Healer/Rogue/Archer build?

[Dollar]

I am trying to think of a Healer/Rogue/Archer build, but I am a complete n00b with NWN2 and D&D in general. I have a few questions on this, but figured I'd give you my thought process first:

I started playing as a melee character, but found I spend little time playing him and spend a lot of time playing Elanee as a healer in the back. So, I thought I'd start a Cleric. Then I thought, wouldn't it be great if I could also drop Neeshka, so maybe I'd add some levels of Rogue for something like Cleric 10/Rogue 10. Mostly I just wanted the Rogue skills, like Disable Device, Listen, Open Lock, Search and Spot(I don't care about hiding). I figured this build wouldn't be good in a melee fight, so maybe I'd add a few levels of Ranger or even Arcane Archer if possible(though I know I'd have to add a level of sorc/wiz for that). So, I'm wondering:

1) Am I spreading myself too thin with this? Maybe I shouldn't focus on the archer part at all?

2) If this build is even feasible, I would probably want a lot of Dex, but I read that Dex is a dump stat for Clerics. Is that a good enough reason to not try this? I know I'd probably then need high Dex and Wis, and maybe Int for skills. I figure I can dump Str and Con, can I also dump Cha or is that too important for a Cleric?

3) Part of my problem is I have no idea how casters work, or more specifically, how any of the caster feats do. I've been reading their descriptions but am still not too sure on them. I wanted to use them to boost my healing, but, for example, if I take Practiced Spellcaster, and then take Quicken Spell, can I cast a level 6 quickened spell at level 6?

4) Also I am not sure on the level progression for multi-classing. I see a lot of people have builds where they alternate levels, would I want to do that? What is the benefit of doing that?

5) Possibly answering my previous question, if I level up as a Cleric, but have at least a level of Rogue, does choosing Rogue skills still count as cross-class? Maybe alternating levels is the reason for this?

6) I was looking at using the Healing and Trickery domains for the cleric. For Trickery, it says (in the strat guide) Clerics gain bonuses to Rogue-Like skills. How does this work? Is it just a +1 to rogue skills, or does it allow me to cross-class Rogue skills with no penalty?

Phew. Hope that's not too much for you guys to read. I think I even had more questions, but can't remember them right now. Thanks!

[smass]

You could definitely go with a rogue/cleric. You really only need about 5 levels of rogue to handle most traps and locks. So you could mix in a few prestige levels as well.

One way to go would be a haffer rogue/cleric. Halflings have rogue as their preferred class. They also have a bonus to Dexterity and some rogue skill bonuses. I like stronghearts for the extra feat. For a healer/buffer/archer type you do not need strength so you could go with a stat line like this:

S-10 D-16 Con-14 Wis-16 Int -12 Ch-10

Feel free to lower Charisma if you like - I prefer to have all stats at least at 10 but thats me...

The first level should be rogue as you will get your skill point bonus for taking rogue as your first level. Then you can alternate rogue and cleric levels. You would alternate so that you could steadily raise your rogue skills. To answer your skills question - yes - when you take a level of cleric your rogue skills will be cross class - thats another reason to alternate levels. Once you get to 5/5 rogue cleric I would then go with all cleric levels. You may also consider a prestige class for a few levels - but I would go all cleric right to 5/15 rogue/cleric. Some feats you would want would be: luck of heroes, point blank shot and rapid shot, then maybe some spell feats.

This would be an interesting character - kind of a jack of all trades support character. You would stay in the back of the party and heal, buff, and summon creatures. You could also handle the trap disarming and lock opening tasks and use your shortbow to provide support to melee NPCs.

[Magrus]

In order:

1) Yes, you are. Your character will suck to lowest sectors of the abyss.

2) Arcane Archer requires 1st level arcane spells. Think Bard, Sorcerer or Wizard. Sorc or Wiz would be your best bet, as you would technically only need 1 level in either class. The Arcane Archer (AA) class setup in NWN and NWN 2 is screwy, and therefore it is nearly useless to have spells with this class in this game. If you go cleric, you are being counter productive, although it isn't impossible.

3) Practised spellcaster doesn't work, unless there is some mystery update beyond the 3.84 patch I have I am clueless about. So, regardless, ignore that feat. However, you are completely off in the casting. In order to use the Quicken Spell feat, your spell level in the spell you apply it to increases by 4. As a wizard, this equates to an increase in 8 levels of wizard that you need in order to use this spell on a spell you get. For example. You can cast Magic Missile (MM), a 1st level spell as a 1st level wizard. You gain access to 5th level spells as a 9th level wizard. When you reach 9th level, you can apply Quicken spell to your 1st level MM spell and cast it as a free action, but it will have the same cost as a 5th level spell.

It's a lot to take in, I know. If I lost you, just nod and say "I shall ignore the Extend, Empower, Maximize and Quicken spell feats in the game."

4) What is the benefit in your proposed build? Nothing. Your concept is completely counter productive in every way. The benefits in multiclassing however, are that certain abilities are better than others. So, for instance, it is a bad idea to take odd levels in the Fighter Class, as you get a bonus feat every even level as a fighter. So, you take even levels unless there is some super important reason not to. It takes a while, but once you get familiar with the classes, you'll get the hang of it.

5) Class skills only count as class skills for the level you are taking. Meaning, if you are a cleric at level 5, when selecting skills at level 5, you have the cleric skill set. Purchasing rogue skills at level 5 will cost x2 the standard cost when leveling as a rogue.

6) I am not sure how it works in NWN, as I really don't feel like dealing with creating a character just to see what they did in mutilating a cleric Domain for this game. You are supposed to simply gain Bluff, Disguise and Hide as class skills in DnD. Meaning, they cost the standard cost for skill improvement as a cleric for you now, rather than the x2 cross class cost. Whether the developers changed this in NWN is beyond me. Disguise isn't a skill in NWN, so I am assuming they might have.

I didn't mind reading. As you happened to have taken the time to ask specific questions, it made me want to provide specific answers to said questions. It restored my faith in gamers around the world. People that think they can ask a rather general and incredibly limited and lazy question seem to believe they will receive miracles in response for some reason.

As for a build, what are you trying to accomplish? From the looks of it, you would be better with an elven Bard/AA. This would give you spells to boost your abilities and healing spells, some rogue skills, and the ability to enter into the AA class. Not to mention, a halfway decent ability to attack and the ability to wear light armor without ruining your chances to cast spells. If you take the Battle Caster feat, you can apply that to Medium armor, if you happen to gain proficiency in medium armor anyhow. A level of Fighter, or 2 levels in Ranger would do wonders for the build in that case.