POLL: Fighter/Cleric: Multi- or Dual- Classed?

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Orignially posted by Faraaz:

I think the number of attacks is determined by the level of Fighter. 13 (according to AD&D rules anyway) maxes out the number of attacks at 2/round (before taking Specialization into account).

After reading this thread, I'm leaning towards the multiclassed Cleric/Fighter. My only issue here is: if I'm going multiclass, aren't I better off playing a Cleric/Ranger than a Cleric/Fighter? Sure, I'd be restricted to playing a half-elf, and wouldn't get those neat dwarven save bonuses, but having access to all druid spells as well as cleric ones is a huge advantage.

 

Absolutely. Cleric/Ranger eats F/C mc and dc for breakfast.

Ironskins anyone?

 

Plus you still get to choose a favourite enemy and the ability to hide (when wearing light armour)... now, a good human cleric (Lathander) could become a ranger if one was ready to sacrifice all the high level spells (the only real drawback compared to a regular ranger would be the impossibility of using some weapons).

What is important when choosing between multi and dual classes -here Fighter/Cleric- is which class do you want your character to end up with.

A dualled class character's first class should be considered as a simple set of bonuses which corresponds to a given kit.

Hence the dualled class Fighter/Cleric (preferably Berserker/Cleric) is a Cleric who gets a higher number of attacks and proficiencies. If you consider Anomen for instance although he shouldn't have been able to become a Cleric, his weapons have been so badly chosen... that he doesn't get more than ++... nevertheless compared to a regular Cleric he is a much better fighter.

A multiclass character is an altogether different matter, such a character will not level up as a Cleric as fast as a dual class character would (lower levels in the fighter kit won't require that much XP) furthermore, the choice of HLA will make of the multiclass character more of a fighter.

A dual class Fighter/Cleric is a Cleric who won't get past the 39th level but will benefit from up to 12 levels of Fighter (Berserker).
The question is whether the impossibility of choosing a Cleric kit is worth 12 levels in a Fighter kit.

@Faraaz: you are absolutely right about the distinction between ToB and SoA.

 

Faraaz actually said it a lot better than I did. The reason MC characters are more powerful than DC characters is because of the HLA's. If you don't have access to HLA's, then I completely agree that you're better off with a DC character.

@ Caradhras

Of course 12 fighter levels is worth sacrificing a clerical kit. The special abilities of the kits are either made up for being a fighter or can be provided by other party members.