Q about dual-classed characters (2nd ed) - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Q about dual-classed characters (2nd ed)

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Oct 06, 2006 17:30:21 Lets say I play a fighter and I reach lvl 7, which means my base thac0 is 14. I then decide to dual-class my character to a Mage.

1) When I dual-classed, my thac0 goes up to 20, right?
2) Does my thac0 improve in my first levels as a wizard? (lvl 1-7)
3) When I reach, lvl 8, will my thac0 go down to 14 again? And how often does it improve after that?
TIA
#2
realmaster
Oct 07, 2006 1:04:11
Lets say I play a fighter and I reach lvl 7, which means my base thac0 is 14. I then decide to dual-class my character to a Mage.

1) When I dual-classed, my thac0 goes up to 20, right?
2) Does my thac0 improve in my first levels as a wizard? (lvl 1-7)
3) When I reach, lvl 8, will my thac0 go down to 14 again? And how often does it improve after that?
TIA

1) yes
2) yes you use the thaco progression of a mage.
3) your thaco goes off of the class you are currently achieving training in.
#3
agathokles
Oct 07, 2006 2:46:04
1) yes

Uhm, actually the character could use the old THAC0 (and weapons, etc.), but he would incur in a 50% XP penalty until the wizard level raised above the fighter level.

2) yes you use the thaco progression of a mage.
3) your thaco goes off of the class you are currently achieving training in.

Since after becoming a W8/F7 this character could freely use fighter weapons and THAC0, his THAC0 would increase no more, since for a wizard 14 is also the maximum rate.
Were he dual-classing into a priest or rogue class, he would improve his THAC0 at 13th and 15th level, respectively.
#4
realmaster
Oct 07, 2006 2:49:54 I was not thinking about the penalty, that is usually something you want avoid when dual-classing.
#5
agathokles
Oct 07, 2006 3:51:07
I was not thinking about the penalty, that is usually something you want avoid when dual-classing.

Maybe, but since the dual class character would be adventuring with other 7th level PCs, he would have less problems getting 1/2 XP (when you only need a few thousand XPs to raise in levels) than having to fight with a dagger at THAC0 20 (at least until he reaches level 5 or so, when he can be of use with spells).
At level 1 or 2, it's really better to use Fighter THAC0 and weapons, then the character will probably find increasingly easier to use only Mage abilities -- consider that e.g. using Fighter abilities only below M3/F7 imposes an overall penalty of less than 10% on the total XP the character needs to get to become M7/F7.
#6
zombiegleemax
Oct 07, 2006 3:52:20 So lets see if I got this right:
Say I play a Fighter and decides to dual class to cleric at 8th level (thac0 13), as soon as that happens my thac0 goes up to 20 again and my improvement rate for thac0 is 2/3 for the rest of the game, but when I hit lvl 9, I can choose to use my old thac0 without XP penalty, but I still advance from my cleric thac0?
(Which is 16 at the time)

Thanks by the way.
#7
realmaster
Oct 07, 2006 4:00:11
Maybe, but since the dual class character would be adventuring with other 7th level PCs, he would have less problems getting 1/2 XP (when you only need a few thousand XPs to raise in levels) than having to fight with a dagger at THAC0 20 (at least until he reaches level 5 or so, when he can be of use with spells).
At level 1 or 2, it's really better to use Fighter THAC0 and weapons, then the character will probably find increasingly easier to use only Mage abilities -- consider that e.g. using Fighter abilities only below M3/F7 imposes an overall penalty of less than 10% on the total XP the character needs to get to become M7/F7.

I guess that would depend on the player. If he has the companions to adventure with he could forgo the penalty and work with the mage abilities only and avoid the 50% cost of reverting to old habits.
#8
realmaster
Oct 07, 2006 4:03:52
So lets see if I got this right:
Say I play a Fighter and decides to dual class to cleric at 8th level (thac0 13), as soon as that happens my thac0 goes up to 20 again and my improvement rate for thac0 is 2/3 for the rest of the game, but when I hit lvl 9, I can choose to use my old thac0 without XP penalty, but I still advance from my cleric thac0?
(Which is 16 at the time)

Thanks by the way.

Right, after you advance over your highest level (your fighter) you can use both class abilities but remember you still must abide by the restrictions of each class.
#9
zombiegleemax
Oct 07, 2006 4:20:12 Oh yeah, one more question, regarding multi-class characters:
Lets say I play a F/T both lvl 1, as a MC character I would use the most beneficial thac0 improvement rate, which is the fighter's 1/1. Now my question is, would I lower thac0 for each fighter level I level up, or for each level on the whole?
(I would guess it's for each fighter level, otherwise you could become increadibly powerful, but im not sure)
#10
agathokles
Oct 07, 2006 9:40:54
Oh yeah, one more question, regarding multi-class characters:
Lets say I play a F/T both lvl 1, as a MC character I would use the most beneficial thac0 improvement rate, which is the fighter's 1/1. Now my question is, would I lower thac0 for each fighter level I level up, or for each level on the whole?
(I would guess it's for each fighter level, otherwise you could become increadibly powerful, but im not sure)

You would have the same THAC0 as a Fighter of the same level. So a multiclass F5/T5 has the same THAC0 as a F5.
#11
weasel_fierce
Oct 07, 2006 12:00:47 Correct. With multiclassing, you view each class separately, and then pick the best. Hit points are the only exception.
#12
ozbirthrightfan
Oct 08, 2006 20:49:46
I guess that would depend on the player. If he has the companions to adventure with he could forgo the penalty and work with the mage abilities only and avoid the 50% cost of reverting to old habits.

