Any advice for a thief to be in the party by the time of POOLS OF DARKNESS?

My ideas:

1) Pure thief of any race

2) Dwarven multi-class Fighter 9 (cap)/ Thief X

3) Elven multi-class Mage 11 (cap)/ Thief X

4) Elven multi-class Fighter 7 (cap)/ Mage 11(cap)/ Thief X

5) Human dual-class Fighter 7-13 / Thief X


These above give you a character with the level of thief unlimited. I am not sure if that optional dungeon needs a very high level thief or if just a 13th level thief dual-classing into other classes is sufficient?? ANYONE KNOW?

Here are dual classes starting with Thief:

6) Human dual-class Thief 13/ Mage X

7) Human dual-class Thief 13/ Fighter X (would need strength item - don't know if available)

There's also:

Human dual-class Ranger 8-15/Thief X (must be neutral good; chaotic good doesn't work for some reason)

Human dual-class Cleric 12/Thief X (12 is high enough in level to get 2 casts of Heal: Getting the 3rd cast or 7th level spells would require at least level 16)

Also, keep in mind that Resurrection doesn't work on Elves, but I am pretty sure it has no long term penalties (like Constitution loss) on the races it does work. For that reason, I would advise against using an Elf in this game.

I prefer the Dwarf Fighter/Thief to get at least one character that is not human.

For power gaming a dual classed human would be better. But it would also means not having a Thief in your party for a long time.

Does a thief gain anything other than Thac0 or hitpoints after 13th level?

Seems to me that a human dual class 13th level thief/ mage X is going to be the most powerful available. Or?

Thief and Mage doesn't complement each other very well, IMO.
Fighter/Thief is best for backstabbing, which is very useful.
I'd rather have a Ranger/Mage than a Thief/Mage.

Can you confirm if Fighter/Thief can use their thief skills in heavy armor? Including backstab and also pick locks or other checks in the game.

dual class Thief13/Mage is same caster almost as pure mage. You only take thief to do the thief skills not backstabs, but you can use backstab late in a fight to help mop up or sometimes to kill magic resistant things or when low on spells and rest area. I haven't tested using the invisbility spell + backstab. Fighter-Thief would actually use the backstab much more than Th/M via flanking. I find taking the early thief levels does nothing to reduce effectiveness of mage other than lowering levels a bit compared to a pure Mage.

Also there are problems regarding thief/fighter:

Multiclass thief/fighter cap out the fighter levels and might as well be a dual class fighter -->> thief because the fighter level caps anyway and a human won't have their xp split.

Dual Class Fighter (first) --> thief have the problem that not much is gained by thief levels above 13. You have the # attacks as fighter that being two if you go 13th level fighter. Presumably you can wear armor above leather and still use your thief skills? It's not bad though. The question is (to simplify only 2 characters in this party of comparison) would you want a party of: 1 pure mage and 1 dual class fighter 13/ thief X? Or would you want: 1 thief 13/ mage X and pure fighter? Actually pretty close

Another option to critique:

Dual Class Thief 13 (first) --> Fighter X. The problem here is no bonus strength score. And I am not sure but I think the constitution bonus hitpoints will be limited to +2/level while you are a thief even if you have con 18. Whereas a dual class fighter (first) to thief X would get the con bonus from 18 con. With a strength item this is viable.

quote: """I'd rather have a Ranger/Mage than a Thief/Mage."""

That's apples and oranges if you take the premise of needing one thief in the party not for backstabbing but for thief skils. A Ranger/Mage is better mage but does not fill the role of thief so already failed for this thread.

It all depends on your playing style, I guess.
I prefer the multi-class Fighter/Thief since I like backstabbing, and I use as little spells as possible. Also I don't like not having a thief in the party, which is the drawback of a dual class. Main drawback is only getting 1.5 APR instead of 2.

If you use spells a lot, the Thief/Mage will probably suit your playing style better.