Skip to content

How to use the F/M/C

I'm having a very large issue, for me anyways. I can never decide on a class I want to play, and I usually just end up playing a Fighter Mage, and I would like a new Favorite. I would LOVE a Ranger/Mage... but that multiclass is not available (yet anyways) and I wanted to try a Fighter/Mage/Cleric!

The only issue with this, is the fact that a triple class... well... Levels up exceptionally slowly, and I don't know how I'm going to figure this out while playing with a full party... or semi full party.

Is this a good idea or should I try something else? I just can't decide on a perfect class...
«1

Comments

  • RhaegarRhaegar Member Posts: 25
    edited January 2013
    Oh god, I would love a ranger/mage so much!

    Considering playing a fighter/mage or fighter/mage/thief right now myself, If I could do a ranger instead I would be so happy, and would mostly make the f/m/t un necessary. (maybe I can find a mod to do it)

    Problem with the F/M/C is that unlike the F/M/T, the two caster classes conflict a bit, as you can only cast 1 spell at a time and a lot of the buffs overlap. At least the F/M/T it doesn't interfere much to backstab and do the traps and locks.

    I'd pick a f/m or F/C and stick with that.

    If you really want the dual caster just go mage/cleric. You will have so many spells you wont have time to melee stuff anyway.
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    edited January 2013
    If you're worried about experience, you can always head over to Mutamin's Garden (where you get Shar-Teel) as soon as possible and start beating on basilisks, preferably with just yourself.
    Something else you could do is farm ankhegs in the ankheg cave, near where you get Ajantis. I'll admit, it's sort of "cheesy", but ankhegs die easy enough, and the 975 experience divided three ways would get you, what, 325 in each class?
    Then, once you're happy with where you're at, pick up the others as an afterthought.

    If only they gave out those x% bonuses to experience for high prime requisites like in pen & paper...
  • bbearbbear Member Posts: 1,180
    Too bad FMTC is not available yet.
  • XavioriaXavioria Member Posts: 875
    You guys are really helping me decide :) If I COULD, I would Shadowkeeper into a Stalker/Mage. I love backstabs and I would have my favorite two classes FINALLY linked together. I have played Ranger/Cleric and actually REALLY like it. The only issue with that is that I love the mage class so much that I just can't play anything that isn't part mage or Sorcerer...

    I'm currently fiddling around with a Mage/Cleric (as a few of you suggested) but I really hate not being able to melee stuff down (I feel like I need to be able to do everything) and so I tried a bard, but the THAC0 progression is terrible, and maybe I should just try a blade...?

    Lastly, as much as I love Rangers... i hate having to stay in the good alignments. Neutral has always been my area, I either pick True Neutral or Chaotic Neutral. Chaotic neutral usually wins out though because I love cats :P
  • RhaegarRhaegar Member Posts: 25
    Xavioria said:

    You guys are really helping me decide :) If I COULD, I would Shadowkeeper into a Stalker/Mage. I love backstabs and I would have my favorite two classes FINALLY linked together. I have played Ranger/Cleric and actually REALLY like it. The only issue with that is that I love the mage class so much that I just can't play anything that isn't part mage or Sorcerer...

    I'm currently fiddling around with a Mage/Cleric (as a few of you suggested) but I really hate not being able to melee stuff down (I feel like I need to be able to do everything) and so I tried a bard, but the THAC0 progression is terrible, and maybe I should just try a blade...?

    Lastly, as much as I love Rangers... i hate having to stay in the good alignments. Neutral has always been my area, I either pick True Neutral or Chaotic Neutral. Chaotic neutral usually wins out though because I love cats :P

    WoW man, you totally just said everything I am thinking. Stalker/mage would rock... somebody please tell me how to hack it up!


    I also want to have a mage component really badly, as I only played through the saga the first time with a ranger.

    As for alignment I am thinking neutral as well but it seems cheesy metagaming rep so much to keep near the midpoint.

    Most of my alignment decisions right now are based on what kind of party I want.

    I ran the classic khalid/jaheira/minsc/dynaheir/imoen back in the day and i really want Edwin and Viconia this time around. In BG2 I MUST have Korgan and Viconia as well. I used to bring them along with my good parties sometimes but it caused issues.
  • XavioriaXavioria Member Posts: 875
    I personally like to play neutral mostly because I feel like I can mix it up a bit by bringing good NPCs with Evil ones. Kivan and Shar-Teel for instance? Gold lmao. I occasionally even use characters that aren't that great just to see what happens. Have you ever used Korgan and Mazzy together in BG2? It's freaking hilarius!
  • SCARY_WIZARDSCARY_WIZARD Member Posts: 1,438
    Xavioria said:

    I personally like to play neutral mostly because I feel like I can mix it up a bit by bringing good NPCs with Evil ones. Kivan and Shar-Teel for instance? Gold lmao. I occasionally even use characters that aren't that great just to see what happens. Have you ever used Korgan and Mazzy together in BG2? It's freaking hilarius!

