I'm busy with my monk, archer and barbarian now (multiplayer-game), but would be very intersted in a solo with one of these:

FIGHTER/MAGE/THIEF or FIGHTER/MAGE/CLERIC

I found a lot of threads praising the former, but none even bothering with the latter. You can surely get a whole lot of exp with a thief, but a cleric adds some cool spells and most notably is a great healing machine! Say Contingency with "Cure whatever Wounds" or even "Heal" (if possible)?

I love a healin' cleric, but never had great use for a thief. However, I never soloed, too! What's more important: Additional spells (you can only reach mage L6, but cleric L7, can't you?) and healing backup; or trapfinding/-disabling, unlocking (knock-spell), backstabbing ablity? Crom Faeyr is a must, so weaponry allowed by the cleric's ethos wouldn't be a problem (sling of everaard...).

I won't start a solo-game in the next two weeks, just wanted to hear your suggestions (as they are always most reliable).

P.S.: I never enjoyed backstabbing at all. But perhaps I'll get the idea?

Fighter/Mage/Thief I think is the best thing, you will find lots and lots of healings potions.

Backstabbing isn't so bad, just whack the mages with it, you don't have to use it all the time.

Dual wielding Crom Faeyr with Dakkon Zerth's blade (those bonus merchants) in an elven chain could be really nice I think.

DEFINATELY a F/M/T

You will want the trap disarming (read exp!) skills of the theif, as well as the back stabbing/hide in shadows ability . Also, your weapon selection will be MUCH better.

Then again, I've never played a f/m/c....is there anyone out there who has?

The F/M/T has unlimited resorces when it comes to tactics. The F/M/C can be interesting. So a cleric Vs. a Thief. The weapon of choices can be surpassed lots of good cleric weapons. And its OBSOLETE to chose the class from which weapons the game offers. but healing can be surpassed too. Potions etc. I like my thief's abilities especially detect illusion and remove traps and pickpocket and backstab and oh well I got carried away. Anyway the more classes the merrier, I say so I would rate F/M/C as my 2nd choice of PC

A F/M/C could be interesting, but I'm not really sure if it would actually add much to the character's abilities, considering what you'd be sacrificing. The range weapon options would be limited to sling only, which doesn't compare to a bow (even the sling of Everaard). Healing potions are everywhere in the game, but disarming traps and opening locks are a little tricky without a thief (a lot of your cleric spells would be used up for that). The m/t combination is also perfect for backstabbing with invisibility/improved invisibility spells, potions and (later in the game) the Staff of the Magi. But, I'm also biased since theives are probably my favourite class.

I was thinking of attempting a solo female M/T my next time through (it was going to be a bard, but they're just way too limited) by the name of Bambi. I just thought that the dialogue would be pretty funny, and the thought of all the 'Big Boys' (Firkraag, Kangaxx, Irenicus) being taken down by the mighty Bambi would be hilarious :D Still thinking on it though.

[This message has been edited by Gnolyn Lochbreaker (edited September 07, 2001).]

How do you dual wield a two-handed sword?

You don't...at least not legit. You can't dual two handed weapons...

Well, everyone here seems to like F/M/T more.

I personally prefer the solo F/M/C.

Reasons:

1) Will you please cut this bulls**t about having to have a thief in a game? I can't count how much times I've been through at least 6 Chapters of the game without a thief at all. YOU DON'T NEED a thief period. Exp for traps and locks? You will be maxed out before Spellhold, so this is the least of your problems.

2) Cleric spells. All of them - lets start from level one:
- Doom, Bless, Remove Fear (no need to waste a mage 2nd level spell), Sanctuary.
- Draw Upon Holy Might. You certainly don't need those extra 20 HP from the CON bonus, do you?
- Animate Dead at level 3 - VEERY bad, almost useless. :rolleyes: Dispel Magic.
- Death ward, Free Action, Prot from Evil 10' Radius - useless.
- Chaotic Commands
- Aerial Servant - one the worst :rolleyes: summons of the game, immune to normal weapons
- Gate, Shild of Archorns.

3) All the healing spells you get.

4) Flail of Ages + Crom Faeyr = powerhose.

5) I once started a F/M/C game, got to Chap 4 then got bored - too easy. I did Irenicus Dungen in less than 2 days.

6) Turn Undead. Want to see them explode? Or want to control them? No, that's just not for you.

Hope that gave you some idea that F/M/C is not bad at all.

Sorry Modjahed, but what about all healing spells?
What about that nifty ring from Ribald at start of the game? You can't get it with F/M/C solo.
And what about Ring of Gaxx later?
I really hardly need any healing spells.

Also, do you remember nice detect illusion from a thief? No? And backstab? No?
Remove traps not needed? Come on! What XP? I want to be not hurt and I don't want spammed creatures!
Locks not needed? :rolleyes: I want that treasure, OK? For my personal satisfaction if you please.

