1. If I have a fighter/mage, can he get enough experience to cast 9th level spells, if so, when?
2. I'm looking for 4 weapons for 2 dual weilding fighter/mages, I'm thinking Celestial Fury, Angruvadal +5(Blade of Roses before that), Dakkon Zerth blade, but I can't think of a 4th, any ideas?
3. It seems most people suggest one weapon when using greater whirlwind but no one ever says why, what's the reason for this and if it's true, what should the above fighter/mages use as a good 2 handed weapon?

1. Yes, but not until you're well within ToB. In order to cast 9th level wizard spells you have to be an 18th level mage. That occurs when you reach 3 million XP. Since you are multi-classed, it really means that you have to reach 6 million XP. So yes, you will be able to do it eventually, but you'll already be pretty far into the game.

2. How about Axe of the Unyielding, Flail of the Ages, Runehammer, Crom Faeyr. The list is practically endless. If you are set though to sticking to swords, you have most of the main ones covered.

3. The main reason people tell you to use a two handed weapon with whirlwind or greater whirlwind attack is you get 10 attacks regardless of whether or not you are wielding one or two weapons. If you are dual wielding you don't get 10 attacks with each weapon. Since two handed weapons do more damage and usually have more status effects associated with them, so you're getting the most bang for your buck with a two handed weapon. Recommendations - Staff of the Ram, Ravager, Gram the Sword of Grief, Ixil's Spike. I know all of those are upgradable to at least +5 and I know some are upgradable to +6.

1. I do everything in SofA. I then clean out Watcher's Keep after Saradush. Between Demorgon and before I enter Yaga Shura's stronghold in the Marching Mountains is about when my fighter/mage gets 9th level spells. He won't get a second 9th level spell till almost the end of the game (3,750,000 as a multi-class character).

2 & 3. It's kind of hard to answer these questions, because weapon choices always depend on what the rest of the party is carrying. In my party, Minsc carries most of the two-handed weapons. So, because my fighter/mage has so many defensive resources, I have him dual-wield.

My guiding principle behind dual-wielding is two concepts:

Concept #1: Have as your main-hand weapon something that inflicts nasty debilitative effects. The more you strike with it, the more those nasty effects come into play.

Concept #2: Have as your off-hand weapon a weapon that provides defensive benefits.

During my run through SofA, I always have my fighter/mage dual-wield the Celestial Fury (stun power, electrical damage) and The Equalizer (immunity to confusion and charm).

In TofB I've often went with Flail of Ages (elemental damage + slow power) and Hindo's Doom (+10% magic resistance).

I'm recently trying out an experiment whereby Anomen uses the Flail of Ages instead of Crom Faeyr. My fighter mage is now going with the Axe of the Unyielding + Hindo's Doom. I'm starting to think that I actually like this setup better.

[ July 13, 2003, 00:21: Message edited by: Beren ]

@ Beren

Good idea. I always have Anomen with the Flail of the Ages. I never dual wield with him anyway, and as a fighter turned cleric he can get 5 stars in flails by the time it's upgraded to +5. Yes, Axe of the Unyielding is probably an improvement, and Anomen can't use it.

Okay I should have been a bit more specific. For one, I haven't played through ToB yet, just got it and got to the beginning of it with my bard before I decided it was too easy with just him and Aerie so I'm starting over. So, I don't know what some of those weapons are. Some of them might even be SoA weapons for all I know, but I never use more than 3 people in my parties so I don't have to look for too many weapons. Where is the Runehammer and Axe of Unyielding? Secondly, I plan on using me, Solaufein (I'm going to do very little in chapter 2 before I get him) and either Jaheria or Imoen so how long do you guys think it'd take to get level nine spells, doing all quests? Third, I've never seen any of those 2-handed weapons, where can I get them? I'll look for the stats myself. Thanks for all your help, sorry about the long winded post. :p

One of the reason why you should use on handed style if whirlwinding and greater whirlwinding is beacuse if you have one prof slot in that weapon style you get criticals both on 19's and 20's and one AC bonus and with a second slot you get another AC bonus which makes up a bit for the lack of shield.