    Yes, I have, and it was great. :D There are the characters that you get in a group who will have a little bit of a banter with everybody...and then there's Korgan and Mazzy's banters.
  • AHFAHF Member Posts: 1,376
    F/M/C is a fine multiclass and perfectly viable. I would plan to run with a reduced party (4 or less) for most of the game if you go this route so it doesn't take forever in terms of XP (I would do the same with the F/M/T). The difference in my mind between the F/M/C and the M/C is that the M/C is a versatile caster than can be a viable fighter at higher levels if you spend time buffing while the F/M/C can be a beast of a tank with minimal upkeep and has very useful spellcasting abilities.

    Here is a thread with some helpful suggestions and opinions on the class's merits compared to others.

    http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/11159/fighter-mage-cleric-most-underused-multiclass/p1
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    edited January 2013
    Rhaegar said:

    Oh god, I would love a ranger/mage so much!

    Problem with the F/M/C is that unlike the F/M/T, the two caster classes conflict a bit, as you can only cast 1 spell at a time and a lot of the buffs overlap. At least the F/M/T it doesn't interfere much to backstab and do the traps and locks.

    That is false. The REAL problem with the F/M/C is that the fighter class adds something you don't need in the longrun. Early on, it'll help you survive with bonus HP, THAC0 and weapon specs, BUT you'll find yourself not needing the fighter skills any more and wishing you weren't cutting 17% more of your experience gains into all 3 classes.

    I'm not saying it's a bad class! Let's face it, M/C is a top notch class. There is no conflict here! Only excellent synergy, and anyone who says Aerie sucks is lying to the world for that very reason. Possibly the most powerful NPC and most welcome in any party. Try using Sequencers and Contingencies with Priest spells. Buff/Debuff/nuke all at the same time.
  • AHFAHF Member Posts: 1,376
    Dazzu said:

    Rhaegar said:

    Oh god, I would love a ranger/mage so much!

    Problem with the F/M/C is that unlike the F/M/T, the two caster classes conflict a bit, as you can only cast 1 spell at a time and a lot of the buffs overlap. At least the F/M/T it doesn't interfere much to backstab and do the traps and locks.

    That is false. The REAL problem with the F/M/C is that the fighter class adds something you don't need in the longrun. Early on, it'll help you survive with bonus HP, THAC0 and weapon specs, BUT you'll find yourself not needing the fighter skills any more and wishing you weren't cutting 17% more of your experience gains into all 3 classes.

    I'm not saying it's a bad class! Let's face it, M/C is a top notch class. There is no conflict here! Only excellent synergy, and anyone who says Aerie sucks is lying to the world for that very reason. Possibly the most powerful NPC and most welcome in any party. Try using Sequencers and Contingencies with Priest spells. Buff/Debuff/nuke all at the same time.
    I agree on this but don't think that the fighter class hurts in the long run unless you want to focus on being a caster. If you are intending to be a tank with good (not great) spell casting then this is still a fun, versatile and effect class. If you are planning on unleashing chain contingencies then it is not the class you should consider.

    For the long run, the whirlwind, critical strike, and other high level fighter abilities are much more attractive for my money than the spellcaster abilities. (Don't get me wrong - there are some very good ones but they are kind of take-them-or-leave-them since you get similar power with good use of the default 7th and 9th level spells).

  • moopymoopy Member Posts: 938
    @Dazzu

    + with M / C you can be a gnome and be an Illusionist / Cleric. Extra spell per level + shorty saves yay.
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    moopy said:

    @Dazzu

    + with M / C you can be a gnome and be an Illusionist / Cleric. Extra spell per level + shorty saves yay.

    Not to mention that Clerics get a lot of Necromancy spells that mages also get (Summoning Undead, Instant Death type spells) meaning the only spell you really lack is Horrid Wilting.
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    edited January 2013
    Dazzu said:

    Not to mention that Clerics get a lot of Necromancy spells that mages also get (Summoning Undead, Instant Death type spells) meaning the only spell you really lack is Horrid Wilting.
    Skull trap.
  • smeagolheartsmeagolheart Member Posts: 7,964
    elminster said:

    Skull trap.
    Clerics get skulltrap
  • elminsterelminster Member, Developer Posts: 16,317
    edited January 2013

    Clerics get skulltrap
    No they don't. They get Glyph of Warding but its not as good.
  • AHFAHF Member Posts: 1,376
    elminster said:

    No they don't. They get Glyph of Warding but its not as good.
    @elminster is right. There is a huge difference between Glyph of Warding and Skull Trap both in terms of damage and resistances.
  • moopymoopy Member Posts: 938
    I don't mind missing out on skull trap and horrid wilting to get an extra spell slot per level, shorty saves, and 20 int 20 wisdom on my illusionist / mage by the time I'm ready to port into BG2.
  • AHFAHF Member Posts: 1,376
    moopy said:

    I don't mind missing out on skull trap and horrid wilting to get an extra spell slot per level, shorty saves, and 20 int 20 wisdom on my illusionist / mage by the time I'm ready to port into BG2.

