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This is a very simple question. I'd like to have a multiclass Fighter/Thief, with the whole point of the thief bit being to hide in shadows and then backstab people very hard.

Can dual-classed Fighter/Theves backstab?

should be able to, I haven't tried it.

do multiplayer?

EDIT: actually, yes! Because Nalia can still hide in shadows/backstab

Thirdfain wrote:This is a very simple question. I'd like to have a multiclass Fighter/Thief, with the whole point of the thief bit being to hide in shadows and then backstab people very hard.

Can dual-classed Fighter/Theves backstab?

Alright, first of all, multiclassing is different from dual-classing--it's confusing, but there is a difference.

In answer to your question on whether multi- and dual-classed thieves can backstab:

Yes. Yes they can. In fact, they're quite good at it. If you have Throne of Bhaal, then you have excellent dual-class options. The only exception to this general rule is if you dual-class a Swashbuckler, of course, in which case the thief has no backstabbing bonus.

Good dual-class options: Wizard slayer-Thief. In ToB, you'll have items that can raise this character's magic-resistance to near 100%, so it's actually useful, and the backstab lets you kill a mage in one-hit, reliably, then move on to another or a cleric that you can prevent from casting spells with a flurry of quick attacks.

Other good choice: Kensai-Thief. The thief has access to a HLA in ToB that lets him wear any armor, even though you should restrict it to the leathers so you can use your hide in shadows ability.

Final good choice: Assassin-Fighter (or anything, really). I haven't tried this one myself, but it should work. The only problem is you have to REALLY crank the Assassin levels to get up to the 7* backstab multiplier, which is the only reason to choose an Assassin.

Any of the multiclass thieves can backstab, and most of them should use that option. Just be sure that you have a weapon suitable for backstabbing, if that's your style.

I never found multi-classing to be an effective option for most characters in the original game--the EXP cap was too low to let the characters really come into their own (with only a few exceptions), so if you're only playing through BGII but not ToB you should carefully consider the level cap you're going to be looking at before deciding on multi-classing.

The exception to that rule is the druid--if you're playing BGII alone (and not ToB), a druid should almost ALWAYS multi- or dual-class, since they "waste" the last half of their experience points without a single level up (the cap for them is a miserly level 14, IIRC). You can get a level 13 druid/14 fighter--a much better character, in the long run, or (perhaps) even get the pivotal 14th level in druid if you go fighter->druid, giving you the final level of spells.

The other really good multiclass in the game is the Cleric/Ranger, which has access to druid spells but also the benefits of a cleric.

Thief/Fighter/Mages are rumored to be good, but I found their spell selection too limited, as were their skills, to help me through the game. I generally found it much better to have a separate thief/fighter and a mage, but for soloing the game they're good.

oh yeah, and if you have ToB...

be a fighter and get really good w/ two handed sword, then dual class to thief.

high level rogue ability: use any item

backstabbing with Carsomyr: The Holy Avenger!


Fighter/Mage/Thieves are pretty good. That was actually the first class that I took from the start of BG I all the way through ToB

EDIT: Of course, any character that actually plays through BG I before starting BG II will be more powerful. (Stat Tomes)

and ALWAYS keep the pantaloons

Jaepheth wrote: and ALWAYS keep the pantaloons

YES. The BMU is awesome!

Jaepheth wrote:Fighter/Mage/Thieves are pretty good. That was actually the first class that I took from the start of BG I all the way through ToB

I've never really tried that combination, but it seems intuitive to me that it would function better as a dual-class-->triple class, beginning as a thief or fighter, switching to the other one (probably start with the fighter), and finally triple to mage so you can access the highest level spells faster.

Jaepheth wrote: backstabbing with Carsomyr: The Holy Avenger!

Unless I'm very much mistaken you CAN'T backstab with a twohander.

Irrespective of the Use Any Item skill, a Fighter/Thief of any colour can only backstab with weapons that a Thief could normally equip.

Vendetta wrote:Irrespective of the Use Any Item skill, a Fighter/Thief of any colour can only backstab with weapons that a Thief could normally equip.

