Cleric > Thief dual, and UAI

[Klorox]

I have a few questions regarding a Cleric > Thief dual classed character:

If I start off as a Cleric, and then dual class into a Thief, can I spend proficiency points on non-cleric weapons, such as swords, bows, and daggers?

If so, can I use them before gaining my Cleric levels back (when the character is considered a single classed thief)?

I understand that I can use any weapon I'd like once UAI is chosen as a Thief HLA, but can I ever get proficiency in these weapons?

TIA

[Crenshinibon]

While you CAN put proficiency points in other weapons, the weapon restriction follows the one of the cleric. So, the sensible choice is to put it into staves. You can however put points into the weapons to use AFTER you acquired UAI.

[Klorox]

Originally Posted by Crenshinibon

While you CAN put proficiency points in other weapons, the weapon restriction follows the one of the cleric. So, the sensible choice is to put it into staves. You can however put points into the weapons to use AFTER you acquired UAI.

That's really cool. So, I could, in theory, spend proficiencies in non-thief weapons as a cleric like Flails and hammers, ect., become a thief, get quarterstaff and sling initially (so I could use something), then add points into, say, katana and longsword. I'd have these points for when I finally get UAI.

That's great!

Now I've just got to figure out a good level to dual a Cleric at (I can't remember what level I start disliking their spells).

[Crenshinibon]

I actually used an Assassin/Cleric build before. That's really something. The to hit and damage bonus is nice and you can do some impressive damage with that backstab of yours.

As for spells:
1: Armor of Faith. 25% resist physical at level 20. It stacks. And even if you don't want to be cheap, you can get yourself the Defender of Easthaven
2: Ehhh... Holu Might if you're desperate. Good at the beginning though.
3: Animate Dead (the after level fifteen version), Glyph of Warding (The cleric skull trap) and Holy Smite. All good.
4: Holy Power. It stacks with itself. Got me a seven hundred point priest for a few rounds. Doesn't stack with Tenser's though. Tenser's doubles your original hitpoints.
5: Champion's Strength (if you're lacking in THAC0, beware of the strength reduction, it overrides everything else. Righteous Magic. Nice strength bonus but we want this because for the duration you deal maximum damage. This is like what Kai wants to be.
6: Eh. Play with this. Improved Haste + Blade Barrier + Sanctuary. Try it. You're not the one attacking them so Sanctuary won't break. Also, Improved Haste affects Blade Barrier as well. Maybe use the summons early on. Oh yeah, and Harm. Don't forget harm. If you have the THAC0, and the creature is living with an anatomy, well... they won't be too happy afterwards.
7: The Deva is a wonderful summon for priests. If you're more combat oriented, get Aura of Flaming Death for the AC bonus. Regeneration stacks with itself and is affected by Improved Haste.

As you can see each level has something that's worthwhile.

So for a Cleric to Thief (I recommend a Priest of Lathander for the ability... which also stacks with itself and Improved Haste)

I'd go for the maximum and do 26 priest (4050000) to 27 thief. If you want to take my advice and do thief first then I'd say dual class at 24 (3080000), after you get UAI, which would bring you to a 29 cleric in the end.

Hope this helped.

[Solusek]

I know that's not what you were asking, but I'd recommend playing a multi-class cleric/thief rather than dual-classing. The reason is that as a dual-classed cleric/thief or thief/cleric you'd have to dual very very late, as you will want to have UAI. Thus you will be playing 49% of the game as a pure thief, 49% of the game as a pure cleric, and only about 2% of the game actually having both classes. In the end, both classes will be roughly the same level anyway.

So if you're neither a human-only player nor want to play an Assassin/Cleric, I'd strongly recommend on multi-classing. This way you can play both classes from the beginning on, and since both cleric and thief are low-xp-per-level chars your leveling speed will still be decent. You could of course also dual-class earlier(as soon as you get 5x backstab multiplier for example), but as explained above you wouldn't get to enjoy the benefits of UAI this way.


So long,
Sol

[Celacena]

I had already done the sanctuary + blade barrier but I hadn't realised that my oh-so-innocent santuaried cleric could whip up a storm of blades with improved haste.

I am thinking about what Aerie may be able to trigger - chain contingency - barrier + haste + sanctuary on being hit perhaps, so that the enemy is real close!

Sanctuary should not be under-estimated - wandering through enemy camps and walking off with the treasure.

[Crenshinibon]

I don't like multiclass characters because they don't give you a lot of freedom and tend to be less powerful than dual classes characters. Also, as I wrote in the other thread, if you do all or most of the quests, you can max out before you reach Chapter 3, and the Deck makes life much easier.

No problem. Before, when I was just playing through for like the fifth time... which was so long ago, I used to give Aierie a Chain Contingency of two wiltings and a ressurection and a Spell Trigger of Sunfires or any other AOE spell that comes to mind. Skulltraps were always nice. So first you do the skull trap from a distance, then you run in, get hit a bit, trigger the Wilting and the fully heal yourself or revive if you die as there is a few second delay between the condition being met and the contingency taking effect.

[Klorox]

I usually favor multiclassers, but this is a concept idea I have. I'd only go to Cleric 14, then become a Thief.