Dualclassing a Fighter into a Mage: level 9 or 13?

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Berserkers and Kensai are very popular classes to dual into Mages. I just don't know when to dual class this character. My choices are between levels 9 and 13. There are pros and cons for each.

If I dual at level 9 I'll have:
3 Rages/Kais per day (I think this is enough)
I'll become a "complete character" (Berserker abilities back after dualclassing) at 500,000 XP

If I dual at level 13, I'll have:
4 Rages/Kais per day
1/2 extra Attack per Round
I'll become a "complete character" at 2,750,000 XP

I know dual classing at level 13 will end up with a more powerful character in the end, but is it worth the 1,250,000 XP?

Let me know what your experiences tell you.

TIA

 

I think the main considerations are the amount of time it takes to get the fighter levels back and how patient you are as a player. Both are quite powerful by the end, but if one is essentially crippled for a good portion of the game it might not be worth it. 2,250,000 is a pretty big discrepancy in xp imho. Note that this is coming from a player who dualled a Berserker into a Cleric at lvl 13 last game and kinda regretted it.

 

I would suggest LV9. If i remember correctly dualing at LV13 means you miss out on quite a few HLAs, some spellcasting abilities.
Also, after dualing your killing machine into a mage and getting a character who can barely swing a dagger and only cast minor spells you will wish he regains his Fighter abilities as soon as possible.

 

I was asking this very question myself a while back..

Personally, I feel the only real advantage you get out of dual classing at level 13 is that extra half attack. It does make you a better fighter, but unfortunately it costs you an extra whopping 2.25 million xp to regain your fighter abilities.

2.25 million exp is a lot, no matter whether you're soloing or in a party. I dual classed my berserker at level 9, with a 5 man party, and I was already screaming bloody murder trying to reach level 10 as a mage at 250,000 xp.

According to the xp tables I have in front of me, if you dual classed at level 9, by the time you reached 2.75 million xp in both classes, you'd be a level 17 mage, with level 8 spells, and only 250k xp more to level 9 spells and HLAs. You'd only be a level 14 mage if you dual classed at level 13.

And as TKATK_ said above, you really want to get back your fighter abilities as soon as possible: it really sucks having to hide in the backlines casting a few measly Magic Missiles or Melf's Acid Arrows, when you're using to just chunking everything as a powerful fighter.

 

I'd suggest that HLA's really aren't that big a consideration; there are only a couple of decent lvl 10 spells (improved alacrity, dragons breath, summon planetar and maybe energy blades) and bonus potions, scrolls and 6/7/8spell slots, while nice, aren't really that important.

Having said that I'm still in support of the lvl 9 dualing, you get most of the fighter perks for a fraction of the xp.

 

I'd definitely go with level 9 - as everyone else has said, the benefits of going to levle 13 amount to an extra half attack per round.

In fact, I've even dual classed a berserker at level 8. My reasoning is that it is level 8 where you get your third berserk ability. While it would have been nice to wait for level 9 for extra hitpoints (and you may get another weapon proficiency point at level 9 - I don't recall when that happens offhand), you get your berserker abilities back even quicker, for a nearly equivalent character.

However, since you are set between either 9 or 13, then I'd definitely go with 9.

 

Check again, Aldeth. You get a Berserk (or Kai) every 4 levels: 1, 5, 9, 13, ect.

 

isnt there also a bonus or two, to either thac0 or AC between 9 and 13?

 

Fighters get a THAC0 bonus every level (until level 20 in BG, IIRC). IME, this really doesn't matter much though. I've never had much trouble hitting enemies with Anomen, and he dual-classed from Fighter at level 7.

 

Ahh, but he is dualed into a cleric, and cleric THAC0 is the best after fighters. He also has exceptional STR which greatly helps in melee. And clerics have good spells to buff their THAC0 to impossibly low lvls, my Anomen in my current game easily has -15 THAC0 with right spells, which is way lower than my fighters can achieve! Mages on the other hand, absolutely suck at hitting things even with powerful +5 weapons. And no self-respecting mage would cast Tenser's Transformation.