lonesome hero

Remove all ads!

i read a few articles about finishing the game with just your character and usually its recommended to create a multiclass kensai/thief/mage

the problem is that i loath elves and their kin so i was wondering which class i should pick for a human chara? (knowing i wont dual-class because of the major drawbacks)

 

Major drawbacks? Of dual-classing? Other than a brief period where you are weaker, dual-classing actually increases the power of the character more often than not. The way experience works out, multi and dual classed characters tend to be more powerful at high levels than their pure-classed counterparts. On the other hand, as this is the SoA forum, you may not get enough experience to properly play that character, so not dual classing isn't that bad an idea.

Do you intend playing with a party or soloing?

Assuming that you are soloing (you appear to be), a monk, an inquisitor, a sorcerer, a bard or a form of mage are good choices. Multi-classes tend to be good when soloing, but if you are adament that you want to be a human, one of the above classes should do well for you.

 

i thought that after dual-classing a character can never advance further in his first class

 

Yep, but the benefits of advancing in that class begin to diminish at higher levels. This is why the Kensai (13) > Mage is very popular. After 13th level, all fighters gain are a few hit points and a Thac0 reduction. Advancing as a mage gets you all the benefits of those kensai levels, but with the ability to use mage spells for buffing and extra damage.

OTOH, dual-classing works best with the higher experience cap of ToB, so SoA isn't the optimum for its benefits.

 

Might I ask how you would be able to create a kensai/thief/mage?

 

You'd have to create a Fighter/Mage/Thief and SK the Fighter into Kensai.

 

alright but as i understand it this reduction is crucial for your fighter to keep up against thougher opponents in regular swordfight

unless there are spells which enable you to magically reduce your thac0 in proportion to your mage's level then i guess you ll have to resort to spellcasting exclusively against tough to hit opponents

 

As I understand he is solo'ing so having to level up a mage alone from level 1 to 14 wouldn't be a pleasant experience.

 

another good point thus only multiclass kensai/mage will do and since this is specific to elves and half-breed elves i guess i m screwed

 

Once he is dualled, he have to read so much scrolls and memorize spells, so he can gain tens of thousands of experience.

 

Leveling up as a solo mage hard?

What have you been smoking ChickenIsGood?

Other than the usual method of saving the end of quests until you have dualled, so you gain the experience in your mage class, there are (as Argohir mentioned) scrolls.

By the time you have 13 Kensai levels, you should be able to get the gold to purchase a fair few scrolls. By this time, you should have already collected a lot of them, so by mass memorisation after dualling, you will skip all of the first few levels.

Mages are the easiest class to level up in- thieves are close, but aren't quite as simple.

Not true. Firstly, the opponents aren't all that hard to hit in the first place (especially not with the Kensai bonuses and the magic equipment you will have picked up).

Secondly, buffing will make you a lot more survivable (eg Stoneskin, PFMW and Spirit Armour).

Thirdly, magic can be used to increase your thac0 and number of attacks. With Improved Haste you will have twice as many attacks- the benefit here is obvious. I will quite confidently tell you that a 13th level Kensai who cast Tenser's Transformation on himself will be superior to a 19th level Kensai (You will only reach level 19 without ToB installed). As the Kensai/Mage is more powerful even when he has cast a spell that negates his spellcasting (his main advantage), I don't see why some people don't understand the superiority of the dual-class.

Apologies to all for the long post.

/end rant