Sorcerers vs. dual classed Mages:
 

I know the Sorcerer is a totally bad-ass spellcaster, and with spells like Project Image can beat just about anything in the game, but is a Sorcerer a better character than a dual classed Mage who begins as a Thief (for a few skills, like dealing with locks and traps when not casting) or as a Fighter (who has a lot of HP to play with as well as the ability to fire a longbow when spells run out) or even a Cleric (who will still have more HP than a Mage as well as some very different magicks to play with)?

Let the debate begin!

Re: Sorcerers vs. dual classed Mages:
 

are you talking about solo?

Re: Sorcerers vs. dual classed Mages:
 

I don't think Fighter would work here. If we're talking about spellcasting power, Fighter would be a waste of time unless you want to be able to aim that Staff of the Magi a little better. Hit points are of little consequence- if you play your cards right, you won't need them. Now then. I'm sure someone's going to come along and say something about saving throws that may or may not invalidate my argument, but that's just fine. If we're talking Cleric, I doubt you'd get enough really interesting spells before you have to dual. Now, if you multiclass, now we have something to work with. But my money would be on a Sorceror above a dualclassed Mage any day of the week.

Re: Sorcerers vs. dual classed Mages:
 

Once you have access to Spelltrap/Wish, you no longer run out of spells, so the ability to use a longbow is worthless.

If your spellcaster loses hitpoints at all, you are likely in trouble, at any rate, and the additional hitpoints won't make a difference.

I can't think of a reason why one would chose to Dualclass between Mage/Cleric, if the much more powerful multiclass variant is available.

A few Thief levels are nice, though, since it opens up the great Mislead/Backstab combination. Sorcerers still have more high level spells and flexibility, but a thief->mage is hardly a weakling.

Re: Sorcerers vs. dual classed Mages:
 

With the help of the Shadow Keeper program you probably can dual class into a Sorceror, this follows the official pnp rules. (You may or may not need to dual class into a Mage then use Shadow Keeper to change your class to Sorceror.)

How about have 1 Mage and 1 Sorceror? A Sorceror is handy for occasions when you don't know in advance exactly what spells you will need to cast. Impromptu Identify and True Sight spells &&

Re: Sorcerers vs. dual classed Mages:
 

I am playing through as a Gnome Mage/Cleric and am really enjoying the mix. However the cleric spells are not sooo uber or anything. There have been some interesting possibilies such as putting long cast time cleric spells into sequencers... or heal or sanctuary into contingency... but the best thing the cleric side brings is a little THACO so I can swing some weapons if I feel like it. However, the primary reason why I enjoy this combo for solo work more than the solo sorceror... is because solo sorc is so boring! Having access to every mage and cleric spell means that I can try interesting things... and I appreciate that a great deal.