Dual-classing a Thief -- in game, what's a good time?

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IWD is a very linear game. What's a good point to dual-class a Thief into another class?

What I mean is, when will be a good time to go for a while without needing a Thief?

this is with TotLM installed.

 

You don't need a thief at all. Locks can be picked with the knock spell or bashed (only one unimportant chest can't be opened with champion's strength or in earth elemental form). Traps can be avoided or triggered by someone with many HP, good saving throws or protective spells.

So you'd better think about how many thief and other class you want.

Dualing later doesn't mean having to play longer without a thief since you'll gain XP faster later.

If you want to dual to mage, I would choose level 9 or 10.

There are no locks/traps in chapter5 and early in chapter6 if I remember correctly.

I wouldn't play without a thief on my first run even for a short time, it just feels wrong roleplaywise.

The game isn't very difficult, you can create 6 characters yourself, so you really don't need to be without a thief for a part of the game.
A F/M/T multiclass is better than any dualclassed thief anyway.

 

Depends on what class you are dualling to. What do you want the thief to be able to do. And what other classes you have in your party.

When I had a Ranger (stealth) and Bard (pick-pocketing) in my party, I got the Thief to L9 so he had above 100% in the rest of the thief skills. Then dualled him.
While the thief class was dormant, I had the priests memorise a couple of find traps. Thus I atleast knew where to pick my way.

Dragon's Eye is a mess of traps. If possible, avoid having your thief inactive there. Dualling after that should be OK.

 

I'm considering replacing the Gnome Illusionist/Thief in my party with a Human Thief > Mage. I would be able to max out my "useful" thief skills (Locks & Traps) and then become a wizard the rest of the way (this is my plan anyway). I want to maximize my potential with this character, and since I don't scout too much, that means getting the best trapfinder/lockpicker possible, and then sinking every experience point I can into the Mage class.

 

In my opinion at no time. Considering how vulnerable your char will be at low levels in melee-heavy IWD it won't be fun to play at all. Stay as you are: Single class.

Multiclass is way better, but that does not really answer your question, as it would suggest that you restart your game.

 

Ragusa, I'm just fiddling around with ideas. I've created several parties still hanging about in the Prologue.

I'm really leaning towards going with a Gnome Illusionist/Thief though. The higher INT helps, and being a specialist offsets the lower amount of spells of a multiclassed character. I also like the huge saving throw bonus being a Gnome grants me.

 

In a non-HoF game you'll miss a lot spells unless you have a single or dualclassed (specialist) mage.

But I wouldn't dual a thief, I'd rather dual a fighter at level 3,7 or 9 or a cleric at level 9 so you don't have to visit an expensive temple when your main cleric dies.

 

I'm playing a game with ToTL installed.

kmonster, I don't understand your second paragraph.

 

It's pretty obvious what he means. With dualing he means the first class levels when changing classes from thief to mage, fighter to mage, cleric to mage or whatever ... iirc a fighter is best dualed at lvl 6 or 9 to whatever second class you prefer.

I guess his choice to dual a cleric at lvl 9 means he understands that this char then will have resurrection spells, and that indeed comes in handy.
However, a multiclass cleric-whatever character has that too, just as late, and more of it all through the game (especially those other combat support spells), that is, his cleric levels will not be inactive after dualclassing.

Btw: IMO the most interesting mc cleric variant is the half-elf ranger-cleric. He'll be able to cast both druid and cleric spells. Quite versatile and powerful when armed with sling and mace or flail.

A fighter is always a good 'base' when dualclassing. Anyway, I think dualclassing is hyped (folks only look at all the proficiency slots) and dubious, and that multiclass is probably just as good, if not better.

 

Personally, I'm a big fan of multiclassing. I hate waiting while a class lies dormant.

This is one exception, however, since I plan on doing it fairly early, and I don't value the class I'm switching the character to very much either.

 

If you dualclass your only thief to mage you'll miss him anytime you trigger a trap. Your thief>mage will also be low on hitpoints (a multiclass version will even have fewer).

If you dualclass a fighter you won't miss him that much since all other party members can fight and he'll have many HP.
A fighter9/mage is also better regarding fighting than a paladin, even if he doesn't use offensive spells.

If you dualclass a cleric to mage at level 9, he'll have more HP than the thief version.
Since mages stay usually in the back he's the least likely one to die.
You don't have to avoid combat with your other (ranger/)cleric since he can be raised by your c/m.

The dualing period will be much shorter than the time it takes to build up the first class.

A bard can handle the mage duties pretty well.

 

How is a Fighter 9/Mage dual a better fighter than a Paladin? I'm confused.

 

Fighter9/mage10, 500,000 XP, ***** in longswords(or another weapon):

THACO: 12 - 3 (str) - 4 (weapon like longsword +4) - 3 (specialisation bonus) = 2
AC0 or worse are only missed on a critical.

Since you'll cast buffing spells like emotion hope,emotion courage or recitation he'll auto-hit nearly any enemy.

Number of attacks/round: 1(base) + 0.5(fighter7+) + 1.5(specialisation bonus) = 3.


Paladin 10, 600,000 XP:

THACO: 11 - 3 (str) - 4 (weapon +4) - 1 (specialisation bonus) = 3

Number of attacks/round: 1(base) + 0.5(fighter7+) + 0.5(specialisation bonus) = 2.


He'll gain an extra half attack at level 13 but he'll never have as many melee attacks as the fighter9/mage.

There are hardly any monsters where the extra thac0 he'll gain later gets beneficial.
The +3 extra damage for having ***** instead of ** in his weapon the fighter gets is more important.

The hidden paladin only sword (I didn't find it in my game) is no match for the two longswords of action +4 you'll find.


Regarding defense:

The +2 protection from evil paladin bonus is useful but mirror image is far better and there are even more defensive arcane spells.
A F/M can wear any armor a paladin can and mage only robes which offer good AC, extra bonusses and can be worn with RoP+2.

 

But, if dual-classing is definitely a better option, why not go all the way to Fighter level 13?