Best ways to play a Fighter/Mage?

Syn4u2c

I normally play plain fighters because I love the idea of being amazing with one weapon but I want to switch it up a little bit. So I think Fighter/Mage multi should be pretty good. How do I go about building this class? Best Weapon choices? Armor? I Plan on being a half-elf so I can romance Viconia in BG2 if that helps.

[Deleted User]

Armor: The best armor you can use and still cast spells in is one of the Robes of the Archmagi. There's only one Good RotA, one Neutral RotA (unless you kill Shandalar), and two Evil RotA, so plan your alignment and the alignments of any mages you plan to recruit accordingly. It's not a bad idea to keep a good suit of plate around (Ankheg is great for this due to lower weight) for better AC when you're out of spells or need to tank.

Stats: You want the same stats as a Fighter does, plus high Int. Good luck with that rolling. You might be able to skimp on Str if you really have to due to the availability of Str-enhancing items and spells.

Weapons: Lots of different ways you could go on this one, depending on whether you prefer two-handed weapons or dual wielding, and whether you prioritize raw damage or special effects. Good weapon choices include (in no particular order): Long Swords, Maces, Two-Handed Swords, Staves, Scimitars, War Hammers, and one really good Dagger that's fun to dual wield with. Longbow proficiency is a good choice for a ranged weapon.

TJ_Hooker

@Kaigen where's the second Robe of the Evil Archmagi?

[Deleted User]

TJ_Hooker said:

@Kaigen where's the second Robe of the Evil Archmagi?

The "New Guy" is wearing it.

ScytheKnight

Another possibility is if you're intending a saga play-though is playing a human fighter through until a couple of levels into SoA then dual to a mage... I hear good stuff about doing this with Berserkers and I've personally seen the OP shit a kensai/mage can do with grand mastery and dual katanas (Celestial Fury and Dakon's Zerth blade are just pure Fing awesomeness) while wearing either Archmagi or Vecnas robes.

[Deleted User]

Celestial Fury and Dakkon's Zerth Blade are both magnificent weapons. It's a shame that BGEE is so lacking in the katana department, or I would've added that to the list of weapon types.

ScytheKnight

Kinda off topic (well sort of since it does involve F/M gear) will the BGII:EE keep the two bonus merchants?

[Deleted User]

ScytheKnight said:

Kinda off topic (well sort of since it does involve F/M gear) will the BGII:EE keep the two bonus merchants?

I'm working off the assumption that they will. If nothing else, the bonus merchant in the Adventurer's Mart was automatically included in the ToB install, so it would only make sense to have her in the Enhanced Edition.

moopy

There is another Neutral Robe on the mage that turned cleric that is stuck on the Isle of Baldurian, and another one on the ghost at Ulcaster (kill him with poison)

So, I think there are 4 robes of the neutral arch magi it he game, 2 evil, 1 good.

PeteAtoms

Kaigen said:

Stats: You want the same stats as a Fighter does, plus high Int. Good luck with that rolling. You might be able to skimp on Str if you really have to due to the availability of Str-enhancing items and spells.

I was under the impression that Intelligence wasn't actually all that important, even to mages.

ScytheKnight

Chance to learn spells, spells per day, not getting instachunked by a mindflayer... yeah it's important, just most powergamers use it as a dumpstat.

moopy

@PeteAtoms

It controls how many spells per level you can learn, and it controls the odds if you will successfully memorize a spell or not (Core rules or higher)

TJ_Hooker

PeteAtoms said:

Kaigen said:

Stats: You want the same stats as a Fighter does, plus high Int. Good luck with that rolling. You might be able to skimp on Str if you really have to due to the availability of Str-enhancing items and spells.

I was under the impression that Intelligence wasn't actually all that important, even to mages.

Depends on what difficulty you play on, or what your policy on reloading is. If you're ok with just turning down the difficulty to copy spells, then yeah it's more of about convenience than anything.

[Deleted User]

PeteAtoms said:

Kaigen said:

Stats: You want the same stats as a Fighter does, plus high Int. Good luck with that rolling. You might be able to skimp on Str if you really have to due to the availability of Str-enhancing items and spells.

I was under the impression that Intelligence wasn't actually all that important, even to mages.

