Multi classing... Why?

mitsuharu · Post by **mitsuharu** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 2:34 am

What is the point in multi classing?

When I started I thought, hell, won't it be a good idea to be a half-elf mage/fighter/thief? I get gold from the thief strength from the fighter and magic from the wizard! I'm a whole party alone! Hooray!

Now at the bandit camp I am still level 1. I still have a health of 7 and goblins still kill me. If I was a fighter this wouldn't have happened.

AND I have ankheg armour so I can't even use magic or thief skills so I just ruined a whole game.

Anyone disagree? Or agree? Please help me out so I don't have to do candlekeep AGAIN!!!

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:46 am

I agree for the most part. Multi-classing in BGI does weaken the character a lot. If you stick with it though and have a good party that can eventually compensate.

Multi-classing into three classes is pointless in BGI IMO. That cripples the character.

With that particular class in BGII, I just held several armours for that character, the highest AC for Fighters and one for Thieves plus a robe when there was a good one. That could probably apply for BGI too.

Of course, reducing the amount of people in the party increases the amount of XP the other people get but you'll suffer the consequence of finding combat a lot harder.

Stilgar · Post by **Stilgar** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 4:07 am

Multiclassing has a big downside you have noticed.
Your experience is devided among the classes, so you are usually 1 (2 in case of 3classes multi-class) level behind a singleclass.

But it has some great advantages.
A fighter/thief for example, can wield weapons like a fighter, but still has acces to thieving ability's. And since, the character has a better thac0 backstabbing will be more effective.

A fighter/mage can be nice in BG1 to, since you will run out of spells fast, and this character can use a bow.

Or the mage/cleric, the ultimate spellcaster.

These are just some small examples, experiment and see waht you like.

But I agree, a f/m/t is just to much of a good thing. In Baldur's Gate 2 it's an ok class for soloing, but I think to hard in BG1.

mitsuharu · Post by **mitsuharu** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 9:21 am

The big problem is if you take a tiny little party so you get more xp you lose out on fighting 'cos you don't have so many people.

I'd be smeared all over the walls with out Khalid

still, I think the only good multi-classer has to be the mage/cleric as stilgar said! Like the winged elf girlie from BGII! Not much arm to her but hell, she could cast a spell or two!

My character's crap though. As I said I don't even benefit from the extras cos I wear heavy armour!!!!

FireLighter · Post by **FireLighter** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:49 pm

I solod a F/M/T through BG up to the cloakwood mines, after that it just got too hard and I quit. But yeah, it is possible to solo since you will have access to better spells earlier and more hit points +gold since you wont be spending it on gear for a group. It may seem hard, but if you cut back on the # of people in your party itll make it easier.

Coot · Post by **Coot** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:22 pm

IMHO the F/M/T was just designed for soloing. He's almost obsolete in almost any party. Other multiclasses can become quite powerful, like the ranger/cleric, fighter/cleric fighter/thief or mage/cleric.

FireLighter · Post by **FireLighter** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:23 pm

Yeah, F/M/T is useless unless you are soloing, as you level up too slowly.

krunchyfrogg · Post by **krunchyfrogg** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:05 pm

I wouldn't say a FMT is useless unless soloing, but it is a hard class to get off the ground.

In the low level world of BGI, you're much better off playing a character with only two classes. Some people will only play single-classed characters, but my personal preference is a multiclassed character with only two classes.

Try a Cleric/Ranger. You can wear any armor and still have your spells. Remember, BGI is all about teamwork, and there are plenty of NPCs out there to help balance out your party.

dj_venom · Post by **dj_venom** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 2:22 am

But also, I found that I maxed out my exp extremely early in BGI. That might just be me, because I tend to get as much as possible, but I maxed out a party of 6 before Cloakwood. As such, in BGI, I'd defintely say stack your party unless you are looking for a challenge/theme.

mitsuharu · Post by **mitsuharu** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:17 am

still dead on the bandit camp though....

Help? Without starting the game over?

VonDondu · Post by **VonDondu** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:41 am

You have several options. First of all, you can replace your main character by copying your saved game to the multiplayer saved game folder and starting a multiplayer game with a new character. You can import a character that already has a few levels if you want to. (You can copy your saved game back to the singleplayer saved game folder if you prefer to play in singleplayer mode.)

