Dual class Q

[Jon Irenicus]

I was wondering, if u were a level 11 fighter and u dualed it to a mage, the mage is now on level 1 do u lose ur fighter's THAC0? And can u wear armour??? Just asking coz I never tried dualing my characters.

[White Lancer]

Originally posted by Jon Irenicus: I was wondering, if u were a level 11 fighter and u dualed it to a mage, the mage is now on level 1 do u lose ur fighter's THAC0? And can u wear armour??? Just asking coz I never tried dualing my characters.

No, for all intents and purposes, you are a level 1 mage. Nothing from your previous life remains, other than your hit points (and maybe your saving throws, not sure) and no, you cannot wear armor until you get your fighter abilities back (level 12)

[Jim]

White Lancer's correct, although the saving throws are also reset to a level 1 mages.

[Radek]

Yes, the new mage will be level 1. He will have 0 XP. He will be a level 1 pure MAGE, i.e., with level 1 mage THAC0, with level 1 mage saving throws and so on. Yes, the mage won't be able to wear any armor.
You will be a pure mage until you reach level 12 (in your case; in general, you have to reach a level which is higher than was your level when you dualled). At level 12, your mage becomes a dual class fighter/MAGE and regains all, hidden so far, abilities of his fighter part. Since then, everything will work on the "better of" basis:
a) you regain your fighter's THAC0 because that THAC0 will be better than the mage's THAC0. The THAC0 will not improve for a very long time - because the mage's THAC0 will be worse all the time even if the mage will progress in levels.
b) you gain a combination of your fighter and your mage saving throws - because some fighter saving throws are better than the mage ones and vice versa. This can change as your mage will level up.
And so on.
As a fighter/MAGE, you'll be able to use all weapons and invest in all weapon styles. Also, you'll be able to put 5+ to each weapon. As far as armor is concerned, you'll be able to use helmets and shields without restrictions but you'll be able to use "real" armor with restrictions:
a) either you equip armor and lose the ability to cast spells
b) or you equip mage robes and you'll be able to cast spells.
Naturally, if you unequip the armor, you regain the ability to cast spells. See Nalia or Imoen to see how does it works.

WARNING!
When you dual to a mage, all weapon proficiences will be temporary removed and you get 1 proficiency to assign. You get next proficiency at level 6. Your fighter's proficiencies will reappear at level 12, too - and they will work at the "better of" basis, too! Example:
If you have 2+ for staves as a fighter and dual to a mage, then you can give 1+ to staves - but this proficiency is LOST for you! Good, you'll be able to use staves at 1+ as a mage but, at level 12, you regain 2+ for staves from the fighter - the result will be the same as if you hadn't invested into staves at all. Therefore, invest in those weapons which your fighter has ignored until you reach level 12.

[White Lancer]

That has got to be about the longest response ive seen... for atleast a very long time!