It's important in that it determines how many spells of each level you can cram into your spellbook and your chances of scribing successfully. You can compensate for low Int by drinking potions of Genius before scribing, but it gets annoying having to do that every time you want to add a new spell to your spellbook. Or you could limit yourself to having only the essentials in your spellbook, but where's the fun in that?

Sorcerers, on the other hand, don't give a flying fig about Intelligence.

TJ_Hooker

ScytheKnight said:

Chance to learn spells, spells per day, not getting instachunked by a mindflayer... yeah it's important, just most powergamers use it as a dumpstat.

Spells per level, not spells per day.

stygga

@peteatoms it affects the number of spells you can memorize per spell level, as well as your memorization percentage.. Also you need a certain amount of intelligence to use wands and the like.

PeteAtoms

ScytheKnight said:

Chance to learn spells, spells per day, not getting instachunked by a mindflayer... yeah it's important, just most powergamers use it as a dumpstat.

I don't think it factors into spells per day. And I agree about the powergaming thing, i roleplay all my characters. But based on the OP, I assume that the topic is based on that style of play.

Mykra

Syn4u2c said:

I normally play plain fighters because I love the idea of being amazing with one weapon but I want to switch it up a little bit. So I think Fighter/Mage multi should be pretty good. How do I go about building this class? Best Weapon choices? Armor? I Plan on being a half-elf so I can romance Viconia in BG2 if that helps.

Stat wise: Str - 18/Whatever (Making it 19 with the tome is a huge boost), Dex - Max, Con - Max, Int - 15 (so 16 with a tome so you can use the Golem manual, and protection in BG2), Wis - either don't bother with it and use potions in BG2, or get a 15 in it (So 18 with tomes) for the Wish spell, Cha - doesn't matter.

18/18/18/15/3/3 is 75 points, and getting a roll of 91-92 doesn't take that long, especially with the new tally total, so the stats are doable and won't take you three hours to get.

Weapon wise, I like the choice of either using a two-handed sword or quarterstaff with the two-handed weapon fighting style, or dual wield a one-handed weapon (** in a primary weapon like a mace so you also have a secondary blunt weapon for some enemies, then build towards **katana for BG2 goodness).

For early spell selections you can go a lot of ways, but I tend to enjoy buffing/debuffing spells while having another spell-caster being the ranged nuker. Spells like Armor (Your primary defense until AC6 Bracers/Archmagi Robe), Sleep, Ghoul Touch (You can hit on the melee attack to paralyze, and then you have the melee ability to tear them apart), Glitterdust (Mass Blind, yay!), Mirror Image (one of the best defensive spells, anywhere), Haste and Slow, Remove Magic, Wraithform (Shame it's picked up so late).

Combine the F/M with a strong Cleric (or F/C) and another ranged spellcaster, you will have a ton of control, and a ton of damage and tear through the Sword Coast.

BlakeDrapeta

Kaigen said:

Stats: You want the same stats as a Fighter does, plus high Int. Good luck with that rolling. You might be able to skimp on Str if you really have to due to the availability of Str-enhancing items and spells.

The rolling is actually much easier in BGEE now that it displays a total. I just keep rerolling until I get at least 90. Sometimes it can take a while though.

Aramintai

Rolling 91-93 is quite possible in BGEE (and it was possible in BG1 too, mind you). So when I play fighter/mage I usually spread stats like this:
Str: 16 (+1 from Tome, +1 in ToB from Machine of Lum the Mad but it doesn't matter if you use one of those girdles of giant strength or Angurvadal in ToB)
Dex: 17 (+1 from Tome - you have to have high dexterity to compensate for the lack of proper armor (don't waste Gauntlets of Dexterity on this), -1 in BG2 if you play good, +1 in ToB from Machine of Lum the Mad)
Con: 16 (+1 from Tome, -1 in BG2 if you sacrifice it to the demon in the dream, +1 in ToB from Machine of Lum the Mad)
Int: 16 (+1 from Tome to cast high level spells)
Wis: 13 (+1 from Tome - just for saves & lore, don't need it for Wish because there is a potion for that)
Cha: 15 (+1 from Tome - for leadership and morale, and also for the funny line in BG2 from Aran Linvail's mistress)

Armor:
The best armor in BG1 is the Robe of the Archmagi+Bracers of Defense AC 6.
In BG2 - Robe of Vecna+Bracers of Defense AC 3.
In Tob - Robe of Vecna or Aslyferund's Elven Chain+Bracers of Defense AC 3.

