If I understand the warning you get when you click on the dual class button correctly, the dual classed character will only continue to get XP in their 2nd class. (So, if they are a level 4 fighter and they get dual classed, they will stay a level 4 fighter from then on).

But Jaheira, who is dual class fighter\druid still gets XP for and levels up both classes. (Albeit the XP gets split up between the 2 classes).

Did i misread the warning text or is it different for NPCs?

What you have read is true.

Jaheira is not a dual class character; she is a multi class character. Multi class and dual class are two different things, and they follow different rules.

You can make the main character multi class, but you have to do that at the start of the game, and you need to choose a race other than human. (In all seriousness, humans are not very good in this game; unless you want to play a paladin or a dual class (*not* multi class!) character, choose a different race.)

Ah, i didn't know that about dual classing vs multi classing.

That explains it. Thanks.

Humans can only dual class but may choose to do so later in the game.

All other races have several multi class options but must choose them at the start of the game.

The advantage of dual classing is the benefit of limiting one class. For example, as a human, you can come to level 7 as a fighter, taking most of the fighter health and other advantages and then dual to a Mage. Then, you will only level up as a Mage which means you will use all the experience into the Mage class which is a huge benefit for Mage who is very depended on their level for Spells. You will also have the benefit of a Level 7 Fighter.

On the other hand, A Fighter/Mage multi class will continue dividing their experience to both classes which will hurt its Mage class level. Let's give numerical examples to that sample.

What happens when both Candidates reach 4 Million experience. Both has 18 CON.

Human Fighter Lv7 Mage Lv20 Dual Class
Health from fighter class: 7*14= 98
Health from Mage Class: 3*6 + 10 = 28
Total Health: 126 Health as a Lv7 Fighter and Lv20 Mage.

Multiclass Fighter(Lv16)/Mage(Lv15)
Health: (9*14+7*3)/2 + (10*6+5*1)/2 = 73 +32 = 105
So 105 Health as a Level 16 Fighter and Lv 15 Mage.

We have 20 less health and 5 less Mage levels which is a huge disadvantage in a Baldur's Gate game.

In conclusion, Humans are the only race that can take advantage of limiting one class.

But is a level 20 mage going to need thac0?

For that matter, how often is the level 15 mage using thac0?

That depends a lot on how you want to play your char.
I have a F/T/M who is a melee front liner and uses that0 a lot. Lack of HP isn't a problem when you have stoneskin, mirror image, etc.

It is said that both Thac0 and AC becomes useless in Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal because you either hit every time or you can not hit at all. So total health becomes very important. I never played it myself so my example was based on that theory.

Well, before you reach Throne of Bhaal, you need to get through BG2. There, as gnarbrag wrote, a F/M (my favorite) or F/T/M that are used as a frontliners will benefit from good Thaco, but access to spells like stoneskin will make HP less important.

True. I have no objection to that. My point was to people who said Humans are completely useless. Let me give you a better example. Let's say that I want to be a Mage with lots of HP so let's compare a pure mage vs Lv7Fighter + Mage . Again each candidate has 4 M exp with max health at level ups.

Human Fighter Lv7 Mage Lv20 Dual Class
Health from fighter class: 7*14= 98
Health from Mage Class: 3*6 + 10 = 28
Total Health: 126 Health as a Lv7 Fighter and Lv20 Mage.

Lv20 Pure Mage
Heath= 10*6 + 10*1 = 70 Health

That means that a Human can be Level 20 Mage at 4 Million experience with 126 health with the abilities and proficiencies of a Lv 7 Fighter while other races can only be level 20 pure mage with only 70 Health. The only disadvantage of the human is they'll gain levels 64K experince later than a pure mage which does not seem to be a big deal. HUMANS are the only race that can achieve that in Baldur's Gate and that was my point. So they are not useless at all.


Again, it depends on your play style and I do not consider other versions bad. I was just trying to give the OP an alternative version.

Fair enough. That was indeed a better example :)