages, or decapitate them with the Axe of the Uneyelding.
off-hand (if 2-weilding): in general, use a weapon that adds extra attack (Belm, Kundane, Scarlet Ninja-To - with UAI). The extra attack, added to the MAIN HAND, is always better. Use these weapons even if you don't have proficiency in that weapon type.
in specific situations, a protection/bonus the weapon provides can be more useful than an extra attack. good choices are The Equaliser, Dragonslayer, Arbane, Blackrazor, Crom Frayer, Defender of Easthaven (especially if combined with Jan's armor) are all good choices. Use according to enemy type / ypur partie's spell situation.
armour: your choice. i really liked Valigar's. good protection, bonuses, etc. You can use it WITHOUT UAI with some ofthe combos, if your stats are equal or better than Valigar's. other good choices are Shadow Dragon Armor, Aeger's Hide, White Dragon Scale. Armor, too, shlould be switched according to situation.
other than that, get what you like/need. don't be afraid to switch equipment according to situation. here's couple of my favorites:
Belt of Internal Barrier, Gauntlets of Weapon Spec., Amulet of the Master, Helmet of Defence, Helmet of Charm Protection, Ring of Gaxx (naturally!), Ring of Free Action... but use what you have/like.
phew, that was long...
hope it helps
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Coconut_Crab
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moltovir
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With any of these kits, i would use the Human Flesh armor instead of the Shadow Dragon leather (especially if you upgrade it with Item Upgrade mod!) It gives a nice 20% MR and a saving throws bonus of 4. You'll have to kill a fairly strong dragon and be evil to get it, but it's worth it, if compared to 50% acid resistance.
"We are at a very serious moment dealing with very serious issues and we are not focusing on the name you give to potatoes" - Nathalie Loisau