dual/multiclass questions

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new here, would like your input.

ok, I was thinking of the following dual/multiclass char for my party:

1/2 orc barbxx/ftr4 - is there a "best" specific order to take these levels? i.e. should I start as a fighter and then after 4 levels switch to barb only? or get so many levels of barb, then 1 ftr, then 3 barb, etc?

tiefling rngr1/roguexx/ftr4 - is there an exp penalty associated with multiclassing as opposed to just dualclassing? what order should these levels be taken in? I want the level of ranger to get the free ambdex and dual wield, so that I can sneak attack with two short swords... is there a weapon specialization for short swords? that is why I was going to get the 4 fighter levels... what order should these levels be taken? rogue first? or would that make me lose out on the free ambdex and dual wield with the ranger level? I was also thinking this guy could be used for missle support with a bow when not sneak attacking... feasible?

human clericxx/ftr4 - I was thinking of making him my primary healer, but also wanted to use him for missle support, likely using a crossbow... so I wanted to get 4 levels of ftr for the crossbow weapon specialization. again, is this possible? and again, is there any specific optimum order to take the different levels in?

duergar fighterxx - I was thinking just straight fighter for this one... but was also considering perhaps some rogue levels as well to take advantage of his natural abilities... any thoughts on which would be better? (I also am thinking of this for a future party that will have less char, and was thinking of giving some rogue levels to a fighter class to eliminate the rogue from the party)

drow wizardxx - the final certain piece of the party (though I am considering using a Tiefling here or a plain Human here instead of drow, though I like the idea of the spell resistance for a char typically considered weak when it comes to hit points, thoughts on race?) I am slightly worried about level progression to get access to spells, since this is my only hardcore spellcaster...

I was also considering a human barb1/druidxx - so that I could get the rage and use rage while shapeshifted... but, I am not sure if this char will really add much to the party. I already have 2 tanks, and I already have 1 healer and a mage... would a barb1/druidxx/ftr4 be worthwhile? any thoughts on whether this last guy should be included or not?

I would also appreciate any input regarding optimization of stat points. I dont want to reduce anything to a 2 or 3, I would like to keep the lowest stats in the 7-9 range for personal roleplaying reasons.

thanks for the input.

edit - the drow wizard (or whatever race wizard I decide upon) will likely be a necromancer.

[ January 09, 2003, 23:03: Message edited by: Krysalyn ]

 

I wouldn't use a drow for my primary spell caster, as the level penalty in normal mode will bite as to the spell levels you reach. Make him or her a sorcerer if your comfortable with the lack of veriety of spells.

Also, I would multi one other at least for spell support. Perhaps a druid/wiz? as you were looking at druid anyway, choose your own levels. Might be quite an interesting little chappie. Shame you can't cast spells while shape shifted though.

 

Wow! You must have spend some time on this. Posting, I meant...
I am not that old in D&D but I finished the game 2 times and now playing through HoF. So, I guess I can help you a bit. Here is my two cents...

Half-orc Tank
First of all it is "Half-orc" not 1/2 orc.
There is just one restriction here; barbarians can not be lawful. Besides this restriction you will never have any problems with this build.
Suggested stats:
STR 20 DEX 12 CON 18 INT 7 WIS 10 CHA 7
STR is the stat to increase if use two-handed weapon. Otherwise it can be split to STR and CON.

Tiefling Assassin
Many races have favored class. Tiefling's favored class is "Rogue". Your build will be penalized %20 while gaining XP. Consider Rog X/Rng 3/Ftr 4...
You can get weapon specialization for short swords as any weapon if you have at least 4 levels of fighter.
It doesn't matter what order you get levels, just be sure you won't be penalized. It will hurt much...
Bow will be great for this build.
Suggested stats:
STR 14 DEX 20 CON 14 INT 12 WIS 10 CHA 8
Be sure to get weapon finense feat. Dual wield long sword+short sword for more damage
______________________________________________________________________________
Multi/dual classing in IWD2
This is another topic, so I seperated it in this paragraph. As I stated above, many races have favored class in IWD2(3rd Edition).
"If you choose to multiclass your character, he/she will be penalized while gaining XP unless one of the class is his/her favored class."
Multiclass builds ignore their favored class when calculating XP penalty. If the remaining levels are equal or the difference is 1 level than he/she will not be penalized. (EX: Rogue x/Fighter 1/Ranger 1 will not be penalized while your build will be. Fighter 4-Ranger 1=3 levels)
Another example is a wild elf Fighter 18/Ranger 6/Druid 6 which will be penalized by %40 when gaining XP. But Fighter 10/Ranger 10/Druid 10 wouldn't be penalized.

