Really? I use it all the time. Like I said in the OP, it makes Fighter MCs a viable alternative to Fighter -> x

Jaheira with GM in Scimitars is actually a rather nice character, while I always found her fairly mediocre before. Certainly makes her worth having in TOB, anyway (usually by the end of SOA her usefulness paled in comparison to Anomen and Viccy).

And in the first game, get Montaron a few points into short swords and enjoy the extra backstabbing goodness.

Instead of starting another thread, i'll ressurrect this one as my doubts are related to the subject:

I'm thinking on starting a new play using BG1tutu and after BG2:TOB for the whole trilogy and i decided that i want to use a ranger/cleric but i do not know yet if i will use a multi or dual class... so here goes my doubts:

1. If i understand what was commented in this thread, a Dual-Class can still use Druid spells like a Multiclass right?

2. Can i use a Ranger kit like Archer and still be able to Dual-class to a Cleric?

3. If i dualclass at Ranger level 3 how many skill points (beyond 2weapon fighting) i will have?

4. If i spend 2 skill points as a ranger on slings (using the Archer kit if possible), will i be able to use slings as a cleric after the dualled class abilities come back?

5. Assuming i play using a 4-character party (PC/Imoen/Branwen/Another) the Cleric advancement in Multi versus Dual classed at level 3 is too different?

Thanks

Yes.

Not sure on this one, but I believe so. As long as the dual class is a valid multiclass option, you can do it (i.e. A Ranger/Cleric is a valid multiclass option, so you can also dual class. Bard/Fighter is not, so you can't. I don't think kits restrict this any further).

You'll get them with the frequency that your new class choice gets them. Offhand I don't remember what that is for Clerics.

The Cleric can use slings anyway, so it won't be an issue.

The advancement is exactly the same (i.e you gain Cleric levels with exactly the same number of experience points whether dual classed, multiclassed or single classed). The drawback to a multiclass character is that XP are divided equally among all the character's classes, so your classes advance slower.

Example. If your character is a Ranger/Cleric and receives 600 XP, the experience is split between the two classes, so the Ranger class gets 300 XP and the Cleric class gets 300 XP. If it's FTR/Cleric/Mage, then each of the three classes gets 200 XP. Of course, a single classed character or a dual classed character gets all 600 XP towards the active class (remember that once you dual class you stop advancing forever in the original class and only advance as the new class).

1. Yes.
2. No, no ranger kit can dual. Why? Hell if I know, but I've attempted them all.
3. You get 4 at character creation, I don't think you get another until level 4.
4. Can't DC archers, so...
5. In BG1 multiclass tends to shine. For instance, taking into account the original 89,000 XP cap, a DC Ranger>Cleric maxes out at 3/7, where as a MC Ranger/Cleric maxes at 6/6. Is 1 cleric level worth 3 ranger? And unlike MC fighters, you're not missing out on Grand Mastery, since Rangers already don't have it.

Personally, I'd have your PC dual-wield. A Ranger/Cleric is not a squishy thing they have good HP, heavy armor, decent Thac0, and a plethora of buffs at their disposal. If you are playing through the entire run I'd probably keep them a Ranger all through BG1 and dual at the start of BG2, if you're playing just through BG1 then I'd multiclass. In BG2 you can pickup Flail of Ages +3 and Defender of Easthaven +3 pretty early, both very nice and later in game you can always swap out the latter with Crom. They'll do just fine on the front line.

I decided to go with a dualled ranger/cleric, i dualled he at Ranger level 3 (so he got an additional proficiency point).

At the start i gave the ranger a 3rd point in 2weaponsfight, 2 points in flails and 1 point in slings, when i got 3rd level i gave an additional point in slings and dualled to a cleric with points in hammers and maces.

I like to play clerics but i wanted a cleric with more damage potential, by dualling from a ranger i got 3 points in 2 weapon fighting that now allows my cleric to dish much more damage, the additional druidic spells are nice too, and i´m eagerly waiting until my ranger/cleric can cast iron skins...

I´m still at the start of BG (using easytutu), but i´m already a ranger3/cleric4 since i refused everyone except Imoen in my party until my ranger class became active again, i still did not reached Nashkel and spent my time clearing 3 or 4 wilderness maps and doing errands in the Friendly Arms Inn and Beregost, now that my cleric reached level 4 i got that NPC you can find west of Beregost (forgot the name) and i´m using the PC as a frontline tank with Imoen and the other NPC as archers... when the PC gets too wounded i switch to slings and put the other NPC at front line until i need to rest...

There are some pretty big downsides to dualing so low. For instance, you get max rolls on HP until level 10, so up until that point every level spent as a warrior class is of great benefit. You also miss out on the extra 1/2 an attack per round at level 7. I particularly like dualing after 7 since it leaves me at a solid 3 attack per round, with 1/2 from Gauntlets of Extraordinary Specialization, rounded up by the Boots of Speed, leaving them with 4 attacks per round! We all have to choose our own path though. :)

Flails are a good first weapon, Morning Stars +1 are my go to in Tutu, can't argue with 2D4+1. And as I mentioned, Flails are my go to for most of SoA too.

AFAIK the Boots of Speed don't affect your attacks per round. It only affects your movement speed. But I've not tested it, so could be wrong.

You are! LOL. It only effects your attacks per round if they are a fraction like 3/2, it rounds them up. Not 100% sure why this is, but it's what I've noticed. This is true in BG2 at least, have yet to test it in Tutu.

Well, that's just awesome! Gonna have to get me some of them dancing shoes...

So if you're wearing boots of speed (without the gauntlets of extraordinary specialization which aren''t available before almost everything in ToB is over and HLA cleric casting is available) the ranger 7-12/cleric won't even have more attacks per round than a ranger3/cleric.
Level 3 is definitely the best level for dualing if you play both games in a row, the next real benefit won't appear before ranger level 7 which would force you to spend most the total playing time without cleric spells or as uncompleted dual.

Touche. Though you'd miss out on SOME HP still, but then clerics have decent HP anyhow. You don't need a lot of spell power in BG1/Tutu, but since he's running a party of 4, you are probably right. Problem I have now is who to give the Gauntlets of Extraordinary Specialization to? Obviously this is not a massive issue, but I know I'd personally hate to waste the 1/2 an attack.

The ranger/cleric dualled at ranger3 appears to be working well for me, he is already level 6 cleric and is a very decent tank dualwielding a hammer+2 and a morningstar+1, i also dualled Imoen at level 6 after open locks and find traps achieved 100% and she is currently level 5 as a mage.

I am clearing all wilderness maps while i wait for Imoen to reach level 7 as a mage, with Kivan and Branwen in the party.

My main strategy consists in using the PC in melee with the rest of the party using ranged attacks. If the PC gets too wounded i put him to ranged role (slings) and Branwen or Kivan ad the melee fighter. In cramped spaces i use 2 in melee instead of 1.