GameBanshee Forums

As far as I can see the good thing about the Ranger/Cleric multi is the extra attack (when no shield in use) and the druid spells (unlike BG2 you have to 'unlock' these spells as you level up in Ranger) added to cleric spellbook. The extra attack just gives flexibility by the end as you probably want +4AC from a strong shield. The stealth I wouldn't use as you lose too much AC.

Ranger -> Cleric Dual, same as above though I don't know which is better???

Fighter/Cleric Multi ??? Is this good ??? No grandmastery is a problem seeing as you're part fighter, but the THACO would be higher than the below option (unless you waited forever to dual class).

Fighter -> Cleric Dual, this seems good to me if you get Grandmastery in something. Now you get the same # attacks as the Ranger 'dual wield' but you can hold a shield. Or is GM nerfed from BG1?

What do people think? I definately want a warrior cleric but I don't know what to choose.

myrophine

The options are all good (with the possible exception of the ranger/cleric dual class), but have their own strengths and weaknesses. I've played them all excepting a dual class ranger/cleric, so I'll try to give you a summary.

Multi Class warrior/clerics

In General

Strengths - clerical spell access throughout the game, continues to level up in both classes and therefore is ideal for long games (both expansions) or games at higher difficulties where your character may hit the lvl 30 cap.

Weaknesses - time betweeen level-ups can seem long if you have a six-character party playing on normal difficulty, can only get 2 PP in weapons.

Fighter/Cleric multi - makes a good primary tank with a shield. Levels up faster in the warrior class than the Ranger/Cleric multi.

Ranger/Cleric multi - more offensive than the F/C multi in melee and in spell selection. Gets a lot of benefit from an undead species enemy (any of the three types).

Dual Class warrior/clerics

In General

Can be the best warrior because of the option to get up to 5 PP in a melee weapon, although the multiclass is no real slouch. A low-level dual (say at lvl 7 or less) gives you a few extra hp and additional attacks for not much of an XP hit. If you dual at a high level, you'd better have other healing/buffing options in your party for the time that this character won't be able to perform those functions. Pre-dualling weapon choice is limited to clerical (blunt) weapons if you want to be able to use those proficiencies after regaining your warrior class.

Strengths - will probably eventually make a better tank than the multiclass (except at very high levels) because of the grandmastery option.

Weaknesses - if you dual at medium to high levels (9-15), you'd better be playing the entire expansion set, preferably at a high difficulty level for the extra XP. For significant periods of the game you will be without either the warrior side or the clerical side, so your party had better be able to carry some deadweight for a little while, as well as be able to cover off the fighting/healing/buffing options during that time.

Fighter/Cleric dual - your only option of the four if you want grandmastery.

Ranger/Cleric dual - possibly the weakest choice of the four. This class is significantly limited in relation to its multiclass counterpart. It's give access to druid spells only when the ranger class is regained, and is limited to access that the ranger would have, meaning your access to druid spells will never improve once you dual over. No real reason for taking this class, IMO, as the ranger doesn't get better than specialization in any weapon, same as the multiclass. I find the multiclass to be much more versatile than this option.

One way to get the best of both worlds is to take one multiclass divine caster and one dual class divine caster. I'd recommend one druid and one cleric. That will eventually give you two excellent spellcasters and good part-time tanks.