Just when I thought I was out...

[JustKneller]

I don't know why, but I suddenly have the urge to do another BG trilogy run (vanilla, no EE, no mods/hacks, just the standard patches). This one solo, and with a thief multi. I can't decide if I want to do it with a Fighter/Thief or a Cleric/Thief. I figure the F/T has the advantage of allowing a Halfling (personal preference) and broader weapon choices (namely darts for spellcasters). The F/T will be stronger in combat (THAC0 and APR), but my intent is to take a more indirect approach to things (backstabs, traps, etc.). On the other hand, the C/T broadens my toolkit. Every level has spells to support the thief and buff for backstabs and general combat. Weapon limitation isn't the biggest deal since staves are so great. The Cleric side ultimately loses 6 in THAC0 and the extra 1.5 APR. I also have to be a gnome (not as much of a fan, personal prefence, and also lose the death/poison save bonus) or a Half-Orc (which I can't do in vanilla BG1, but lose all the shorty saves anyway). They also don't get whirlwinds (unless I do a human Swash/Cleric with some awkward leveling). But, their HLAs aren't terrible and tbh, I'll probably be leaning into thief HLAs (e.g. traps). Anyway, I'm on the fence here with this decision. Can you make a case for one over the other?

Either that, or maybe I'll just do another IWD run.

 

[O_Bruce]

I think Cleric/Thief works better with the goal of indirect approach. I'd also recommend against going for Swashbuckler/Cleric multiclass, as Swashbuckler can't backstab, which collides with the indirect approach.

Alternatively, since you mentioned IWD run, you can go with both Fighter/Thief and Cleric/Thief in your party and see how they work together

 

[JustKneller]

That's right! Swashie loses backstab. Well, they're out. I guess it's just the F/T or C/T.

As for IWD (if I get analysis paralysis with the BG character and go that route), my new thing is to roll up a party the old fashioned way (3d6 DTL) and just run with that.

 

[WarChiefZeke]

Swashbuckler loses backstab but they end up being one of the most interesting classes by endgame if you can suffer them that long. With whirlwind, higher base damage than a fighter, access to all spells and items thanks to UAI, the busted traps, and AC so good it's one of the only classes able to AC tank in TOB, they are a swiss-army knife of unique features.

But they are never bad since the extra damage and AC matters a lot at the earlier levels, and they will level fast so they will be able to keep up.

Don't underestimate traps in general. They do a lot of damage and it's never bad to have them down. At level 1-5, they will one-shot most enemies you will come across. Later you have other tools and they are still always useful until TOB where they jump up in usefulness. At those earlier levels you also have other thieves to handle the alternative thief duties.

 

[WarChiefZeke]

I should also mention that for dual classing, your class abilities for your original class use the combined average level of both your classes. This is still true for the EE.

Why do I bring this up? Because I once rolled an Assassin 5/Fighter who took advantage of this engine perk. I assume you can do the same with Bounty Hunter.

By mid-to-late SoA he had the poison weapon ability of a 9th level thief, and later a 12th. His traps improved too.

Quite a lot of firepower gained for those 5 levels, and the hit to his HP wasn't as high as you might think after getting the BG1 CON tome. He was a little behind Korgan, but not much.

I imagine you could make some other fun builds this way. Say, Priest of Talos 5/Fighter. Almost pure melee with a unique damage shield and a couple wizard-tier nukes.

 

[Skatan]

So many years later, I yet I still learn something new Never noticed that WarChiefZeke, I mostly played MC back in the day.