Weapons:
I always go full on for the dual wielding weapon proficiency because it's the best ass kicker.
For weapons themselves I usually specialize in long swords (for Varscona +2 in BG1, for many awesome long swords in BG2, and for Angurvadal in ToB) and
bastard swords (for Bastard Sword +1, +3 vs. Shapeshifters in BG1 and Foebane in ToB)
I also put points in flails for the Flail of Ages - because it's awesome too. And in ToB I put remaining points in whatever, usually staff and dagger.

Spells:
For F/M to be an effective fighter (and that's why you play it, right? - to be a cool and flashy magic wielding fighter) you primarily have to memorize defensive spells - like Blur, Mirror Image, Stoneskin, Ghost/Spirit Armor, Immunity to Normal/Magic Weapons, Invisibility (Improved) etc. to survive on the front lines. Haste also helps. And of course the usual defensive and offensive spells against spell casters are also required, like Globe of Invulnerability, Dispel, Remove Magic, Secret Word, Breach etc. For the offensive spells you can choose whatever - I mostly go with the direct damage spells, like Chromatic Orb, Skull Trap, Melf's Minute Meteors etc. However there are good crowd control spells you should probably use to make the most out of you F/M like Horror, Slow, Emotion (very effective), Confusion etc.
Be mindful that you'll probably want to have more than just F/M as a spellcaster in your party - it's always better to have two or three to really dominate the battlefield. Edwin is a good choice if you are evil, Dynaheir if you are good in BG1 (and the new guys in BGEE). In BG2 - Edwin, Imoen, Nalia and as supporter Haer'Dalis (yea, him, not Aerie or Jan, because by the time of ToB he has more spells up to level 6 with those Bard Gloves and Dakkon Zerth's blade and can actually be a good dps dealer along with F/M).

Djimmy

Choose elf, not half-elf for more bonuses

Max your stats except charisma.
Str - Thac0 & damage
Dex - AC & Thac0 with missile weapons
Con - HP
Int - Max level spells, chance to learn
Wis - Lore & Better Wish results
Cha - not needed for this build(also there is Ring of Human Influence that rises Cha to 18)

You can decide not to max your abilities cuz there are items that boost every stat(permanently or temporary). At least max your Str, Con and Int, if you are not into rolling for stats.

Recommended armor - Robe of Vecna
Recommended amulet - Amulet of Power
Recommended bracers - Gauntlets of Extra-ordinary Specialization
Recommended helm - Helm of Balduran
Recommended belt - Girdle of Inertial Barrier
Recommended cloak - Cloak of Mirroring/Cloak of Balduran(BG1 only)
Recommended rings - Ring of Gaxx & Ring of Protection +3
Recommended boots - Boots of Speed

Recommended Weapons - that it highly arguable.

Recommended Proficiencies - Two Weapon Style maxed and the remaining stars(points) are up to you to decide

Spells - The more you learn, the better.

moody_mage

If you are simply trying to make a Fighter with more try a Fighter/Cleric. The only downside is the 'only use blunt weapons' rule imposed on clerics.

Syn4u2c

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I'm sticking with Half-Elf (I now elf is much better) But I wanna romance Viconia during the saga. I'm thinking quarterstaff, or flail and shield(but not sure if the ac bonus will really matter) and I dual wield on all my fighters so I kinda want to switch it up.. I rest pretty often to keep my spells so should I still keep a set of plate armor around?

moopy

"so should I still keep a set of plate armor around?"

I'd just keep a robe of the arch magi on, and in BG2 the robe of vecna.

TJ_Hooker

Aramintai said:

Rolling 91-93 is quite possible in BGEE (and it was possible in BG1 too, mind you). So when I play fighter/mage I usually spread stats like this:
Str: 16 (+1 from Tome, +1 in ToB from Machine of Lum the Mad but it doesn't matter if you use one of those girdles of giant strength or Angurvadal in ToB)
Dex: 17 (+1 from Tome - you have to have high dexterity to compensate for the lack of proper armor (don't waste Gauntlets of Dexterity on this), -1 in BG2 if you play good, +1 in ToB from Machine of Lum the Mad)
Con: 16 (+1 from Tome, -1 in BG2 if you sacrifice it to the demon in the dream, +1 in ToB from Machine of Lum the Mad)
Int: 16 (+1 from Tome to cast high level spells)
Wis: 13 (+1 from Tome - just for saves & lore, don't need it for Wish because there is a potion for that)
Cha: 15 (+1 from Tome - for leadership and morale, and also for the funny line in BG2 from Aran Linvail's mistress)

