POLL: Poll on Demand

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OK, this one is dedicated to Bard - so you're welcome in advance.

This will compare multi-class to dual-class based on the class instead of the XPs. We will go by standard BG2 rules here, and say you can take a kit for your first class, but not for your second class. Also, since there are so many dual-class options when you include kits, I won't list a specific kit. I'll just say for example, dual-class fighter kit/cleric. Most people will say beserker/cleric is the most logical option, but kensai/clerics are actually very powerful.

Also, in the interest of fairness, I'll only be including two-class multi-classed characters. Sure, a F/M/T is a valid multi-class, but there's really no dual-classed character that is an accurate comparison.

Anyway, I hope this represents a comprehensive list:

Multi-classes:

F/C
F/D
F/M
F/T
C/M
C/T
R/C
M/T

So for the dual-classes, we'll include the following:

Dual-class options (first class can be a kit):

Fighter (or fighter kit)/cleric
Fighter (or fighter kit)/druid
Fighter (or fighter kit)/mage
Fighter (or fighter kit)/thief
Ranger (or ranger kit except archer)/cleric
Thief (or thief kit)/mage
Thief (or thief kit)/cleric
Cleric (or cleric kit)/mage

(Note: those last two are barely viable in terms of dual-class options, but we'll list them anyway.)

As everyone knows, I'm a big fan of multi-classes, so in almost every case, I'm going to be taking the multi-classes. The only one IMO where a case can be made for dual-classing is a F/D, to get over the 1.5 million and 3 million XP hump that a druid has to overcome.

In the poll I only included the most logical dual-class conversions. For example, you wouldn't dual-class a mage to a thief (even though it's allowed) but you would dual-class a thief to a mage. The one exception was the fighter-thief. Most people would start with a fighter and dual to a thief, but some people like the idea of starting with an assassin, and then dual-classing to a fighter. So that's the only option where I have it going both ways.

Poll Information
This poll contains 8 question(s). 34 user(s) have voted.
You may not view the results of this poll without voting.

Poll Results: Poll on Demand (34 votes.)

Fighter (or kit)/Cleric or Fighter/Cleric (Choose 1)
* Dual-class fighter to cleric - 50% (17)
* Multi-class fighter/cleric - 50% (17)

Fighter (or kit)/Druid or Fighter/Druid (Choose 1)
* Dual-class fighter to druid - 38% (13)
* Multi-class fighter/druid - 62% (21)

Fighter (or kit)/Mage or Fighter/Mage (Choose 1)
* Dual-class fighter to mage - 35% (12)
* Multi-class fighter/mage - 65% (22)

Fighter (or kit)/Thief or Thief (or kit)/Fighter or Fighter/Thief (Choose 1)
* Dual-class fighter to thief - 24% (8)
* Dual-class thief to fighter - 12% (4)
* Multi-class fighter/thief - 65% (22)

Cleric (or kit)/Mage or Cleric/Mage (Choose 1)
* Dual-class cleric to mage - 12% (4)
* Multi-class cleric/mage - 88% (30)

Ranger (or kit except archer)/Cleric or Ranger/Cleric (Choose 1)
* Dual-class ranger to cleric - 26% (9)
* Multi-class ranger/cleric - 74% (25)

Thief (or kit)/Cleric or Cleric/Thief (Choose 1)
* Dual-class thief to cleric - 32% (11)
* Multi-class cleric/thief - 68% (23)

Thief (or kit)/Mage or Mage/Thief (Choose 1)
* Dual-class thief to mage - 44% (15)
* Multi-class mage/thief - 56% (19)

 

Multi for all, except two: Dual Thief to Cleric and dual Thief to Mage.

 

That is exactly the same as I voted.

 

That is a whole bunch of questions. Tended to pick more of 'dual' than 'multi', as advancing in only one class tends to give the best benefits -especially with mages. Thieves aren't that useful once you have enough skillpoints divided, so dual is the best option there too.

 

I agree completely. I stated you could make an arguement for the F/D, but I still went with the multi-class there too.

 

Thank you for that, Aldeth.

F/C - DC
F/D - DC
F/M - Multi
F/T - Multi
C/M - Multi
C/R - Multi
C/T - DC
M/T - DC

It is interesting to see that only F/C is a clear dual-class favorite. I would have that that F/D would have been as well.

 

No contest. All multiclass.

 

With the exception of thief-fighter (or vice versa), fighter-druid and thief-mage dual-classes, I'd go multi on everything. The advantages in TOB are immense for multi-class characters, and as has been pointed out, two pools of HLAs are too good to pass up in the majority of cases.

I just wish there was a valid fighter/bard multi/dual-classing option in 2nd Ed rules. Oh well.

 

It's interesting that nearly half the poeple prefer thief-mage dual class. I can only assume that these people take swashbucklers as their first class, as they will be dual-classing before they get to a good backstab multiplier anyway, and getting specialized in melee weapons (especially quarterstaffs) would be useful. Is this an accurate assumption?

 

Why is it that Multiclassing is so popular? I find in some cases Dual classing is more appropriate, particularly as a thief, once you get to a certain point with the your lock picks, traps and backstabs, isn't there more potential in switching to another class and taking that one as far as you can?

 

@ Niskers:
Sure, if you don't mind missing out on the thief HLAs.

The defining reason why multi is better than dual is the HLAs. Personally, I said goodbye to dualing when I bought ToB.

 

IMO, at late SOA/TOB levels a multi class character will always get the best of a comparison with a dual class character.

What's interesting is that sometimes the more apt comparison is with a single class.
e.g. mages hit their maximum level at 7.875 million XP, so there's 125,000 XP a single class mage isn't using. So why not have 9 levels of thief? Or if you prepared to "make do" with a level 30 mage then you could have 12 thief levels or 10 levels of fighter.

 

Well of course a dual-classed character is more versatile than a single-classed character. What kind of comparison is that? You should look at earl grey's post on the other poll to see the defining difference between MC/DC. Generally speaking the main difference between a MC fighter/mage and a DC figter/mage is that the dual-class is a significantly better mage at very high experience when compared to the multi-class. However, in terms of fighter ability, the DC can't begin to compare to the MC. Basically, you have a fighter that's just as powerful as a regular fighter, ranger, paladin or beserker (fighter bonuses stop coming once you hit level 21), plus you get the ability to cast high level mage spells (although you won't get the ability to cast level 9 or 10 spells until you break 6 million total XP).

[ July 15, 2004, 17:12: Message edited by: Aldeth the Foppish Idiot ]

 

Multiclass for everything except Fighter/Cleric, Thief/Mage, and Thief/Cleric.

 

IMO, it all depends on what kind of character you want to make, and how much you think he/she needs to benefit from a specific class/kit.

For example, if I make a Kensai(9)/Mage it's more because I want a Mage who can hold a long sword rather than a character who excels in both fighting and magic. Whether or not the price of DC is worth it is apparent if you try to PVP a single class Mage, a Fighter/Mage DC and Fighter/Mage MC.
While the Fighter/Mage MC might be at a disadvantage against the Mage as the gap between their magical prowess can easily be at his disadvantage , the Fighter/Mage DC is not as affected. In fact, it's the single class Mage who finds himself at a distinct disadvantage against the Fighter/Mage DC.