Multi-Class Spellcaster?

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I have now completed both BG1 - ToB with two different characters: Ranger who became a Stalker and a Druid who became a Shapeshifter who than dual to a fighter. Both of these two character are more melee based and required little to no magical protection because of the magical items equipped.

Now I am going to start over, this time I want to play a mage or cleric based character who is more likely to cast spells than to stand in the front line and tank. It would be nice to be able to go ahead and tank with this character if needed.

I rolled up a few characters last night. Please review and let me know which one you would pick and why? I have a good idea on who to go with but maybe I will pick another character based on some of your answers. Thanks.

Character One:
Race: Gnome
Class: Cleric / Illusionist
Str: 18 Dex: 18 Con: 16 Int: 19 Wis: 17 Cha: 9
Weapon Prof: * Missile Weapons & Blunt

Race: Gnome
Class: Fighter / Illusionist
Str:18/00 Dex:18 Con:18 Int:19 Wis:10 Cha:3
Weapon Prof: ** in Large Swords & Bows

Race: Gnome
Class: Illusionist / Thief
Str:18 Dex:18 Con:16 Int:19 Wis:10 Cha:17
Weapon Prof: * Large Swords & Bows


Race: Half - Elf
Class: Fighter / Cleric / Mage
Str:18/34 Dex:17 Con:17 Int:18 Wis:16 Cha:9
Weapon Prof: ** Missile Weapons & Blunt Weapons

Race: Elf
Class: Fighter / Mage / Thief
Str:18/52 Dex:19 Con:17 Int:18 Wis:15 Cha:10
Weapon Prof: ** in Large Swords & Bows

Race: Half - Elf
Class: Ranger / Cleric
Str:18/36 Dex:18 Con:18 Int:10 Wis:18 Cha:10
Weapon Prof: ** Missile Weapons & Blunt Weapons


As of now all these characters are just saved to the character folder in my BG1 game. All the stats definitely show how dedicated I in rolling up each character. The only problem I now having is choosing the next character to complete the BG saga with.

 

I gather from what you've said that this won't be a solo effort, so triple classes aren't much of an option if you intend to use magic offensively.

In my experience, the most effective way of playing a multiclass spellcaster is to use your magic to support your melee ability, but if you want to be an offensive spellcaster and a melee fighter in equal measures then you should roll up a fighter/mage.

 

The illusionist thief is the one that meets the most of your criteria. A fighter mage, or a cleric mage tend to get up front a lot through the use of stoneskin or with the all of the protective cleric spells. With an illusionist thief, you'll be staying back the whole time.

 

Or using mislead/backstab. I suppose it's the magic that's absorbing all the punishment, so a mage/thief could still "tank". Mage/thieves are fun, but you sound like you want to be able to fight toe to toe like a fighter.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I am still uncertain what class to pick. After looking at my choices and adding in all possible magical items I am currently leaning toward the Cleric / Illusionist and here are my reason.

The Cleric/Illusionist will provide any group a offensive and defensive caster who can provide almost all magical support needed. With the stats I rolled last night after I complete BG1 the character will be able to hold his own and tank if needed. But at the same time he looses out on the ability to gain extra attacks a round and specialization that comes from selecting a Fighter / Illusionist. The Mage / Thief adds in other elements in the game that I would miss with either of the previous classes. Basically I narrowed my selection down to all gnome basic classes unless some can justify taking a F/C/M or a F/M/T. Thanks for all your input.

 

I'd say go with the cleric/Illusionist. You'll be able to wear the elven chains for protection if you don't go with Robe of Vecna.

With their buffs and other spells you could fight decently if necessary but it's not a place you'd always want to be or anything and you'd certainly need to take some kind of tank or tanks with you.

 

F/M/Ts are fun! With fighter proficiencies and HLAs, mage spells, and thief abilities, these guys rock.

Dual-wield, improved haste yourself, cast mislead, snaek back, activate critical strike HLA!

