I dont really understand how or when to duel class.
I started the game as a Kensai, and i want to duel class to a mage, but when should I ? early, later on ? Also, once I level the mage past the level of the Kensai will i become a multi class type, or will i only be a mage with kensai powers up to its lvl ?

Thanks alot

most people say do it at level 13. this gives you better saving throws, and an extra 1/2 attack per round.

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Lansadar:
Also, once I level the mage past the level of the Kensai will i become a multi class type, or will i only be a mage with kensai powers up to its lvl ?<hr></blockquote>

The latter. The first class won't improve after you dual, so if you dual at, say, kensai level 13, your kensai level will stay 13 no matter what mage level you attain.

Ok, so i duel class a fighter at lvl 13, to a mage, when the mage hits lvl 14, he can do everything a fighter can do, hack and slash, as well ass cast spells waring armor and the sort ?

No. The restrictions that apply to Multi-Classed characters apply to Dual-Classed ones. So a Fighter/Mage of either Multi or Dual-Class CANNOT cast spells whilst wearing armour (all though he/she can wear armour, but at a penalty of not being able to cast). This is why Kensai is a good one to dual from, no armor. Also Cleric/Thief cannot use thief skills whilst wearing full plate, plate, splint or mail armour, he/she can wear full plate but not use thief skills at the same time. And a .....

.....you get the idea!

Once you have surpassed level 14, you will gain all your fighters previous abilities (THAC0, saves, proficiencies etc), and will be able to use any equipment that a fighter can use, however, to use your mages abilities (i.e. cast spells) you cannot wear armour (later in the game, you can aquire some that will allow you to cast spells whilst wearing it, but anything other than elven chain mail will not allow you to cast spells).

I prefer to dual-class (with a fighter as primary) immediately at the beginning for the following reasons:
1.) You regain your abilities at the end of chapter I
2.) You can use the proficiencies you get at lvl 8 to obtain
grand mastery in your weapon of choice and ++ in your favourite weapon style.
3.) Because of 1.) you'll play the game as a straight char with very nice fighting abilities for your class.

I recommend to always dual, if you want to play a mage, because that allows you to wear ElvenChain and Helmets (no casting restrictions)

Thanks guys, ton's of help !

Hi Lansader!

It depends on why you're dual-classing. If you want to be a Mage who can use swords, shields and helmets, dual early. If you want to be a kick-butt fighter who then goes on to be a great mage, dual late. In my opinion, it's better to be multi than dual if you want to excel in both classes.

Of course, being a Kensai means you won't ever be able to use shields or helmets ... so a bad choice from my perspective. Power Gamers (tm) love this combo, though.

My favorite dual-class combo is: Priest of Helm -> Mage. You get some very nice back-up healing powers, free True Sight, that silly sword power, and you can wear helmets and use shields. Also, you get a better selection of weapons: there are some very nice maces, flails and hammers in the game. As a back-up healer, you ought to be able to cast Lesser Restoration at least once per day --- this is very helpful if your main cleric gets severely level-drained.

-- Nifft

A question that falls into this Category:

I am soloing and I wanted to Dual a Barbarian with at theif but that is not possible so I chose a Berzerker and dualed at level 13, and am now catching up. Should I have waited to Dual as there is something that I get from Lvl 14 Berzerker that I wouldn't get from Lvl 13. Like the Kensai extra attack from 12/13?

Just curious as there are a lot more knowledgable people here than elsewhere.

Thanks,

I'd recommend making the jump at level 9 instead. Waiting until level 13 will make it take forever to use both classes abilities, and won't undercut your mage ceiling level by too much.

I gotta say this Kensai-->Theif combo is going to be powerful. Almost too much so. I just surpased my Kensai level and was happy to be able to put another proficiency in Katana to get to Grand Mastery. Now I can hide and backstab with fury.

wow... I hadn't really thought of a Kensai-Thief, but that has some great possibilities, especially for someone looking to assemble an evil party.

I would recommend dualling your kensai when you reach level 12, as you get several bonuses:

- Additional 'kai' ability per day
- +1 to hit, +1 to damage
- -1 to Speed factor

I dualled to a mage, and although it wasn't easy, I managed to get through to level 13 (close to 15 now), and got all of my fighting skills back. There is quite a lot of 'cheap' experience available that requires little/no combat (Paladin and orphaned girl, Wellyn, Cover-up for Jan). If you dual to a mage, you will gain 8-9 levels JUST from reading all of the scrolls you've found! Also, what I did was to 'cache' experience-I performed all of the actions required to do a quest as a kensai, but I waited until I had dualled to collect the exp-eg Circus Tent, Neb's head, Sir Sarles etc).

I found that the Trademeet quests were challenging as a Mage only, but not impossible. Also, I sided with Bodhi, so I didn't have to face vampires without Neg Plane Protection and no fighting skills-Clearing out the Shadow Thieves with Spells was fun!

If you dual to a mage, you can always dump everyone at the Copper Coronet and proceed to scribe a bunch of scrolls. You can also erase spells you've learned and re-scribe them if you have multiple copies of the same scroll.

Add everyone back to the party after you're done.

Cheap, but a quick way to make the first couple levels.