I am aware that the general consensus is that cleric/mage characters are always better multi'd, especially when bringing the cleric/illusionist into the discussion. I have to admit that I am prejudiced against gnomes, and wouldn't want to live without horrid wilting, so I am more interested in discussing whether a vanilla cleric/mage multi truly beats out a cleric (PoT) > mage dual class.
I'm not convinced it does.
Divine spells at cap:
Cleric/Mage multi: 9999973
PoT>Mage dual: 6666421
Arcane spells at cap:
Cleric/Mage multi: 555554332
PoT>Mage dual: 555555544
So yes, the Cleric/Mage will have more spells overall, but by far, most of the extra spells are lower level divine spells that fail to impress. The Cleric>Mage gets twice as many level 9s an extra level 8, two extra level 7s, and an extra level 6.
The Cleric/Mage looks far better when it comes to divine spells, but this is what you give up:
1. PoT kit (Stormshield, Lighting bolt instant cast)
2. More HP. The PoT gets 8HD per level, the Mage/Cleric Multi gets 6HD!!!
3. More of the spells that actually matter (Arcane) and more Mage HLAs.
This is what the Cleric/Mage gets in return:
A few more divine spells and tons more low level divine spells that you won't even waste your time casting.
This is such a blowout in favor of PoT>Mage that I'm not entirely sure I wouldn't take it over the Cleric/Illusionist, either. Especially when you have to give of Horrid Wilting.
Am I missing something, here? The general consensus is that Cleric/Mage multi is better.
I just don't see it. Help me out.
Edit: Oh, and I forgot to mention, your ability score doesn't add to the number of arcane spells you get, but it DOES add to the number of divine spells. And there is 3 tomes in BG and Lum's Machine in BG2 that can give you outrageous wisdom.
So even when you give up the spells by dualing your cleric instead of going with a multi, you will be swimming in lower level spells. No way you will cast them all before you need to rest. A few extra high level divine spells can't be worth all that HP, arcane spells, and PoT abilities.
I'm not convinced it does.
Divine spells at cap:
Cleric/Mage multi: 9999973
PoT>Mage dual: 6666421
Arcane spells at cap:
Cleric/Mage multi: 555554332
PoT>Mage dual: 555555544
So yes, the Cleric/Mage will have more spells overall, but by far, most of the extra spells are lower level divine spells that fail to impress. The Cleric>Mage gets twice as many level 9s an extra level 8, two extra level 7s, and an extra level 6.
The Cleric/Mage looks far better when it comes to divine spells, but this is what you give up:
1. PoT kit (Stormshield, Lighting bolt instant cast)
2. More HP. The PoT gets 8HD per level, the Mage/Cleric Multi gets 6HD!!!
3. More of the spells that actually matter (Arcane) and more Mage HLAs.
This is what the Cleric/Mage gets in return:
A few more divine spells and tons more low level divine spells that you won't even waste your time casting.
This is such a blowout in favor of PoT>Mage that I'm not entirely sure I wouldn't take it over the Cleric/Illusionist, either. Especially when you have to give of Horrid Wilting.
Am I missing something, here? The general consensus is that Cleric/Mage multi is better.
I just don't see it. Help me out.
Edit: Oh, and I forgot to mention, your ability score doesn't add to the number of arcane spells you get, but it DOES add to the number of divine spells. And there is 3 tomes in BG and Lum's Machine in BG2 that can give you outrageous wisdom.
So even when you give up the spells by dualing your cleric instead of going with a multi, you will be swimming in lower level spells. No way you will cast them all before you need to rest. A few extra high level divine spells can't be worth all that HP, arcane spells, and PoT abilities.