Here is the list for favored classes:

Human - Human : Any class
Human - Aasimar : Paladin
Human - Tiefling : Rogue

Dwarf - Shield Dwarf : Fighter
Dwarf - Gold Dwarf : Fighter
Dwarf - Gray Dwarf(Duergar) : Fighter

Elf - Moon Elf : Wizard
Elf - Wild Elf : Sorcerer
Elf - Dark Elf(Drow) : Wizard(Male)/Cleric(Female)

Gnome - Rock Gnome : Illusionist(Specialist wizard)
Gnome - Deep Gnome(Svirfneblin) : Illusionist(Specialist wizard)

Halfling - Lightfoot Halfling : Rogue
Halfling - Strongheart Halfling : Rogue
Halfling - Ghostwise Halfling : Barbarian

Half-elf : Any class

Half-orc : Barbarian
________________________________________________________________________________________

Ups, accidently pressed posting button.

Human Healer
If you want him to support frontlines take a Battleguard of Tempus, Morninglord of Lathander if you want healer, Stormlord of Talos as offensive caster.
Suggested stats(healer):
STR 16 DEX 12 CON 18 INT 7 WIS 16 CHA 7
WIS will be taken care of with WIS bonus items.

Duergar Tank
Do you really need another with rogue abilities? I don't think so. However, be aware that you won't be able to handle all rogue abilities (Scouting, assasinating, thieving) with your Tiefling.
NOTE: Duergars are somewhat useless that don't worth 2 ECL. Just my two cents...
Suggested stats:
STR 18 DEX 12 CON 20 INT 8 WIS 10 CHA 8

Drow Caster
This will be fine. I too, have a drow diviner now and she rocks. Necromancer, however, do not fit my liking. You won't be able to cast two important schools' spells, illusion and transmutation. (Diviners can not cast conjuration spells which mostly includes summoning spells)
Suggested stats:
STR 10 DEX 18 CON 16 INT 19 WIS 10 CHA 7

Druid
Have it. But instead of as a support tank, develop as a caster. As you stated you already have two tanks. Also, I am not sure that rage will work while shapeshifted. Both abilities effect STR, DEX and CON. Probably that barbarian level will be wasted. I had a singleclass druid with my first party and he was an average healer and absolutely good offensive caster. If SC then choose Aasimar as race; if MC, human will be fine.
Suggested stats(For SC aasimar):
STR 14 DEX 18 CON 16 INT 6 WIS 20 CHA 6

Very important side note:
IWD2 includes combat than roleplay and the game is not a piece of cake. While it is obvious that you like to roleplay, it is understandable to min/max stats to build effective characters.

[ January 10, 2003, 15:47: Message edited by: Anakha the Almighty ]

 

Okay, I have this problem, in which I cannot access the spells to my Wild elf:Fighter/Sorcerer, what do I do?

 

Tarsakh,
Do you have enough CHA to cast those spells?
CHA should be 10+level of spell you want to cast.
BTW,

 

Anakha,

there will be the multiclass 20% exp penalty with the Teifling dispite having rogue levels? I thought that taking the ranger level first for the free ambidex and dual wield would be fine as long as the next level taken was rogue...

or is it because I multiclassed instead of dualclassed? would having higher levels of rogue because it is the favored class eliminate the exp penalty?

I thought I was alright since the favored class of the Teifling is rogue, and I multiclassed using rogue levels...

thanks for the input on the stats.