Gate in SoA for F/M/C? Not very likely.

Weapon powerhouse? That can be done with F/M/T too.

So Modjahed, have a nice day!

--------------------------------------

No, I don't say this class is better than other class. Both are kickass classes. BOTH.
All other classes are pure sh*t if you ask me.
Take any class of these two. You won't make a mistake.

F/M/T
Thief skills rox! They are useful throughout the entire game, with all the traps and ****. You can always heal yourself with bottles and potions. Magics are not always neccessary.

Man, if you ever read "Elfquest" the Go-Backs dont even want a healer, much less need one. you could make do with the potions (of which there are a lot, especially when you dont need to split them six ways). But no matter which of the two classes are the most powerful, i rarely use them, and thats because: A: i dont like multiclass chars, only Dual. B: i dont like going solo, its boring. (and these chars are designed for soloing).

F/M/T all the way. You WILL get very used to the idea of backstabbing - it is just too cool.

If you like the monk you are currently playing, you'll like this class too since it is very powerful.

F/M/C is an equally powerful class, but not as fun. Yes, you get to heal things, but that is not exactly fun anymore than managing an inventory is. It's something you do when you need to. Besides, with Vampiric touch, healing potions, and regen tools, you hardly need it.

The only thing I don't like is the multi-class from the first place. I hate the way it levels unevenly. On the other hand, you level often, so it is fun to add spells/skills/profs frequently.

>>>I can't count how much times I've been through at least 6 Chapters of the game without a thief at all. YOU DON'T NEED a thief period. Exp for traps and locks? You will be maxed out before Spellhold, so this is the least of your problems.<<<

I think a thief is essential if you really want to explore and get the most out of the dungeons. All those doors and chests that need to be picked, notice its only the magic unpickable locks that keys are provided for. I found this out when I lost Yoshimo and left Imoen out of my party at spellhold as I thought she would be too weak at that point compared to the rest of my party.

There was a part of Bodhis dungeon I couldnt access most likely the mithril token thing. You could say having access to the mage spells knock and find traps will be enough but doing it like that you would have to rest all the time to get enough spells.

Most reliable, as always!

But some questions remain:

- How many skill-points should I spend on "Detect Illusions" to dispell shadow door and mislead and stuff?
- I'd say 2 prof. points in "Short Bow", two in "Quarterstaff" and two in "War Hammer" for the beginning? Then 2 more in Dualwielding? Or maybe 2 in "Katanas" (Dakkons somewhat), 2 in "quartestaves" and 2 in Bows; then again, I don't want to equip the katana just because of the spells, hmmm...
I can't backstab with qs and hammers, so katanas would be great though!
- What about HP? Any difference? CON-Bonus up to 18 applying to these multis? Or only up to 16 CON?
- Is it considered cheese if I removed the XP-cap? A tri-multi-class and soloing - I'll need some higher mage-levels, won't I?!

Thanks!

EDIT: I read through a lot of threads about backstabbing, Celestial Fury, eh? So 2 points for Katanas and 2 for "Single Weapon Style". I wonder: If I had Dakkons Zerth Blade in my quick-weapon-bar, would I get the bonus spells even if not selected?

I also thought about making a Fighter/Conjurer/Thief via a certain 3rd party prog, because with my "Detect Illusions" I won't need "True Seeing" which otherwise would've been a must. Just thoughts...

2ND EDIT: Is there any point in placing prof. points in short bows? Will I be able to target my foes before I'm engaged in melee?! I doubt it!

[This message has been edited by Maertyn (edited September 08, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Maertyn (edited September 09, 2001).]

I really think F/M/T is much better in the solo, because there isn't any really decent thief NPC in the game, and as for clerics, there are lots of good clerics all over the place, like Viconia. Also, stealing and using those thief skills give a lot of XP.

I played once solo with a mage/thief, and in the the end about HALF of his total exp was from desarming, unloking and reading scrolls. So, with a F/M/C you will loose a large amount of exp, expecially if you remove the cap.

Slight spoilers>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


Exp "about half"!?!?! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Not even "about". You get too much quest experience points AND points for killing enemies for your cummulative spell learning and traps to even compete. Consider killing Bodhi alone >>>> that's 90,000 exp (core rules), that is a lot of spells and a lot of traps. Sure you don't have to do every quest or kill every enemy, but some you cannot escape from doing. Think of all the quest experience you get from doing Aran's/Bodhi's tasks, for going to Brynlaw and getting out fo Spellhold, to the Underdark. There is no way. There aren't that many traps, locks, or spells. Sure I'd say you get a decent hunk of experience thorugh these means but even "about" half is way off.

Af for F/M/T vs. F/M/C, it really boils down to what you consider more valuable, thief or cleric abilities, and what you feel like playing.