    There is no reason you shouldn't be happy with that. Skull Trap is, however, arguably the best AOE damage spell short of Horrid Wilting and Horrid Wilting is the best area of effect damage spell in the game short of HLAs. People should go in with their eyes open on that because I know there are some players who won't use Jan because he can't use these spells. If it doesn't matter much to you then then bonus spells and short saves make this a really great choice compared to elf or half-elf.

  • moopymoopy Member Posts: 938
    @AHF

    Oh yeah, I love those spells. Xan's entire level 3 spell book is filled with skull trap.

    I never played through with Jan in BG2.

    Really looking forward to BG2:EE to play with a lot of NPCs I never used for more than a few levels. For whatever stupid reasons I played with almost the exact same party every time I played, and I had a lot of plays only changing CHARNAME.

    I always had Keldorn for Carsomyr.
    I always had Har Dalas because I thought he was cool.
    I always had Viconia because I was a 15 year old male. Lol.
    Sometimes the last 2 would change but 9 times out of 10 I had Minsc and Nalia if I was good, and Korgan and Edwin if I was evil. I was boring.
  • AHFAHF Member Posts: 1,376
    moopy said:

    @AHF
    I never played through with Jan in BG2.

    He is one of my favorite NPCs both because he is a useful (good caster, thief skills, thief HLAs) and because he is hilarious. With some NPCs, I just blow by their dialogue at this point. I still stop and read his and enjoy a lot of the interparty banters with his as well -- especially when he is ticking off Anomen or one of the other characters.
  • XavioriaXavioria Member Posts: 875
    The only NPC I've used as a constant is Imoen. She's awesome... plain and simple really. She also has a huge part to do with the story line in game two, and you can't somehow affect a range of choices in the second game that get her killed off permanently, so you're guilt tripped into taking her... not that using her is a problem.

    Everyone else... it depends on my main character, because let's be honest, there isn't as much variety in BG2 as there is in 1.
  • moopymoopy Member Posts: 938
    @Xavioria

    In my first play through ever having no idea what I was doing or what was going to happen next, I had the pommel jewel of the equalizer on Imoen before she got taken away. Upon getting her back she did not have this in her inventory, so I always held it against her. Didn't say it made sense.
  • the_spyderthe_spyder Member Posts: 5,018
    edited January 2013
    Rhaegar said:

    If you really want the dual caster just go mage/cleric. You will have so many spells you wont have time to melee stuff anyway.

    This is my suggestion as well. That would cut down on the level advancement issue. and since as a Fighter and a cleric, you get restricted to Cleric weapons, you aren't gaining much for that 1/3 reduction in XP.
    AHF said:


    He (Jan) is one of my favorite NPCs both because he is a useful (good caster, thief skills, thief HLAs) and because he is hilarious. With some NPCs, I just blow by their dialogue at this point. I still stop and read his and enjoy a lot of the interparty banters with his as well -- especially when he is ticking off Anomen or one of the other characters.

    This absolutely. He is actually a pretty good thief and a reasonably good mage as well. And his dialogue is just screamingly funny. Add in Minsc to the party and you are in for a fun ride. He also interacts well with Viconia and Firecam, just to name a few.
  • Guigui_le_YoyomeGuigui_le_Yoyome Member Posts: 15
    edited January 2013
    moopy said:

    I don't mind missing out on skull trap and horrid wilting to get an extra spell slot per level, shorty saves, and 20 int 20 wisdom on my illusionist / mage by the time I'm ready to port into BG2.

    20 Int / 21 Wis is better. There are THREE Wis books available in BG1+ToSC (this fact seems to be unknown by many...) ;-)

    Guigui

  • EdwinEdwin Member Posts: 480
    I hope I will be able to get many of the additional kit mods working in BGEE on my next run. That is what I love about vanilla bg1 and bg2. The number of extra kits available is mind blowing! Everything from basic brawlers to the dreaded "Ooze Master" Druid kit. DEVINE REMIX ROCKS!
  • DeucetipherDeucetipher Member Posts: 521
    @Guigui_le_Yoyome

    @moopy was actually counting three. Recall that gnomes begin with a wisdom penalty, so it would take the three tomes to get to twenty.
  • QuartzQuartz Member Posts: 3,853

    20 Int / 21 Wis is better. There are THREE Wis books available in BG1+ToSC (this fact seems to be unknown by many...) ;-)

    Lmao. It's common knowledge bud.
  • DazzuDazzu Member Posts: 950
    I don't see much difference between 20 and 21. I mean, all you really need high Int/Wis for is the wish spell to keep you on infinite spellbook anyway.
  • QuartzQuartz Member Posts: 3,853
    Dazzu said:

    I don't see much difference between 20 and 21. I mean, all you really need high Int/Wis for is the wish spell to keep you on infinite spellbook anyway.

    Don't forget that +5 Lore!! :DDDD
Sign In or Register to comment.