Maybe. THere is the rule (well guideline really) for only advancing 1 level per adventure (from the DMG). If you are a level 1 Mage adventuring with a level 8 party, you'll probably receive enough to hit second level in a single adventure even WITH the 50% XP penalty.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Oct 06, 2006 17:30:21	Lets say I play a fighter and I reach lvl 7, which means my base thac0 is 14. I then decide to dual-class my character to a Mage. 1) When I dual-classed, my thac0 goes up to 20, right? 2) Does my thac0 improve in my first levels as a wizard? (lvl 1-7) 3) When I reach, lvl 8, will my thac0 go down to 14 again? And how often does it improve after that? TIA
#2 realmaster Oct 07, 2006 1:04:11	Lets say I play a fighter and I reach lvl 7, which means my base thac0 is 14. I then decide to dual-class my character to a Mage. 1) When I dual-classed, my thac0 goes up to 20, right? 2) Does my thac0 improve in my first levels as a wizard? (lvl 1-7) 3) When I reach, lvl 8, will my thac0 go down to 14 again? And how often does it improve after that? TIA 1) yes 2) yes you use the thaco progression of a mage. 3) your thaco goes off of the class you are currently achieving training in.
#3 agathokles Oct 07, 2006 2:46:04	1) yes Uhm, actually the character could use the old THAC0 (and weapons, etc.), but he would incur in a 50% XP penalty until the wizard level raised above the fighter level. 2) yes you use the thaco progression of a mage. 3) your thaco goes off of the class you are currently achieving training in. Since after becoming a W8/F7 this character could freely use fighter weapons and THAC0, his THAC0 would increase no more, since for a wizard 14 is also the maximum rate. Were he dual-classing into a priest or rogue class, he would improve his THAC0 at 13th and 15th level, respectively.
#4 realmaster Oct 07, 2006 2:49:54	I was not thinking about the penalty, that is usually something you want avoid when dual-classing.
#5 agathokles Oct 07, 2006 3:51:07	I was not thinking about the penalty, that is usually something you want avoid when dual-classing. Maybe, but since the dual class character would be adventuring with other 7th level PCs, he would have less problems getting 1/2 XP (when you only need a few thousand XPs to raise in levels) than having to fight with a dagger at THAC0 20 (at least until he reaches level 5 or so, when he can be of use with spells). At level 1 or 2, it's really better to use Fighter THAC0 and weapons, then the character will probably find increasingly easier to use only Mage abilities -- consider that e.g. using Fighter abilities only below M3/F7 imposes an overall penalty of less than 10% on the total XP the character needs to get to become M7/F7.
#6 zombiegleemax Oct 07, 2006 3:52:20	So lets see if I got this right: Say I play a Fighter and decides to dual class to cleric at 8th level (thac0 13), as soon as that happens my thac0 goes up to 20 again and my improvement rate for thac0 is 2/3 for the rest of the game, but when I hit lvl 9, I can choose to use my old thac0 without XP penalty, but I still advance from my cleric thac0? (Which is 16 at the time) Thanks by the way.
#7 realmaster Oct 07, 2006 4:00:11	Maybe, but since the dual class character would be adventuring with other 7th level PCs, he would have less problems getting 1/2 XP (when you only need a few thousand XPs to raise in levels) than having to fight with a dagger at THAC0 20 (at least until he reaches level 5 or so, when he can be of use with spells). At level 1 or 2, it's really better to use Fighter THAC0 and weapons, then the character will probably find increasingly easier to use only Mage abilities -- consider that e.g. using Fighter abilities only below M3/F7 imposes an overall penalty of less than 10% on the total XP the character needs to get to become M7/F7. I guess that would depend on the player. If he has the companions to adventure with he could forgo the penalty and work with the mage abilities only and avoid the 50% cost of reverting to old habits.
#8 realmaster Oct 07, 2006 4:03:52	So lets see if I got this right: Say I play a Fighter and decides to dual class to cleric at 8th level (thac0 13), as soon as that happens my thac0 goes up to 20 again and my improvement rate for thac0 is 2/3 for the rest of the game, but when I hit lvl 9, I can choose to use my old thac0 without XP penalty, but I still advance from my cleric thac0? (Which is 16 at the time) Thanks by the way. Right, after you advance over your highest level (your fighter) you can use both class abilities but remember you still must abide by the restrictions of each class.
#9 zombiegleemax Oct 07, 2006 4:20:12	Oh yeah, one more question, regarding multi-class characters: Lets say I play a F/T both lvl 1, as a MC character I would use the most beneficial thac0 improvement rate, which is the fighter's 1/1. Now my question is, would I lower thac0 for each fighter level I level up, or for each level on the whole? (I would guess it's for each fighter level, otherwise you could become increadibly powerful, but im not sure)
#10 agathokles Oct 07, 2006 9:40:54	Oh yeah, one more question, regarding multi-class characters: Lets say I play a F/T both lvl 1, as a MC character I would use the most beneficial thac0 improvement rate, which is the fighter's 1/1. Now my question is, would I lower thac0 for each fighter level I level up, or for each level on the whole? (I would guess it's for each fighter level, otherwise you could become increadibly powerful, but im not sure) You would have the same THAC0 as a Fighter of the same level. So a multiclass F5/T5 has the same THAC0 as a F5.
#11 weasel_fierce Oct 07, 2006 12:00:47	Correct. With multiclassing, you view each class separately, and then pick the best. Hit points are the only exception.
#12 ozbirthrightfan Oct 08, 2006 20:49:46	I guess that would depend on the player. If he has the companions to adventure with he could forgo the penalty and work with the mage abilities only and avoid the 50% cost of reverting to old habits. Maybe. THere is the rule (well guideline really) for only advancing 1 level per adventure (from the DMG). If you are a level 1 Mage adventuring with a level 8 party, you'll probably receive enough to hit second level in a single adventure even WITH the 50% XP penalty.