F/M/T Worth it in BG?

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I play F/M/T for the most part with parties and some times solo. With the characters you can pick up in BG1, the F/M/T compliments the rest of the group. For instance....

Imoen is the main theif to find/remove traps and open locks. So I use my F/M/T to picket pocket and back stabbing, it helps out because a F/M/T has the lower THAC0 and maybe even have expectional strength.

As for the mage spells my F/M/T is used primarly as a back up to Edwin. Edwin covers most of the damaging spells and some of the defensive mage spells. My character uses Strength spell on Jaheria, Identify and if needed can throw one or two offensive spells if needed, but with Edwin having 12+ Magic Missiles my character rarely use chromatic orb or magic missile.

The final piece to this character is they can help out in the front lines if need, however I don't recommended it since they don't have the HP of a pure warrior.

I normally just equip this character with throwing axes and try to get the returning throwing axe +2 as fast as possible. After that I clear the rest of the game out.

The F/M/T is a great support character for a group or if you add some cheats into the game, he is the best soloist. It would all depend on what route you would be going.

 

There is one misconception going around that I want to clear up - a FMT imported into BG2 will not get fewer HLAs than other characters. In fact, a FMT usually gets signficantly MORE HLAs than other characters.

You start earning HLAs as soon as your character earns 3 million XP. So:

Single classed characters get their first HLA at 3 million XP.
Two class multi-classes get their first HLA at 1.5 million XP per class.
Three class multi-classes get their first HLA at 1 million XP per class.

So, at the time of earning thier first HLA, it doesn't matter whether you are single or multi-classed - you'll get it at the exact same time. However, a three class multi-class will receive FAR more level ups (he has three classes after all) and he can chose an HLA from any of his classes on each level up, regardless of which class leveled. (For example, if you fighter levels, you don't have to take a fighter HLA - you can take a thief or a mage HLA if you'd prefer.)

A FMT will have difficulty gaining the ability to cast the highest level spells - but that is true because of his XPs being divided three ways - not because he gets shorted on HLAs.

To finally answer the initial question: I do not find FMT to be enjoyable characters to play in BG1 - they level way to slowly, and unlike in BG2, there are so many thieves around that it's not required that your PC has those abilities.

 

I've always thought the FMT was an excellent character for midlevels. They're very versatile and can really round out a party.

As the protagonist they tend to be a little weak for most players (unless you really like that 'game over' movie scene). It takes a while for the character to gain hit points. A couple of arrows and it's time to reload.

 

My experience is the same as Fel's. I can never import a character that has more than 161,000 XP. However, it's been so long since I've only had SoA installed and unpatched, I couldn't tell you if it was different with those conditions.

 

@ Abdel,

I think you're exactly right. The F/M/T is a great support character. And that's about it. Without cheats it's really hard for the character to get off the ground and become a really powerful character, which is what people want from the start.

I guess that's why I don't really like the idea of playing one, because I like the protagonist (ME!) to be a powerful son of a b!tch. F/T, M/T, R/C (Yeah I know I was paying it out before but shut up! ) are all great to play with. Sadly, just not the F/M/T

 

I was sufficiently intrigued by this to generate an F/M/T. Only ONE weapon slot, in a game that does not pause when you go to inventory. That's the drawback for this character.

 

That's exactly it. I always want my PC to be the best character in whatever it is he does. He doesn't necessarily have to be the strongest character in the party, but he either has to be my best fighter, best theif, best cleric, or best mage. With a F/M/T, chances are he isn't the best at anything, unless he's your only thief, in which case he gets the title of "best thief" by default.

 

Actually, there is an F/M/T-type character who's quite playable, and that's the Bard. I played one my second time through the game and he was a very effective character, powerful enough for the front line when he was needed--in fact that's where I usually played him--but also an effective magic-user--more spells than an F/M/T of equivalent level would have--and also the best loremaster/pickpocket in the game. Pickpocketing is a minor function in the game, to be sure, but lore is important and occasionally vital. It's definitely a drawback that he can't gain weapon specialization, although the Gauntlets of Weapon Expertise make up for this to some extent. Even so, he was a strong character, and stronger still in BGII with its kits. I'd play one again. Plus, he was fun.

[ March 10, 2006, 06:44: Message edited by: Cernak ]

 

I guess what you have to think about is whether or not you're going to take the character into BGII. If you are then you have alot more options. For example ...

F/M/T:
*You're thac0 will get considerably higher in the later levels
*more spells
*better thieving

Bard:
*Nice choice of kits, blade in particular
*Alot more spells
*Probably better thac0 due to the poor level progression of the F/M/T
*Better abilities

Although, if we're just focusing on BG, then what do people think. Bard or F/M/T?

