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I just wonder what everybody else thinks of multiclassed characters. I'm playing this game for the first time (with Trials of the Luremaster installed) and have 4 multiclassed characters in a six character party.

I have:

Human Paladin
Half-Elf Bard
Gnome Ftr/Illusionist
Half-Elf Ftr/Druid
Dwarf Ftr/Cleric
Elf Ftr/Thief

I kinda wish I played the Ftr/Thief as a F/M/T, but OTOH I haven't had any extra scrolls in this game, and the advancement is slow enough with these guys.

I think Multi's are great.. I have some in every party. If I were you I would make the illusionist a mage, because they can cast illusion spells. Also I might think about, (if I were you), a ranger instead of a fighter as one charactor. I try to get every charactor I can into the game at least once.
Have you outrun this game before.

I've never made it past chapter 1.

I don't think a Ranger really suits my party, though.

Two reasons I chose Illusionist:

1)Gnomes are cool (great helmet for them, awesome saving throw bonuses)
2)Illusionist is better than mage when multiclassing, since you get a bonus spell per level.

Hmmm....depends on the class of course....

Fighter/Mage or Rogue/Fighter are quite interesting combinations, especially since you are going to find some nice stuff in the Severed Hand for Fighter/Mages ( Armor that allows you to use spells too for example ). I wouldn't do that with clerics or druids though, more spells are worth a single class....

Multiclassing thiefs is probably the best option as the class is otherwise weak and you quickly put the maximum points in their available skills.
Combining with Fighter or Cleric increases their versatility.

Multiclasses are great.

I see a distinct resemblance between your party and my best party to date. You'll be quite happy with it - just give it a bit of time to grow into it's strength. Can't beat power AND versatility.

KrunchyFrogg, you said when multi-classing, you get bonus spell levels. How does that work with illusionist or any other? If I may so ask?

I meant that since Gnomes are the only multiclassed specialist mages, and since specialist mages get a bonus spell per level, that extra spell helps offset the fewer spells a multiclassed spellcaster would otherwise be able to cast.

For instance, a gnome illusionist/thief will be able to cast more spells per day than an elf mage/thief of the same level.

Multiclass

Cleric/Ranger is a multiclass combination that works well. The only disadvantage to multiclass characters are the experience requirements. I've finished the game a few times with different parties. The benefit to a multiclass character is the damage bonus you will receive at 2 specialization points if the multiclass has a fighter class as part of the multiclass(Ranger or Fighter). I had a party with two fighters fully specialized in one weapon, and they definitely were effective in close combat. In Icewind Dale, you'll only get two levels of separation at the end between "pure" and multiclass characters. I've tried both, and they each have advantages/disadvantages.

Normally It Is Best To Stay With The Same Class!

Please refrain from posting in caps. Thank you.

~Brynn

Do fighter/mage typ chars really work...? I mean, isn't it a bit frustratin gto swap armor any time you want to cast a spell, and then put it on again and keep fighting... This is just lame, never worked for me. :speech:

Brynn, you've got to rely on spells to buff you and magical trinkets for armor.

There are enough suits of Elven Chain, Shields, Robes, Bracers, Rings, Cloaks, Boots, Stoneskins and Mirror Images to keep a F/M safe. Plus, you're best protected using a bow, sling, or throwing axe or dagger! If they can get close enough to hurt you, you're doing something right!

A higher level "battle mage" (say a F[13]/Mage[x]) will have some very good robes by the time you want to take it into melee combat. No armor switching needed. You really only need to do the switching until you get a suit of elven chain; if you are using a dual class F/M, you won't have spell capability at that point anyway.

It depends on what you want. Single class Fighters devoted to one weapon type do more damage than multiclass Fighters do. I've played parties with only 'pure' single class characters and also multiclass characters. Single class emphasizes specialization whereas multiclass emphasizes flexibility. I'm fairly sure that the only characters stuck with a single class are Bards and Paladins. However, don't forget that you can have options for dual class characters which makes this discussion a bit more complicated.

I like Multi classing

I like to multi class but I usually only do so for two of the six. IWD even with the HOW and TotL expansions is much better for single class characters (IMHO). The one class I always have as a multi is thief. Thieves advance so quickly even multiclassed that in IWD and its expansions there really is no need for a single class thief. I usually like to have either a gnome or halfling fighter/thief so they can use that fantastic helm only usable by those races (+3 to AC I believe) that Conlon sells. Even the plain vanilla fighter side rises decently. A gnome fighter thief will probably have the best AC in the party if you have that helm. Another combo that I like (agree wholeheartedly with DaveO) is Ranger/Cleric. The ranger side brings druid spells into play for the cleric side at the same point a druid would have them. So at first level I had entangle available without having to have a druid. A straight ranger wouldn't have it until around 8th or 9th level, not as useful by then. My favorite IWD party had a Paladin, Cleric, Mage, Fighter, Ranger/Cleric, Fighter/Thief. I just tried dual classing, but like it so far. My dual Fighter/Mage is only a level and a half behind my single class mage and is death on wheels. Kaylessa's armor or any elven chain from the Hand of the Seldarine is the perfect thing for either a multi or dual classed fighter-mage. They can still cast spells while wearing that armor. No need to change.

Slight correction

If you have HoW, a ranger/cleric will only gain access to druid spells at the same rate it would as a ranger. E.g. the R/C will have to wait until lvl 6 to be offered the option of memorizing lvl 1 druid spells and until lvl 9 (iirc) to be offered lvl 2 druid spells. This was not the case in vanilla IWD, which did allow a R/C to have access to druid spells at the same rate as access to cleric spells.

I tend to play on higher difficulty levels (2 HoF games going right now, including one started with lvl 1 characters), so the XP hit for multiclassing doesn't bother me. I'd much rather have each character be able to do 3-4 things quite well than to have characters only be able to do 1-2 things very well.

For those interested, the HoF from scratch party consists of Paladin, Ranger/Cleric, Fighter/Druid, Fighter/Mage, Fighter/Thief, and Bard. All four two-class characters are multiclassed. If you get enough XP, a multiclass will eventually become better than even a relatively high level (10+) dual class in most respects (the exception is melee weapons because a dc fighter can get grandmaster {5 stars} while a multiclass can only get specialization {2 stars}). The bard is strictly a singer and spellcaster.