Starting from BGI and finishing ToB, dualling at a decently low level (5? Enough to obtain *** in Staves and ** in Two-Handed?), what are the pros and cons of each?

CON: Worse fighting ability, for one (obviously).

CON: You will have more trouble in the beginning of SoA as a low level fighter and then a very low level mage on top of that.

CON: You won't gain many HP later on.

PRO: You'll get the opportunity to advance farther in mage to gain more spells and get more of a certain type of spells in ToB as well.

PRO: Time stop, MMM :D

<span style="color: lightblue">What will you put proficiencies in as a Mage? Avoid putting them in Staves and Two Handed until your fighter side reactivates, and you should be alright.

I always start my mages as fighters, but all the *** go into bows.

1) low hit points an no armour – they need to stay back

2) High dex + magic bow + magic arrows all detract from THACO, which means they still stand a chance of hitting something towards the end of the game

3) AI set to fighter-ranged means they automatically get into the best position to cast spells

[ 04-21-2004, 03:06 AM: Message edited by: Andraste ]

yeh - you're mage with more hit points i guess (40 more - not too shabby)

there is a point at which you get and extra attack per round (or maybe half) which i think might be 7

does having the extra stars make tenser's transformation shine later on maybe i wonder?

an alternative way of injecting a bit of melee oomph into your mage is to go to level 10 swashbuckler (you get find/remove traps that way too [img]smile.gif[/img] )

F/M Multi-Class eats F->M for breakfast.

Whatever. I'll just take my chances with my level 21 Kensai/level 22 Mage.

It's going to depend on the total experience level, and the level of dualing, but for most of the later stages of the game, the dual class F/M will be one level of mage ahead of the multi-class. So, during the stage when the dual class has time-stop, and the multi class hasn't, who eats whom is not going to go the multi's way.

Of course, in a melee fight the multi wins, but if you're wanting to use your mage in melee, I suspect that you aren't getting the most out of the magic system.

Even at the XP cap, a multiclass F/M has only TWO lvl 9 spells... Not enough to trump the 5 a normal mage can get.

One MAJOR benefit I have found with a mage with fighter levels is the spell Black Blade of Disaster. That weapon gives grand mastery in long swords while creates one of the most devastating weapons in the game. Without the fighter levels, you will NOT get the extra attacks from Grand Mastery.

The lowest level you should consider dualling at is 7, IMHO. You'll get an extra attack, and you'll also get your fighter class activated rather quickly.