8 attacks of critical hits and backstabs! Astounding!

Though you will require less people in your party or more XP (hardest mods come to my mind. ) to make it effective I guess.

 

In my heavy-modded game I realized that single-class mage is useless. Aftersome chapters his abilities reach the limit and he becomes fragile conjuror that might show some fireworks if only oppnents aren't toatlly immune - and they usually have MR or invisibility or other thing that doesn't let wizard to effectively deal with 'em on his own.
That is why I didn't pick Edwin.

I think that FMT is good choice because of possibilities he get. Once you're able to cast regeneration, there is no thing you couldn't deal with in this or another way. Use of any item also can be used well here and no artifact will be wasted.

 

I have decided to play a FMT. Does the level 50 mod allow the FMT to gain the mage HLA? If so, I will go that route, if not I will play as a Cleric/Illusionist. Thanks for all your replies.

 

Level doesn't matter when picking HLAs, only experience. As soon as you have three million experience across all three of your classes (one million in each), you can begin taking mage HLAs. But because of the limit on how many HLAs can be displayed in the selection screen, you miss out on some of them with a triple-class.

A F/M/T is primarily a melee fighter, not a caster, but whatever. Why would you need UAI with a F/M/T? You can use basically anything anyway.

 

Yeah, you'll get mage HLAs as soon as you have 1 million XPs in all three classes. Specifically, once you have one million XPs in all three classes you will level up as a fighter, but that doesn't mean you have to take a fighter HLA. As odd as it sounds, when you play a multi-class character, you can select an HLA from any class. So a F/M/T could in theory select all fighter HLAs, all thief HLAs or all mage HLAs if you so desired. Although technically, I don't think there are unlimited choices for mage HLAs. It isn't like the thief or fighter which can select certain HLAs multiple times. I think all mage HLAs are one-time only choices, so you'd eventually run out of selections. So you couldn't take ALL mage HLAs, but you could take all the mage HLAs before selecting anything else.

All of this is, however, irrelevant if you aren't soloing, because most of the mage HLAs are new level 10 spells, and you won't get them, XP cap remover or not, if you aren't soloing. In a typical run through of the game with a full party, you'll finish with somewhere between 6 million and 7 million XP for each character. As you would need 9 million XPs for a triple-classed character to cast even a single 10th level spell, it just ain't happening for you.

That said, while I personally think the cleric/illusionist is a better choice, I won't try to sway you from playing a F/M/T. The fighter part will let this guy tank. The thief part will be able to handle all the thief duties eventually, and all the essential thief duties (like picking locks and disarming traps) from very early on in the game. It's just that considering a party setting, your F/M/T will probably be inadequate as the only source of arcane casting power. If you're going to pick up Nalia/Imoen/Edwin in your group, then your character will fit the role of backup mage nicely. And if you don't mind missing out on your PC getting access to high level spells, it'll do just fine.

 

I would use the UAI to use the Holy Avenger. That's all.

 

I'm not sure I would recommend that for three reasons.

1. I find that multi-classed mages have a much longer life expectancy if they use a shield, and you can't with Carsomyr.

2. You can't backstab with it.

3. You only have so many proficiency points, and you'll probably be better off spending them on weapons you CAN backstab with, such as katanas, scimitars, etc.

 

Carsomyr was quite nice, as it allowed me to deal on my own with nearly every challenge. But since some point it became boring and not so effective.

 

Wouldn't bother with Carsomyr. It's powerful, but if you're a thief then you're better off using a backstab weapon. UAI might be decent for the scarlet ninja-to though. Why would a multiclass mage need a shield? Stoneskin/mirror image/mislead is shield enough.

 

I usually use shields for bonuses they give to resistances and the like, more than for the AC bonus. I have to admit that I make very poor use of mislead. Then again, I rarely play a F/M/T. I much prefer F/T and then some combo of Scarlet Ninja-to offhand and Celestial Fury main hand is more effective.