Second option: stop what you are doing, take your character somewhere else, and regroup. Recruit some more NPCs to help you. Get new armor, weapon, and spells. Load up on potions and wands. Get more experience in other areas (I don't know why you're only 1st level). I don't think there's any time limit. Whenever you're ready, you can storm the bandit camp headquarters and get what you need.

Finally, you can cheat. I neither encourage it nor discourage it. Some people think that finishing a game and then importing the old 7th Level character into a new game isn't cheating (since the character was developed in the honest, old-fashioned way), but personally, I would edit a character before I did that. It's up to you. It's easy to give your character more experience so he'll be more powerful. Maybe that's all you need.

spooky2 · Post by **spooky2** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:48 am

I say cleric/mage rock. Its very dificult at the begining but later on superb.
First you must have a decent company (thief, 2x fighter). Play slow max the expirience. I am still at chapeter 3 (cleric/mage level 3/3). I will go to bandit camp only after I do all the maps south of Beregost.

Rav · Post by **Rav** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 7:56 am

I'd say you should drop a class from your character by using an editor. I suggest you drop mage. For the editor, use Gatekeeper. Then you would have a F/T, which works jsut fine. I then suggest you get the Shadow armor from the Thunderhammer smithy in Beregost.

edit: also, explore some wilderness maps before you tackle the bandit camp to gain some xp.

Rav

mitsuharu · Post by **mitsuharu** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:02 am

Finally, you can cheat.

me? Cheat? Never... Well... rarely.

I don't know why you're only 1st level

ah, well, my party is a big one, and has several other multiclassers so my whole party is low level, exept Khalid, who is about 3 levels ahead of, well, everyone!

Well, overall looks like everyone thinks I should scrap the character. Damn.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 10:05 am

[QUOTE=mitsuharu]Well, overall looks like everyone thinks I should scrap the character. Damn.[/QUOTE]

No, it's up to you. You can win with any combination of party members, in any number. Having a greater challenge is often fun, in a game that's relatively easy to beat.

mitsuharu · Post by **mitsuharu** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 11:05 am

nah, I've just given up, but thanks to my wise choice of money and spending at candlekeep I have chainmail, a flail (I specialise) and a bow, and a helm, and loads of arrows!!! Oh, and a tower shield!

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 12:11 pm

Remember there is a way not to attack all of the camp at the same time (which is very difficult even for a single-classed character). Exploring the areas close to the Camp opens up the option.

Squee · Post by **Squee** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 5:48 am

Well, to fighter/thief is one of the best classes inte the game, if not THE best! I mean, he's a thief with better thaco, better damage, more health, more weapons, but he gains less thief skill points. But just max stealth with shadow boots, shadow armor and spend the rest into disarm traps and lockpicking.

This char is an extreme stealth-bomber, when you have 24 strenght (potion), and gauntlets of weapon expertise, and shortsword of backstabbing, your backstab deal around 50 damage, with one hit!!! Then just get lots of invisiblility potions or use the mage spell. I had a party of 6, but I killed Sarevok and his entire party with my PC alone, they didnt stand a chance.

CaptRory · Post by **CaptRory** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:43 am

You can compensate for the slow xp gain of multi-classed characters by spending some time clearing out the areas south of the bandit camp. If you know where to go you can earn thousands of xp points with a little work and a little luck. AR3600 (Lighthouse) has Sirens that can be killed for 2,000xp apiece. Make sure everyone has plenty of ranged weapon ammunition. You don't need to root the Sirens in place either. The Temple has some Vampiric Wolves worth 2,000xp apiece. Make sure you have magical ammunition before the battle though. Combine magic ranged attacks with Entangle for an easy win. You do not want to melee those wolves at low level.

Rhûn · Post by **Rhûn** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:20 am

[QUOTE=Squee]Well, to fighter/thief is one of the best classes inte the game, if not THE best! I mean, he's a thief with better thaco, better damage, more health, more weapons, but he gains less thief skill points. But just max stealth with shadow boots, shadow armor and spend the rest into disarm traps and lockpicking.

This char is an extreme stealth-bomber, when you have 24 strenght (potion), and gauntlets of weapon expertise, and shortsword of backstabbing, your backstab deal around 50 damage, with one hit!!! Then just get lots of invisiblility potions or use the mage spell. I had a party of 6, but I killed Sarevok and his entire party with my PC alone, they didnt stand a chance.[/QUOTE]
Hmm my fighter/thief backstabbed at 108 highest hit.