Wasn't it even more limited than that? IIRC, it had to be a piercing weapon to boot, and no backstab with ranged weapons unlike 3E sneak attack.

Batman wrote:

Vendetta wrote:Irrespective of the Use Any Item skill, a Fighter/Thief of any colour can only backstab with weapons that a Thief could normally equip.

Wasn't it even more limited than that? IIRC, it had to be a piercing weapon to boot, and no backstab with ranged weapons unlike 3E sneak attack.

It didn't have to be a piercing weapon--it had to be a one-handed weapon that a thief could gain proficiency in, and it couldn't be a ranged weapon. In BGII, it was possible for a Cleric/Thief to backstab with a weird weapon that was a one-handed mace, but used the quarterstaff proficiency. IIRC, that was the Cleric/Thief's only backstabbing weapon (I didn't play that strange multiclass, either).

Ok, here's some questions:

I'm a dual classed Fighter/Thief. It's working great, but my backstab doesn't always seem to work, which is sort of bizzare.

Can I backstab while dual weilding? With a longsword, assuming I have the proficiency?

Gah! This is fucking infuriating.

Now, I'm not doing any backstab damage at all. This blows.

I'm wearing studded leather armor, wielding a short sword and a buckler. I've got 2 proficency slots in short swords, daggers, and two-weapon fighting style. I do no backstab. WTF?

Thirdfain wrote:Gah! This is fucking infuriating.

Now, I'm not doing any backstab damage at all. This blows.

I'm wearing studded leather armor, wielding a short sword and a buckler. I've got 2 proficency slots in short swords, daggers, and two-weapon fighting style. I do no backstab. WTF?

Are you hiding in shadows successfully, sneaking up behind them (you do need to be behind the guy in order to backstab), and then attacking him? Note that you cannot click on him to attack, then change your mind (since that cancels the hide in shadows), then attack the guy again or select a different target. Also note that some targets (like Golems) are immune to backstabbing, and a few enemies (like Koa-Toans) can see you regardless of your invisibility. It's also possible, though unlikely, that they're hearing you before you manage to attack them, which prevents you from backstabbing even though they still can't target you.

Nope, I'm def. hiding in shadows, I'm def. behind them, and I'm def. making the attack right. This is against a goblin, for chrissakes. I've done this roughly a bajillion times before using Annah in Planescape or Drew Barrymo... errr, Nalia in this one.

Perhaps the problem is the dual weilding?

Thirdfain wrote:Nope, I'm def. hiding in shadows, I'm def. behind them, and I'm def. making the attack right. This is against a goblin, for chrissakes. I've done this roughly a bajillion times before using Annah in Planescape or Drew Barrymo... errr, Nalia in this one.

Perhaps the problem is the dual weilding?

Not sure. I've never had a problem getting a backstab bonus. The katana, though, is usually the best weapon for doing it.

Dual wielding should definitely NOT interfere with backstabbing. Something's wrong there.
Especially as you aren't doing it. Not with a buckler in the second slot.

Master of Ossus wrote:Any of the multiclass thieves can backstab, and most of them should use that option. Just be sure that you have a weapon suitable for backstabbing, if that's your style.

And the best such weapon is the Staff of the Ram.

Thief/Fighter/Mages are rumored to be good, but I found their spell selection too limited, as were their skills, to help me through the game. I generally found it much better to have a separate thief/fighter and a mage, but for soloing the game they're good.

They are unstoppable dervishes of destruction for soloing. I need to go back sometime and finish up the final battles in Ascension with my 40/40/40 F/M/T.

Master of Ossus wrote:I've never really tried that combination, but it seems intuitive to me that it would function better as a dual-class-->triple class, beginning as a thief or fighter, switching to the other one (probably start with the fighter), and finally triple to mage so you can access the highest level spells faster.

BG2 does not allow for such triple classing. Dual classing can only be done once, and you cannot select a kit for your second class.

Master of Ossus wrote:It didn't have to be a piercing weapon--it had to be a one-handed weapon that a thief could gain proficiency in, and it couldn't be a ranged weapon.

There's no one handed requirement, and you can backstab with staves.