IMHO dual classing most of the time is not worthwhile as a pure profession is usually better.

However, I have recently thought about dual classing the bard...the best thing about the bard is that haste instrument. Allows u to forget about investing in speed for all other charcs. The other obvious charcteristic about the bard is that he doesn't require much skills besides music...(assuming u don't need him as for pp or lock and trap).

So what I thought is in the beginningdump points into music...dagger skill...dual wielding etc. Once his music reaches 75...at around lvl 10-11 quickly switch him to a rouge so that the bard becomes a fairly strong combatant with backstab.

There u have it...a good fighter who can play music...and also be the important designated haste guy.

Forget bumping points to music. Just get your a** to Arnika, buy Viola d'Amore, and you're set for a pretty damn quick increase to 100 in music skill... [img]smile.gif[/img]

If you like a class to use certain weapons that are powerful in the game, or if you just want berserk ability etc, then dualclassing is good. Personally I think the (non-faerie) ninja isn't as good in the end as it was in the beginning, so I would class change the ninja to a fighter when the skills are good enough (or ranger if you still want to improve magic).

Then we have pure casters like alchemist, mage etc, and I think it's good to have a few level as bishop to get some other good spells for them too. Lords and valkyries are good when they are pure, but they become better when changed to fighter so they can berserk. And hybrids are usually very hard to develop their magic skills, so it is good to start as a pure caster to get a good start.

IMO...

I dualled mine to a fighter last game, but I won't do it again. While it's true that the highest level you need to play an instrument is 18 IIRC, you lose the boost you get from a higher level bard. My fighter/bard was a great fighter, but even with a high instrument skills she lost some zip by not going past L18 bard.

In fact, I'm running a gnome bard this time (just a whim [img]tongue.gif[/img] ), and she's kicking butt big-time with her sword - has just as many kills as the Lord. I'm not sure why - I've never tried a gnome bard before. But even a low levels, she rocks. Just have her put everyone to sleep and/or have my ninja throw flash powder or concussion powder at them, then move in and let everyone hack and slash. Even my bishop takes his whip to them once in a while. And she's looks awfully cute with that big, bad whip. :D

I dualclassed my last bard at level 15 (so she could cast level 6 spells), and she was great with staff of doom and the instruments.

Nice way to go with the bard is to fighter, beserk really is as good at level one as at level 20, while the rogue's backstab gets better with higher levels. I like to develop sword for the bard, use bloodlust while a bard, then switch over to the GS (like female Mook bards ;) . But I have heard they make good rogues too, just never tried it. Really the level you switch over should just be where your music is maxed and you qualify to play all the instruments you want to use.