My question is Im thinking of starting my main character as one of these three Necromancer, Sorcerer, or a cleric dualed to mage at 9th level. I like the hps and extras of a cleric dualled to mage but a sorcerer and necromancer look like they maybe better spellcasters in the end. If you could from your experience which way should I go. Also if i choose the cleric kits what ones do you like best and why. Thanks I know i asked a lot in one post and appreciate it.

Well, when I play a Cleric/Mage, I like being a Priest of Helm because of the free True Sight abilities. I find them the most usefull free ability given all the invisible creatures you have to face. I usually take that char high enough to get a sixth level spell, or a seventh level spell. (level 12 and 14 I think), later when you dual to a mage and get spells like Contigency, Chain-Contingency, Spell Sequencer & Trigger you can really do quite a bit more by having spells like Heal, Restoration and Remove Paralysis for examples cast upon you when you are wounded or helpless. Basically if you choose the dual Cleric/Mage path I suggest not to dual until you at least get a 6th level spell.

I'm not fond of sorcerers but many people like that class. I like having plenty of spells in my book to play with...plus the XP you get for scribing scrolls is a bonus.

In short, you really can't go wrong with any of those classes. Oh and, welcome to the Ironworks Forums. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: Jerhal ]</p>

Don't be a sorcerer, the fact that they cannot learn scrolls makes them next to useless as spellcasters in my opinion. A dualled cleric to mage would be fine, but I would reccomend waiting until level 11 before dualling, and the downside of this is your mage will not be able to reach high level spells. The necromancer is probably the best route to go, for sheer spellcasting power at least.

PS. I am not experienced, but I thought I'd answer this anyway. ;)

What sorcerers lack in flexibility, they more than make up for with power. Although you get fewer spells, you can cast them more frequently. Not gaining that little extra from the scrolls is the only drawback (IMO), but if you have another mage party member it doesn't matter.

Hello and welcome, Jarlax!

Sorcerers are lots of fun and can be the most powerful characters in the game, BUT only for players who know the D&D magic system inside and out. If you're inexperienced, I recommend multi-class Fighter/Mages, or Conjurers, or Fighters dualed to plain Mages --- Berserkers make good Mage kindling.

Clerics: the Priest of Helm has the best special abilities (True Sight totally rocks, and frees up your 5th level spell slot for something else), but Priests of Helm must be neutral, and I think that good priests get a bonus when turning undead. Priests of Lathander are nice; nothing special IMHO. Priests of Talos are underrated because few people appreciate the joy of lightning. All priests (and Druids, of course) have access to the spell Protection from Lightning. That spell allows you to throw bolts with impunity, and having a rebounding bolt of lightning in a confined space will quickly destroy even the toughest non-immune foe --- including the big baddies, like Dragons. But even granted that, Priests of Helm are better.

Priest dualed to Mage can be great. You get better weapon selection and you can wear a shield and helmet.

Be sure to let us know what you decide on and how it goes!

-- Nifft

personally, i dont feel that the difference in scribing spells is any better for your experience. sure, you get few extra experience, but even soloing, it doesnt give you enough experience to change anything. sure, maybe at lower levels you MIGHT be able to gain a level or two when you solo, but throw in extra party members, and scribing isnt worth it. sorcerors start out able to cast something like five first, second level spells, and like four third level spells. once you get to level eight, you can get stoneskin or whatever you want for a fourth level spell at NO cost to you, plus you can cast it three or four time right off the bat without resting to rememorize it. IMHO sorcerors are gods in this game. if you pick the right spells to learn you can defeat any obstacle thrown at you usually without much effort. also the fact that when you solo, once you reach higher levels(which happens fast when soloing) you STILL have to wait until later in the game to get cool spells like abi-dalzims and the like, if you use a straight mage that is. however, if you use a sorceror you have IMEDIATE access to those spells and when you do find that scroll, your sorceror can still use them (very usefull IF spells start to run low). i say play with what you like. its not like you rented the game or anything. if you dont like how one character plays or turns out, just stop, start over, and pick a new class or better version of the one you were playing. i didnt like barbarians at first, but they are easily my favorite fighter type in BG2 now. i laugh at kangaxx when he tried to imprison me. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! anyway, just have fun is my response, regardless of how long winded it is, [img]smile.gif[/img]

[img]graemlins/mage1.gif[/img]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by melancholic_goat:
Don't be a sorcerer, the fact that they cannot learn scrolls makes them next to useless as spellcasters in my opinion. <hr></blockquote>

.......What?!?

Just flip through the manual. Go to the Wizard spells section and pick any page. How many spells on that page do you use regularly? I flipped and got Luck(never used) Know alignment(never used) Mirror Image (used a million times) Melf's Acid (maybe only half a million times) knock (never used unless soloing) invisibility(never used, wait for improved).

I sure I will get people who write "but I use know alignment all the time, it works on so-and-so", but the point is the book is filled with useless to seldom used spells. Yet every level has those 4 or 5 good ones that you use all the time, but can't predict when you will need them during memorizing each rest. That's why sorcerers are so damn good, all your spells are always ready for you.

And I can live without Luck/Know Alignment/etc.

@Jarlax, hi. I've played through five times. I can tell you that any of the choices you list would be fine. [img]smile.gif[/img] You can powerplay 'em all, or just go for the fun of it. The less you concentrate upon trying to get "the best score" (however you figure it), in fact, the more you'll enjoy the experience.

If you're planning to add ToB at anytime soon, take the sorceror and mage/cleric very seriously. You'll find the experience cap raised considerably, giving you access to some excellent spells--including a wide variety of level 7-9 spells in which the sorc, with an ability to cast whatever is needed at that particular moments, really shines. Another class worth considering if you get ToB is the Wild Mage, a sort of basic magely type with a few extra spells and a tendency to magical side effects, both positive and negative. It's great fun. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Just wanted to thank everyone for the great responses appreciate and Ill tell you hows its going. Again thanks

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by melancholic_goat:
Don't be a sorcerer, the fact that they cannot learn scrolls makes them next to useless as spellcasters in my opinion. A dualled cleric to mage would be fine, but I would reccomend waiting until level 11 before dualling, and the downside of this is your mage will not be able to reach high level spells. The necromancer is probably the best route to go, for sheer spellcasting power at least.

PS. I am not experienced, but I thought I'd answer this anyway. ;) <hr></blockquote>

Sorcerors are better left until you have more experience with magic users. I would advise starting with a general magic user and figuring out which spells work best for you. Lord Ludtke is right, there are a lot of useless spells that you will likely never use, but there is still some variation between players in which spells turn out to be the most useful and the most used. You do get some extra spells with a specialist mage, but you have to give up access a whole school or two of magic, and it is better to know which spells you are going to want before you do that. Once you know which spells are really going to be useful, then the sorceror is great because you get alot extra without the memorization.