Cleric/Thief vs. Priest of Helm>Thief etc.

Oxford_Guy

Hi - I've been wondering whether to try to out something a bit different and play with one of:

1) Multiclass Cleric/Thief (Gnome - so bonus to spell saving throws, but no romances w/o a mod and vile paper doll)

2) Dual Priest of Helm>Thief (assuming can use Seeking Sword to backstab... )

3) Dual Assassin>Cleric (perhaps a but *too* funky this one...)

AFAIK you can backstab from Sanctuary, a level 1 spell (though I don't think you get the usual to hit bonus of attacking from shadows), and can also find traps, open locks etc. whilst under Sanctuary. Also, whilst the weapons you can backstab with are pretty much limited to clubs and staves, you can also backstab with Shilleelagh and all the other summoned weapons (except for Spiritual Hammer), and (I think) in the case of a Priest of Helm, with the Seeking Sword (a +4 item...). Later, UAI should open up to weapon selection, so all normal thief weapons could be used for backstabs. Also, the character can still use other cleric weapons (including the many decent hammers and flails) whilst not backstabbing...


Obviously here are also all the various buffing spells priests have (e.g. Draw on Holy might), which can make things interesting...

Okay, so its not a usual combo, but could be interesting. I'm wondering, though, whether would be best to play with a Multclass Cleric/Thief or with a Priest of Helm dualled to a Thief (not sure which level would be best to dual at)? The latter would probably be more powerful in BG2, but would probably mean playing most or all of BG! just as a Cleric (although that's not necessarily a bad thing)

Jaxsbudgie

Swashbuckler dualled to Cleric is fun if you can forget about backstabbing. Allows more points to be placed into more useful skills such as Set Snares and Detect Illusions (and Traps and Locks if you're the primary utility Thief). Having Detect Illusions frees up a spell slot where True Seeing would go. And having specialisation is nice too ... although I'm not sure what exactly you'd put them into, staff or club perhaps?

Edit: also think about dual-wielding and perhaps play evil so you can wear the human flesh armour (provided Viconia isn't in your team because that armour is made for her)

Zaor

Sword of seeking's big draw is Apr and early +4. It's meh for backstab, if it even works. I would go with cleric thief multi as more fun. By the way, gnomes can romance aerie without mods.

Oxford_Guy

Jaxsbudgie said:

Swashbuckler dualled to Cleric is fun if you can forget about backstabbing. Allows more points to be placed into more useful skills such as Set Snares and Detect Illusions (and Traps and Locks if you're the primary utility Thief). Having Detect Illusions frees up a spell slot where True Seeing would go. And having specialisation is nice too ... although I'm not sure what exactly you'd put them into, staff or club perhaps?

Well if not backstabbing, they could go into hammers and/or flails surely? I would like to be able to backstab, though, so think would stick to the multi or thief>cleric dual

Jaxsbudgie said:

Edit: also think about dual-wielding and perhaps play evil so you can wear the human flesh armour (provided Viconia isn't in your team because that armour is made for her)

Oh yes, I'll be playing evil :-)

Oxford_Guy

Zaor said:

Sword of seeking's big draw is Apr and early +4. It's meh for backstab, if it even works.

I'll try some experiments to see if it works

Zaor said:

I would go with cleric thief multi as more fun. By the way, gnomes can romance aerie without modsc

I didn't know that, thanks, although I'll be evil, which may cause issues with that romance?

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Jaxsbudgie

Also I don't think you can backstab whilst under sanctuary ... could be wrong though!

Cheesebelly

As far as I know, you cannot backstab in sanctuary form, as the enemy actually *sees* you but can't attack you (much like Outlike's resilient sphere, just that you can interact with the exterior and disrupt the barrier on your own liking)

As for the Seeking Sword, tried a PoH 5 > Thief in Tutu once, and it definitely worked as a backstab weapon. Early on was able to get simple 40 damage backstabs if I am not mistaken, which by all means is super useful. but you get to lose powerhouse spells like the trio of holy strength (Holy Power, Draw Upon Holy Might, Righteous Magic) which sucks.

I can second the awesomeness of a Swashie>Cleric, but in general, even a Bounty Hunter > Cleric works well, just dual class as soon as you hit 100 in set traps - you won't be much of a thief, but you can call yourself a trickster Cleric at least :P

Generally speaking, as far as Cleric dualled to thief goes, I love PoL > Thief - the Boon is just super useful and if you dual class at level 9 cleric, freshly out of Irenicus' Dungeon, you should hit level 10 thief as solo by completing the Circus Tent and Copper Coronet (both areas easy to complete as long as you're cautious)

Access to 5th level spells, Boon of Lathander and Thieving abilities all in once makes you like a Divine Spellcasting Blade truth be told.