I don't understand what the real drawback is to multi/dual classing. Sure the character advances at either 1/2 or 1/3 the rate, but is there any REAL long term drawback? For example if a Fighter/Mage is a level 20 mage(remove XP cap) will they be able to memorize two level 9 spells? They also get a ton of proficiencies and proficiency slots while standard mages only get a maximum of 4 slots at one point each. If you were soloing you could make a fighter/thief/mage and still advance twice as fast in each class as you would in a single class if you weren't soloing!

For duals their doesn't appear to be any drawback at all. You still keep all the extra proficiencies and skills, and from what I can see based on Imoen and Nalia the character can gain all spells of normal mage if they change to a mage.

If you remove the xpcap there isn't a drawback except for slower leveling up. If you haven't removed the xpcap both classes count towards the xpcap so you'll not reach very high level (except for the first class being cleric, thief or another class which can reach lvl 20+(with the SoA xpcap).

Edit: Dualclassing is starting over again in a new class. If you dualclass you'll have to miss your first class till you reached the lvl of your first class +1. After that you'll progress in the second class, and your first class will always be the level at which you dualclassed. You have to start at level 1 with high THAC0, hp of a rabbit, few spells which are low level as well.

[ 08-01-2002, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: philip ]

There are no real drawbacks to either one. If you dual-class intelligently (not Dualing a Transmuter to a Fighter at Level 9), your character will always be more powerful than a pure-class character. To take your advantage of the Multiclassed Fighter/Mage: Sure, they won't be able to cast quite as many extreme-high-end spells per day (So? All you need to do is Rest more often), but they make THE best Tanks: Stoneskin, Mirror Image, Spell Protections, etc (if you really want to go nuts, Simulacrum and Tenser's), then put their Full Plate back on and watch 'em go, and you can really annoy your enemies by having them cast spells from scrolls while they Tank. :D

Who cares if they can't cast 6 Time Stops per day when they're invincible on the battlefield?

The only Multiclasses I don't like are the F/M/T and the F/C/M, because they will never be able to cast any Level 9/10 Spells.

The only drawback to Dual-classing is that you won't be able to get any of your first class's ToB HLAs. (Unless you Dual too late, of course.)

??!??! How you get THAT many level nines? Even with experience cap removed I still only got two at level 24! Well, three if you count Staff of the Magi. I can write them all, but can only remember two. Are there new rules in Throne of Bhaal for post-level-twenty characters? Is there a patch that adds more spells for people that don't have ToB?

It was only an example. Of course, your mage cannot get six level 9 spells in SoA because he will never have enough high level. Perhaps, a solo mage or sorceror can - but only a solo mage or sorceror.
But there IS a subtle difference between multiclass and dualclass that has to be considered. The multiclass is considered to be a particular class in the game and it has its proficience limits. For example a multiclass fighter/mage can put only ++ into all weapons. On the other hand, a dualclass fighter/MAGE is a full sized fighter, therefore, he can put 5+ into all weapons.
Also, the multiclass character will improve his both (or all three) parts unlike the dualclass who can improve only his active class. A multiclass fighter/mage will become both skilled fighter and skilled mage. A dualclass fighter/MAGE will be a powerful mage but he will never be a better fighter than he was when he dualled to a mage.
We cannot call all this drawbacks. Simply put, a dualclass is something else than a multiclass. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Multiclass figher/mage is a completely different character from a dualclass figher/MAGE.