Patched High Level Abilities for Dual Classers

[Xyx]

The description of the patch states that dual classed characters will now also start gaining high level abilities after they reach the SoA XP cap. Can anyone confirm that this actually works?

[Laurelei]

In fact it doesn't. As near as I can tell, Dual classed characters have to reach 3mil xp in their SECOND class to get special abilities.

How do I know this? I dualled Sarevok to a thief. I don't want to get into a "Should you/Shouldn't you dual Sarevok" discussion, I needed a thief I patched, played the final battle with Irenicus, and into ToB I went. Sarevok joined and I dualled him immediately to thief (at 2.7 mil or whatever he has as a fighter when he joins you). He still didn't start getting thief special abilities until almost the end of the game, when his thief xp was at 3mil. Sucks and seems highly unfair, but there it is.

[UberJason]

Oh I doubt it is "highly unfair" considering that dual-clases are so overpowered already. I suppose that is the price you have to pay for a fighter with "use any item" ability, or a mage with all t he combat bonuses of a kensai.

I'm soloing a kensai-thief right now and I just got "use any item" (after a long ride). Now the game is so boring I don't even think I'll continue.

[Laurelei]

Originally posted by UberJason:
<STRONG>Oh I doubt it is "highly unfair" considering that dual-clases are so overpowered already.</STRONG>

Okay, maybe unfair was the wrong word. Granted, with the implementation of kits duals had a certain potential advantage over multis who couldn't choose a kit. This potential is now somewhat offset by the fact that if you want to wait until some uber-high level to dual your character you are never going to see special abilities or if you do it will be sometime during Chapters 9 or 10 (unless you're soloing). So now multis have the advantage of being able to pick from two special abilities tables and at around Chapter 5 if you do all the extra quests in Chapters 2 and 3.

Actually I don't have a problem with that per se, and makes the multiclass a bit more interesting for me and the dual class a bit less so. Having this information will certainly influence how long I wait to dual one of my PCs if I decide to play a dual class (have only dualled NPCs so far).

All that said, the "clarification" given by Bioware on the latest patch is highly misleading on this issue, and that IS a bit unfair IMO, since I might have played my game differently and might NOT have dualled Sarevok if they didn't say:

Originally posted by Bioware:
<STRONG>As a clarification, Multi and dual class characters gain their first high level ability at the equivalent XP mark as a single class character. Everybody gets their first high level ability at approx 3 million xp, give or take a few thousand. This was done to allow multi and dual class characters to enjoy the benefits of high level abilities before the end of the game.</STRONG>

But at this late date, a level 18 fighter level 25 thief doesn't really even NEED "use any item", since a fighter/thief class can already use pretty much anything I care about him using anyway. Since I play with a party, I don't need my fighters or thieves using scrolls and wands, that's what I have my mages for. I wouldn't have minded some of those uber-traps a little earlier though

I just wanted to make sure that other players who read this don't plan their game around the mis-interpreted quote from Bioware on this latest patch.

[UserUnfriendly]

So does this mean if I reach 3 mill with imoen as a thief i start getting spike traps? Will have to test, she's an ok mage, but terrible thief! And the alternative Jan, as multi, is really awful, as I can't stand jan and his turnip stories.

Im going to ditch saverok in my next tob game as he is just too depressing . Prefer korgans rather bloodthirsty stories and look foward to teasing aerie. Plan on installing the happy party patch so niether leave. need both!

[UserUnfriendly]

oopse, reread original post, so I got my answer. sigh, looks like if I really want the party I want I'll have to use shadowkeeper.

Oh well, its worth it to lose jan and anomen anyway. I covet jan being the only multiclass thief, with getting those really cool spike and fireball traps, and I covet anomen's being multi so he can have greater whirlwind and those wonderful tanking spells that a cleric has.

[Delacroix]

Dual class don't receive the ability of the old class, multiclass receive both, but I tested (including breaking the XP CAP) the F/M/T do not receive the mage abilities, only fighter's and Thief's.

[Xyx]

Originally posted by Laurelei:
<STRONG>I just wanted to make sure that other players who read this don't plan their game around the mis-interpreted quote from Bioware on this latest patch.</STRONG>

Mis-interpreted? You must mean misplaced.

[Laurelei]

Yeah, or mis-written Or DOWNRIGHT LIED!!!!

hehe, I'm all right, really, I swear