dualing question

[Rockstar]

hey everyone

i'm thinking of creating a new character to go through the whole series with.

I want to make an assassin/fighter so i can get the x7 backstab then dual to a fighter for better combat skills.

I wanna ask if dualing to a fighter would ultimately lead to better fighting skills (and just no more thieving) or would it be better just to pure class the thief

[Cam_H]

Hi Rockstar,

In my opinion you would be well served by dual classing (an Assassin-Fighter) if you want to create a more powerful fighting character (than a single class Assassin) and you feel that you can competently carry that character during their awkward between-both-kits stage (after the first class and learning the second class before regaining the first class).

Be mindful that you have to reach pretty high levels to take advantage of the x7 multiplier for an Assassin (Level 18 for x6, Level 21 for x7 i.i.r.c.). Therefore you'll need to gain 22 Levels of Fighter to regain your old thiefing skills provided that you dual over at Thief Level 21. This simply might not be worth it.

Assuming that you have Throne of Bhaal installed ...

You will also be close to Thief Level 25 where you can begin to access the Rogue's Higher Level Abilities such as; 'Use Any Item' and 'Time Stop Traps'. Whether you wish to take on those extra few levels before dualling over is up to you.

A Fighter/Thief multiclass, while 'only' getting to x5 backstabs, however might be more managable depending upon your strategy.

[Rockstar]

Somebody correct me if i'm wrong but if i dual class an assassin to a fighter (and surpass the original level of the thief) i would gain the following advantages:

- use of all weapons and armour (including helmets)
- improved combat abilities


and the advantages of the dual class over a multiclass F/T would be:

- grand mastery (as opposed to the F/T specialisation limit)
- x7 backstab available (over the x5 of F/T)

So if i can actually manage to survive the re-leveling phase until level 22 i would be creating quite a powerful character.

________________

Another class idea:

Kensai/theif
if i do the maths allow for 2 HLA thief levels (time stop and use any item) and give the rest to the kensai, i could create a backstabbing kensai (which using the kai ability would be x5 a critical hit) as well as the ability to wear armour (the biggest restriction of the kensai)


Any thoughts on these classes. Pros or cons? Which would ultimately be more useful or more powerful

[Armen]

kensai->thief gets the superb kensai bonuses plus with UAI none of the kensai restrictions - super strong

the downside is a lack of warrior HLAs like greater whirlwind but if you have a source of improved haste and you dual-wield that's not too much of a penalty imo

i've never done assassin->fighter but i have assassin cleric - all of your assumptions are correct and it will be a very powerful character (although aren't they all . . .) and much better at fighting that a single class assassin - a good chunk of that power though will come from your warrior HLAs and your assassin poison ability which is very strong - if you're going for such an ambitious dual (in terms of the XP required) i'd be tempted to go for the biggy and wait 'til your assassin gets UAI - you'll also have to manage XP carefully, solo or at least have a very small party, and it would help to install the tactics mod to increas the available XP

my $0.02 as they say

[Cam_H]

Rockstar,

(a.) I agree with much of Armen's advice, although some components of Tactics are not for the feint-hearted!

(b.) I am not sure of your party's likely composition, although in another thread you refer to a solo. As Armen suggests, going with something like a dual class with a Level 25 Assassin to a Fighter to get to the rogue HLAs will be best achieved in a very small party (as hideously annoying as she is, Aerie in a party of two might be a good option). As a solo, you'll be well served by setting up your quests so that you can pick up the quest conclusion XPs with your second class to get it to a managable Level 8-ish supplemented with some useful equipment.

(c.) My leaning would still be towards the multiclass Fighter/Thief, that gives you (easier) access to both HLA tables while your character levels up with no awkward dual class 'in between' stage.

Downsides, such as no poison weapon ability, no Kai, etc. I think are more than made up for with a more natural level development where you get synergistic benefits throughout the game. With particular regard to the Assassin-Fighter dual class, often the most difficult enemies are immune to backstabs and/or poison anyway. Personally I think a Berserker-Thief (cross over at Level 13) is a more compelling dual-class set up than a Kensai-Thief, as much of the early-game survival is the capacity to endure mind-based attacks.

[img]graemlins/twocents.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ister]

I'd go for the x5 backstab (what is that level 15?) and dual then. Sure you miss out on the extra nasty backstab, but the problem with the level 21 dual is that by the time you are able to use this awe inspiring backstab most enemies will be immune to it. That's no fun.

However, I think the use of grand mastery with a backstab, and poison weapons with a greater whirlwind will make for a lot of fun.

Kensai-thief is boring. Doesn't everyone do that? [img]smile.gif[/img]