Pure mages and pure thieves...

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I think it's plain and simple that single-classed thieves suck good deal. Let's make one Halfling Fighter/Thief. We put him:
17
19
18
And the others are of no consequence at all... Why he is better than the singleclassed thief?
1. Because he can use every weapon from the fighter ethos and use it good deal;
2. He can master twice in every weapon he chose;
3. He can use helmets;
4. He can use many things that are for fighters - e.g. the Girdle of Stromnos is an awesome improvement for him...

So I think it's plain and simple that singleclassed thieves are of no use at all...


About single-mages... Are they better... Well, one of my last games went through with a mage/thief and I was quite content of her. The first game she finished with thief9/mage10 and she could hurl the opponent with spells and in the same time use the bow very well in battles... She had very good HP and was in the end 105HP, which was absolutely brilliant for her...
But I think it's a matter of taste - the single class character can excel faster than the multi-class.

 

Hang on :
You finished the game with your mage[9]/thief[10]? Do you have HOW installed? Or were you paying at easiest setting?
In my game, with a full party, every multi-class is level 9 in atleast one disipline while exiting from The Severed Hand.
I think I would prefer a Fighter/Thief to a Mage/Thief in a full party, else F/M/T to save some points.

 

I found a fighter/thief better than a single class thief as well. Yes, a standard thief will advance quicker but you don't really need your thief skills until you've advanced another level anyway. I found a halfling best as you can use the helm of the trusted defender.

I think single class mages are possibly better as you'll get quicker access to the high level spells, but I used a cleric/mage so me mage would survive better at lower levels.

 

Yes, single class thieves aren't worth taking. Any multiclass thief is much better, since you don't need to put much on thief skills. One interesting choice is dual-classing thief to something, but I haven't tried that yet.

Single class mages aren't good, but then, I always pick up specialist, because they get more spells. Thwy will miss some spells, but that's why I also take another magic-user character.

 

Hmm... I still think fighter/thief isn't a bad idea:

I think fighter(9)/thief(x) would serve its duty well. 9d10 HP plus no cap on bonus to HP for high constitution, exceptional strength (18/xx), nice -9 to thac0, +1/2 attack per round for fighter level 7 (also a good option for you if you don't have CON greater than 16 and would get 8 HP less rather than 12 HP less, 14 for dwarves with 19 CON, for switching to thief earlier and don't really mind 2 thac0). Well, I must say I just like my fighters to have that level 9 for its significance in PNP roleplaying. Apart from HoF you're not going to amass enough XP to make the 13/x option work (+1/2 attack per round, better still thac0, a bit more HP). Well, actually you could amass enough XP for thief(14). Fighter(13) takes 1250K XP, then thief(14)takes 880K and you're so much ahead of fighter(16) you would otherwise be (plus your favourite skills are already maxed out). Notice only that 2130K will likely come in middle to late TotL, if ever, unless HoF mode. It would take a masochist to carry such a character through half the game. Or a bored man...

Another thing is that you don't really need many thief levels for basic thieving 'duties' to be performed efficiently. You could dual your thief quite early, but again, fighter levels cost a bit in XP and will take long to acquire. You will also *not* get nice HP or exceptional strength.

Ergo: It's generally better to dual from fighter to thief. Generally, I say. Maybe you need something different. I don't know if in IWD dual-classed fighters (fighter as first class) are still elligible for weapon grandmastery, but one is sure: you won't get it for dualling into fighter class.

You can also take a multi-classed fighter/thief, which will be better than a single-class thief and not that much behind a fighter. Your thac0 will be smaller and you'll be limited to leather armour, but you'll be able to scout, sneak and backstab for tactical advantage. If you don't feel like backstabbing and don't really need all that scouting, you can wear plate armour for battles and leather for exploring.

Now back to mages:

If you only need someone to detect traps and disarm them, level 6 or 7 even should be enough or level 8-9 for unfailing level of competence. If he duals to mage, he will be able to cast knock on chests and doors anyway. If you, however, prefer to include open locks in your skills (and I would), level 10 won't fail you. You could still wish to have a scout in your party, so I would say level 12-13 is quite enough for all skills except pickpocket to have nice values. Level 10 could make it perhaps, but below that it's challenging your luck. In any case, thief levels are cheap and d6 for HP is half again wizard's d4.

If you feel that abandoning your class (in the meaning that you can't advance in it even if your retain some or all its abilities) and/or don't like the larval period of dual-classed characters, you can take a multi-classed one.

Wizard/thief multi: some people like it, but it's not really a powerful combo, even if somehow amiable. You'll be able to get whatever thieving skills you need and some good protection. It's still better than single class thief if you know what you're doing when you select your spells.


I strongly discourage fighter/wizard/thieves or any other three class combinations in a large party. This would still make a good thief and not a very bad archer or supporting fighter, but quite a lame mage. Let's take 1500K XP:

Fighter: level 14, 9d10 + CON bonus + 15 HP, 6 base thac0, no problem wearing plate armour, 8 weapon slots (one grandmastery and one mastery if you go for 5/3)

Thief: level 16 (40K to 17), 9d6 + CON bonus (up to 2 for 16 CON) + 14 HP, 13 base thac0, 6 weapon slots

Wizard: level 14, 9d4 + 5 + CON bonus (up to 2 for 16 CON) HP, 16 base thac0, 3 weapon slots, spells: 5/5/5/4/4/2/1, max spell level 7, casting level 14

Fighter/wizard/thief: level 10/12/11, a bit more HP than a single class thief of his thief level, base thac0 10, 7 weapon slots, skill points as thief of his thief level, spells: 4/4/4/3/3, max spell level 5, casting level 11

Of course this is not bad if you don't dream of being a potent archmage but view your arcane casting as some sort of valuable addition. Note that you have to limit your armour to leather to use your thieving skills and remove it completely to cast anything. As far as I know there's no elven chain in IWD1 and good robe is only one. This way you only get a good robe if you're your party's main wizard (leeters learn this sentence by heart, please ). Your situation will change dramatically if you learn stoneskin, which is the reason why fighter/wizards and fighter/druids chop you into pieces before you make them squeal. However, high-level perks are not meant for you. By the time you take to reach fighter level 19, single class fighters will hit 40. The same amount (8000XP total, 2666K each class) gives you wizard level 17 when your fulltime wizard buddy will show off his 31 and level 22 rogue that could have been 40. Good you at least don't have to earn XP for 58 levels (hello 3E!) Well, in the hands of an experienced player, this combo could still be made nearly invincible.

Cleric/wizard/thief is a bit similar, although he sucks in melee combat even more than his above mentioned friend. Of course he has some healing, but you actually have to stand up after battle to heal yourself. Think of this one as even more high-level casting-impaired Aerie with some thieving skills.

Final note: This all is from the perspective of IE engine games (IWD1 with addons, BG saga). In pen and paper games there are lots more thieving skills and still the same amount of points you receive on level-up.

 

IIRC you can cast mage spells and use thieve abilities in the chainmail that the +bard character has got. It has AC2, +1 dex and 20% cold resist. I have no idea where to find it, does anybody know?

 

If you think that I can remember... Maybe it was higher than 9/10 maybe somewhere 12/13 - I can't remember exactly...