Im not looking for a short term fix here i want theiving abilties with mage spells but im not sure who becomes the best and i cant be botherd maxing them both up so any advice or suggestions would be good thanx

Bards only have pickpocket. They can't lockpick or find/remove traps.

<span style="color: lightblue">But with mage spells, you don't *need* lockpick or find traps... but, if all you want is spells and thief skills go t/m... you can't use a bard for anything but to play a bard. </spAN>

<font color=33CC33>True, mage can cast knock, but can't cast find traps. And even if you get a cleric (who can cast it) you still won't be able to disarm traps. Therefore I conclude that thief/mage is better.</font>

<font color=red size=4> [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img] BTW, Welcome to Ironworks, Genesis! [img]graemlins/wavey.gif[/img] </font>

I think what Lennon meant was that with the mage spells you can counter most trap effects. but thats just my conclusion.

If you´re only after thieving abilities and mage spells the go for a thief/mage, they are better than bards at both. Bards can only, as Luvian pointed out, pick pockets and only has up to lv 6 spells but on the other hand they have other special abilities only bards have (high lore, bard song). Bards also have the potential to be better fighters, especially the Blade. Just search for bard or blade here at the BG2 forum and alot of good tips should pop up.

If you only want thieving and spells then go for the thief/mage. The bard is not really a t/m, he´s a class of his own.

BTW Welcome to Ironworks! [img]smile.gif[/img]