Problem w/ Multi/Dual-Classing

[Tiresius]

I was reading an article about NWN and it said if multi or dual classing the TOTAL experience lvl it 20. That means that you could be a fighter mage and max out a 10/10, NOT lvl 10 fighter then max out mage. to me that seems sterile but i am afraid that will not allow multi classes to be as powerful as a single class mage or fighter. you will be more versitile (spelling?) but less powerful. was i reading this article wrong or will multi/dual class characters still be as good or better?

[Madriver]

You're right, it's the total levels of the characters that determine your level, not each individual class. If your level 1 and get enough experience to go to level 2, you can advance in the same class or choose a different one...but even if you're a level 1 fighter/level 1 wizard, you're still considered level 2. So when they say there is a level 20 cap, they mean the total level of your classes.

The benefits of dual classing is that you get the special abilities and advantages of the extra class in addition to your original class. So, for example, a level 19 wizard/level 1 monk gets all the bonuses of the 1st level monk (unarmed damage, wisdom bonus to AC, stunning attack) and only loses an extra memorized 8th and 9th level spell (I think). Or, another example, a level 1 fighter/level 19 wizard gets all the martial weapon proficiencies and armor proficiencies without having to use feats, and gets a slightly better Base Attack Bonus.

In closing, you lose a little from straying away from the pure class, but you might end up being more what you want to role-play. This allows much more versatility than the previous versions of D&D.

[ 06-15-2002, 11:27 PM: Message edited by: Madriver ]