Contemplating Mage/Barbarian

[ZaramMaldovar]

So before you say anything; yes, I mean Mage/Barbarian and not Barbarian/Mage. I wanted to give myself a challenge and create a fun new character all at the same time.

That being said, if I start with a Mage and transition into a Barbarian rather than the other way around (assuming such a feat is possible) what tactics should I employ and what level is best to switch?

If switching to Barbarian isn't possible, I guess I'm perfectly okay switching to vanilla Fighter though that's less fun.

 

[JustKneller]

I'm not sure you can switch to a barbarian. I'm pretty sure that the "new" classes (Monk, Barbarian, Sorcerer) are prohibited from multiclassing.

I would think the best level to switch is level 3 (and also be a specialist). I'm not being a smartass. Those couple levels of mage will give you access to wands and scrolls, as well as all the other mage specific items. Meanwhile, your hit points don't take too bad of a hit (but you're losing potentially 24hp depending on Con). At level 3, with Evermemory, you can have 6 level 1 spells, and you'll even have a couple level 2 spells. You're obviously not going to want to give up armor to combat cast, but really the utility spells (knock, invisibility, identify, etc.) are going to be your wheelhouse. An Illusionist is good. There are no level 1/2 necromancy spells that you can't live without. An Enchanter isn't bad for the same reasons.

Your tactics would basically just be a fighter with a few tricks up their sleeve. I'd probably go whole hog on staves+++++, and 2hw++, and then a ranged weapon for good measure. Once you get the staff of the magi, it's easy street.

 

[ZaramMaldovar]

@JustKneller
Excellent advice, tho I might choose to gain at least a couple more levels than that. Definitely can have some fun with Quarterstaffs and Bows. There's some really nice Staffs and Bows in BG2

 

[JustKneller]

My only concern is that your hit points are really going to suffer. You'll be super squishy, which is normally ok for a mage because they build to unbridled power, but then you're not going to have that power. If you're in a party, you could do some kind of archer-type and stay in the back. Tensers might help with that, maybe. But, I can't think of where the edge is with a middling mage in a dual class. I'm looking at the spell lists now, and I'm not seeing a clever path. Maybe I'm just not that clever.

 

[JustKneller]

@ZaramMaldovar

Also, whatever you do build, post it. I'm curious how this one is going to go.

 

[mlnevese]

I'm curious what could happen to a mage that would make him give up the art and become a member of the Hulk Smash clan

 

[JustKneller]

I'm curious what could happen to a mage that would make him give up the art and become a member of the Hulk Smash clan

I mean, it's definitely unusual. Perhaps if you, I dunno, discover you're actually the child of the Lord of Murder and want to explore your heritage...

When I found out my uncle would make his pasta sauce from fresh tomatoes instead of just opening a jar, I had him teach me everything. Granted, it's not the same, but in both cases, there's a lot of red everywhere so maybe it's not all that different.

 

[Nimran]

Gorion’s death affected him so badly that he gave up on learning magic, but that left him without a clear direction to follow, which only made him increasingly agitated as he questions his own existence and purpose in life, all while fighting (or embracing) the inner murderous intent of his heritage. It would only be natural that he would sometimes slip into a state of uncontrolled rage that may, or may not, lead to multiple people lying dead on the ground.

 

[WarChiefZeke]

If you can't go barbarian, berserker is clearly the same flavor and intention.

I just like the idea that he was always an angry, impatient man, even during his studies. He was never a fighter, never had the training, so he fell back on what he knew, his spells. But, having gained combat experience, he realized what he really likes doing is up-close-and-personal violence, sates his temper.

 

[Skatan]

I played a multiclassed barbarian/mage once by adding the class/kit myself in keeper. I wonder if it can be done the other way around, plain mage into fighter but then add the barbarian as a "kit" in Keeper? But this was ages ago now and my memory is more than a little rusty (it's almost evaporated).

But if you do go specialist mage, you can't add a second kit so try out plain mage first.

 

[JustKneller]

You can't put a kit on a second class, unfortunately. I went deep down that rabbit hole trying to turn Imoen into a wild mage.

 

[WarChiefZeke]

You can't put a kit on a second class, unfortunately. I went deep down that rabbit hole trying to turn Imoen into a wild mage.

a dual class to kit mod for all IE games exists on the beamdog forums