These stats are a distributed a little weird. From a power-gaming perspective, you're way better off topping up your strength, dex and con than putting points in wisdom or charisma. Also, the saving throw bonuses from wisdom are not implemented in BG.

moopy

Yeah F/M

(Assuming a 92 given the range 91-93 given)
Str: 18/XX
Dex:18
Con:18
Int:18
Wis: 10
Cha: 10

If Elf then 19 dex, 17 con.
If Gnome then 19 int wis 9.

Int isn't THAT important, but I play on core rules and failing to memorize a spell annoys me.
If you don't want to have to use a wisdom potion for wish than up Wis to 15 (It will be 18 after 3 tomes) and dump Cha down to 5.

Also,

"The best armor in BG1 is the Robe of the Archmagi+Bracers of Defense AC 6."

Bracers and armor don't stack, and since the robe of the archmagi is 5 AC the bracers don't do anything. On a F/M you'd be better off with legacy of the masters.

ljbo

Shield, then mirror image plus some good bracer of defence and some AC- enhancing rings drastically reduce the need for wearing armor from the very beginning. Then you are a mage, so debuff: sleep, blind for a starter.

Zauron

I just finished a play-through with a Gnome Fighter/Illusionist. You get another spell per day with the special mage, get a 19 INT, and you get great saves.
I had him use axes and shields. Rare was the time a missile weapon hit him. I prepared the Armor spells or higher versions of them, and never wore armor.
No matter the race, you'll want High STR, DEX, CON, and INT. I maxed them all out by making CHA and WIS dump stats, but you might not want to be that unbalanced.
By the end of it all, my wisdom was up to an 8, my CHA a 9, my INT a 20, my CON a 19, and my strength a 19 with all the tomes.

Lemernis

This comes down to a matter of playstyle preference with respect to how you want to spellcast and what style of Fighter you wish to be, i.e. which weapons and what fighting style.

In my own very recent run with one of these I chose:

Two Weapon Style ++
Long Swords ++

ending at Fighter 7/Mage 7 with profs:

Two Weapon Style +++
Long Swords ++
Katana +

Gear:
Varscona
Harrower
Flame Tongue
Katana +1
Robe of the Archmagi
Amulet of Metaspell Influence
Gauntlets of Weapons Expertise
Helm of Balduran
Ring of Wizardry
Ring of Protection +2

The Armor spell is a must for a F/M, which I augmented regularly with Shield, and at the end of the game Stoneskin.

Offensively, I used disabling spells such as Sleep, Blindness, Glitterdust, Horror, Ray of Enfeeblement, Hold Person, and Slow. I cast a lot of those right in the midst of melee, which was pretty exciting. I don't recall having my spellcasting interrupted even once. Sometimes for strategic reasons I would dash off one or two spells before racing into battle.

I also had Neera along so she handled a lot of the other spells I normally use such as Haste, Greater Malison, Spellthrust, etc.

I did not need uber stats across the board.

Str 18/56 - (19 with tome)
Dex 16 - (17 with tome)
Con 12 - (13 with tome)
Int 18 - (19 with tome)
Wis 10
Cha 10

I had his AC down to -2 with Armor and Shield; -3 with Draw Upon Holy Might. His HP (with Familiar) 62; HP 69 with DUHM.

With only Sarevok left to defeat he ended up with 46% of the kills.

(Notes: Dorn was the only one even close behind the main with 25% of the kills. The PC and Dorn were the two chief 'damage-dealers' in the party. Rasaad got 11%, Imoen 8%, Viconia 4%, and Neera 2%. Viconia was an incredibly effective tank, but as a pure class cleric she just doesn't hit much.)

Lemernis

@Quartz tried going the ranged weapons route and it sounded really intriguing. But I saw in a recent post of his that he came away a bit disenchanted with Fighter/Mage.

I'm still interested in trying a F/M who is devastating with the bow. He or she would probably get more spells off that way. I think I might try to make that a dual-class though.

OzzyBotkins

Never have played any
multi-class toons
but have played a Bard Blade
I have a lot of play throughs planned
don't know if I will get to a Fighter/mage