 

During the whole BG1 and BG2 games a bard will have worse thac0 than a F/M/T having the same XP.

 

LOL oops! My bad! I guess the only real benefit of taking one is if you plan on making the trip through BGII as well. Other than that I have no idea why you would take one ...

 

I took one--a Bard--because he looked like an interesting character, and so he proved to be. Once you've given him the Gauntlets of Expertise he's a viable frontline fighter; the Defender scimitar gives him excellent AC; with Drizzt's armor he can cast spells while in the front line. This is a valuable asset, particularly with contact spells that you're often reluctant to give to less well protected mages.

In addition, there's the Book of Strength that you will find. If you've given your Bard an initial strength of 18, which I do, he skips the intervening percentages and goes straight to S-19, which will make him pretty much equal in effectiveness to your best fighter, if not better. I seldom use Bardsong, preferring to keep my Bard in the line (take Garrick for that one), but it does seem to work well on the occasions when I feel my Bard should act like a Bard.

As $ilvershield suggests, the Bard is even more effective in BGII, especially with the Blade kit. But he's also a powerful character in BGI. I suspect that the posters who question this are working "off paper", and haven't actually played one.

Given the way I play the Bard, you might argue that I'd be better off playing a Fighter/Mage. Perhaps. But I do enjoy the pickpocketing and the fast levelling; and the instant lore is often very useful. And the 19 Strength. And the Blade kit in BGII isn't bad either.

[ March 12, 2006, 04:08: Message edited by: Cernak ]

 

Does that mean you'd rather play a bard in BGII than a F/M/T purely because of the fast leveling then?

 

The F/M/T is very effective in Baldur's Gate. Especially if you use him as a backstabber. His levels won't be much behind a comparable fighter in BG, so you'll do quite well with a F/M/T. Personally, I like my protagonist to be the best at, uh, not getting killed. The F/M/T will do that better than anybody in BG.

 

I agree with Drew. The FMT is a powerhouse, the only real drawback is the relative lack of HPs to a fighter or F/T. But magic more than makes up for that, imo. Sleep and Mirror Image are fantastic spells in BG1, especially considering that sleeping monsters can't stop you hiding in shadows and are automatically hit. I've slaughtered small armies solo when ambushed on area transition, by casting MI, spamming Sleep and repeatedly backstabbing my snoozing assailants. The best way to think of FMTs, imo, is as backstabbing thieves with a whole host of other abilities. Used properly, they are unstoppable, as you will always have different options as to how you can approach a fight.

The key drawback is that in a large party the FMT will level very slowly, and you may be better off with a bard (who generally thrive in larger parties, as it makes Bard song more useful), as they'll still level quickly. But I'd still rather have an FMT, for the wider selection of skills and weapon specialisation.

 

The real problem with the FMT in BG is that you can't get to Fighter level 7 (which means you don't get that extra half attack most people can live with that I find it frustrating). I'd rather play a FM or a MT (invisibility + backstab: an old recipe for success).
The Bard is a nice alternative if you don't want to be bothered with slow levelling up (plus if you intend to play BG2 the Blade is one of the most powerful kits around).
All in all there is also the one weapon slot to consider... that is really annoying.

 

Sorry, I couldn't resist reading, do not punish me.

The things I hate about F/M/Ts, based on my new and cool IWD run:

1-In low levels they have pitiful HP, thus the first to die, especially due to fact that they go meleeing more than pure mages or thieves as they have FIGHTER levels.

2-Only one weapon slot is so annoying. Tedious. It is unchangable in IWD, but won'T TuTu fix it for BG1?

Bards are far cooler than F/M/Ts, and more useful in low levels. I know this as in my IWD party, my bard has the most kills, somehow, with his spells and bows. A bard is not a F/M/T, he is unique!

BUT, in highest levels of experience, a F/M/T is a powerhouse. And really freakingly powerful. Look at ToB forums for my ideas, these guys can do 1600+ damage per round to a single opponent, via continous backtabs and some spells and some HLAs.

But as IWD and BG uses relatively low levels, F/M/Ts are weak and tedious to keep alive. In my IWD party my F/M/T is generally first to die, maybe I am not playing it too well?

 

Nah I think you're doing quite fine there Silver! A F/M/T won't last long in a melee fight usually at low levels and against alot of enemies, at low levels, there's not really much you can do. I guess you kinda have to babysit him with your other characters in the party until he finds his feet. As soon as he gets mirror image it should start becoming relatively easy.

@ The Magpie,
Umm, can you Hide in Shadows sucessfully even when you're in the enemy's sight when their asleep??? I didn't know that ...

 

F/M/Ts should not be used in parties. But as a solo they are incredible! And the XP cap is an artificial restriction anyway, so "not being able to reach Fighter level 7" shouldn't be a problem once you get a cap remover.