I don't really have anything against dual-classing per se, but I see it as a powergamer's trick which has nothing to do with role-playing. If I were the DM of a pen and paper game, and someone started telling me about the character he was creating my game stating something like, "Oh yeah... I want to make a fighter... but then about 9th level I'm going to dual-class to a druid so that I can bypass armor restrictions for the class and have a druid who kicks other druids' asses".. I'd tell this guy to get the hell outta my game.
Why? He's not building a character he can get into, he's building a character he can dominate the game with, and that's not what Dungeons & Dragons is about.
Now, on the other hand, if a person in my game who was a fighter that had built up some levels came to me and said, "Y'know, Joseph the Mighty was really inspired by that druid we ran across a few nights back, and wants to learn more about that Faith... maybe even join as an apprentive" I'd be much more impressed, and would probably start to help him make the transition.
See the difference? In pen and paper, the dual-classing works because you have a live person judging the action, who can curb powergamers and keep them from overwhelming the game. In games like Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale, the computer doesn't have this ability, so you can powergame the crap out've your characters and breeze through the entire thing.
But again... I'm not telling anyone not to do this.. don't think I am. I'm merely saying *I* refused to do it, because it would have ruined the role-playing experience for me. If you want to create demi-God characters, please, feel free.
-Wretched
Oh, and p.s. - Don't consider anything done in an AOL room as "The right way" to do things.
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