I realize that the game is not geared towards role playing, but that is something that I want to do to make the game more fun for myself. I could easily powergame it if I wanted to, lowering stats to 1-3 and such, but that just isnt how I wish to play right now...

my cleric will not be used for frontline support, I plan to use him mostly as the party healer and to buff the tanks. also will probably use him for offensive spells later in the game. I would like to use him for missle support at times, though, and was wondering if it was worth an investment in 4 levels of fighter to get weapon specialization with a crossbow.

also, I will probably make him a cleric of Bane for roleplaying reasons (primarly an evil aligned party)

why will I not be able to perform all rogue activities with the Teifling? he should have enough skills and feats to cover hide, move silently, etc, shouldnt he?

but, I would probably make the duergar another tank... would it be better to dual class him as a fighter4/barbxx? I could then use his natural invisibility once per day if I needed some extra scouting, and not have to add any rogue levels...

my drow wizard I plan to be a primarily offensive spellcaster, and I have always liked the necromancy school. plus, again, it goes along with the evil party theme, imho. I am still slightly worried about the level progression here and not getting access to the higher level spells quick enough... but perhaps I can give him that book for exp to help make up the difference...

if I add the druid, should I take 4 levels of fighter to give him weapon specialization? or a level of rnager for another dual wielding character? or perhaps start as a monk and then dual class to druid?

the other reason I was considering only going with a party of 5 was to get them all slightly more experience, since I was thinking of having a duergar, drow, and teifling in my party, all having ECL... plus I could then drag along a lvl 1 char for increased exp in the IwDII exp system, correct? would that be a better choice than adding the druid?

thanks again for the help.

 

one more thing...

one reason that I was thinking of keeping my cleric out of the front lines was because I was thinking of pumping his cha up to make him the party talker, since none of my other char rely on cha for anything at all right now... so those pts would have to be taken from str/dex/con, probably.

I would then have one char with high cha, and my wiz would have high int to cover other discussions...

I had also considered making my drow wizard the talker, but I thought he wouldnt have enough skill pts to spread around into the "talking" skills like diplomacy/bluff/intimidate...

[We prefer that you edit your last post rather than posting again if nobody has posted in between - BTA]

[ January 10, 2003, 18:13: Message edited by: Blackthorne TA ]

 

Tarsakh,

If you started as a fighter, don't forget to add the "spell icon" to your task bar by right clicking on one of the open icons.

Also of course check out your CHA.

 

Getting rogue levels is not enough to get rid of XP penalty. Other classes(Rng and Ftr in this build) must be equal or 1 level higher/lower.

Your rogue will gain 5 skill points per level and you will gain less when you level up as Ftr or Rng. Disable device, open lock, search, hide and move silently should be you priorities. If you think you can handle having more INT then you can let him be the talker. (-1 CHA will not hurt that much)

Don't get 4 Ftr levels for cleric if you want to get high level spells. Otherwise you can get it but also you must understand that you have to spend two feats to get specialization which probably do not worth.

Ftr 4/Brb X will work great with your Duergar.

Your drow wizard will be fine. You should go a non-ECL race with your spellcaster, normally. But scrolls can be found slower in game than you gain levels. So, 2 ECL will not hurt you much if you get that book.(It's not cheap, it will probably be more than 100.000 gp)

Don't bother with Ftr levels for your druid. One level of Rng can work better for him, otherwise SC him. Also, you can keep him/her at level 1 to get more XP. And when you reach the end level him up too for the final battle.

 

Druid
Have it. But instead of as a support tank, develop as a caster. As you stated you already have two tanks. Also, I am not sure that rage will work while shapeshifted. Both abilities effect STR, DEX and CON. Probably that barbarian level will be wasted. I had a singleclass druid with my first party and he was an average healer and absolutely good offensive caster. If SC then choose Aasimar as race; if MC, human will be fine.
Suggested stats(For SC aasimar):
STR 14 DEX 18 CON 16 INT 6 WIS 20 CHA 6

Sorry, but... a Druid don´t need cha for the animal emphaty?

 

Animal empathy is imho one of the most useless skills in the game. Also, if I'd have to boost CHA for that, I'd have to give up on CON, WIS, DEX and STR. It's hard enough to get those good without also having to boost CHA.

 

WOW!!![EDIT-you guys wrote too much!]
1-Animal empathy and use m. device suck
2-I think a pure cleric would be better
3-Drow wizards sound cool but unfortunately they aren't all powerful with this -2 level

[ January 21, 2003, 15:06: Message edited by: Khelben ]

 

Rekiller:
Please state clearly when you make a quote.

Khelben:
Hope that none of your characters meet my evil drow wizard. She sure kick ass.