4 or more fighter levels?

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I´m having thoughts about adding fighter levels to some of my characters, my wizard and cleric in particular. Is it worth it, seeing that I´ll lose some levels of their spell-casting class? How many fighter levels would you give your wizards and clerics? And does it really pay off to add more than 4 levels of fighter to the paladin of Helm?

 

I never put any fighter levels into my primary caster or healer, in HoF, caster levels serve you far better then fighter levels.

 

Well, I figured that at least my cleric tank would gain somewhat of an edge.

 

Don't give it to your wiz! You can give your cleric one fighter level if you want him to use better weapons. Wait with giving more until you have all spell levels and enough castings in lvl8. Then 3 more fighter-lvls can be worth it, but you won't probably reach there in normal mode.
More than 4 levels can be worth it after cleric-lvl 20, at least if you focus on melee, but I would probably not take them since 2 extra HP/level ain't much and there aren't that many interresting feats later on. Better durations/damage on spells and some extra casting is better.

 

I wouldn't give fighter levels to my wizard or cleric, at least before level20 is reached.

Fighter levels benefit only your character, caster levels benefit your whole party since you can cast more buffing spells and the duration is longer.

When I finished my game no character had reached more than level 17 which is needed for the highest level spells.

I wouldn't add more than 4 fighter levels to a paladin of Helm since you won't need more feats if you chose the right ones before.
But if you don't use the paladin special abilities like smite evil or spells you can take fighter levels as well for extra feats.

If you play HoF mode, get at least 27 wizard levels for the powerful shades spell.

 

I never add any MC to my primary casters - every level in another class takes away from the highest spell levels you will get.

That said I do indeed like to MC some of my secondary casters. I am especially fond of the barbarian X/ Stormlord 4X build using your choice of half-orc or ghostwise halfling. This becomes a true tank very early that can buff itself and in the late game his spellcasting can be a huge advantage over a plain non-casting tank.

 

I always find myself wondering if the, "Maximized attacks" feat works with mordenkainen's sword - or black blade of disaster.

Just four little levels of fighter, its tempting...

 

4 fighter levels ...


With mages, no, unless you really are trying to roleplay some sort of spellsword. True mages are hurt by losing those 4 levels.


With clerics, as others have said, I wouldn't bother until after attaining 20 levels of cleric. After that point, clerics do not really gain much more from taking additional cleric levels. Fighter levels will improve your combat abilities.

That said, if you really want to role-play more of a battle-cleric who might be more of a 50/50 mix, go for it. Still, in IWD2, even pure clerics with solid STR and CON's are fairly strong in melee to begin with. Some fighter levels might help out a little, but probably not as much as the lost cleric levels in the long run.

(And the same can probably be said for druids.)

An interesting thought might be for a druid or a cleric (with the proper alignment, of course) to cross-over and take cleric or druid levels. They'd get the benefit of their already high WIS for some additional spells, albeit low level spells.


Something else to consider. If you're a LG cleric of Ilmater, rather than 4 levels of fighter, perhaps you'd be better off taking 2 levels of Pally of Ilmater.

 

ArtEChoke, Maximised Attacks doesn't work properly anyway, so don't worry that you're missing out on any potential extra damage Mordy-Sword-wise.

 

Fighter levels are obsolete in HoF mode, but if you want to gain weapon proficiencies, err no feats in the easy way, pick one level and that will be enough. Further specialisation is not worth the effort I fear. Casters are better left to level up in their own areas. High level spells are the battle-breakers. And only possible way to advance in HoF.