I have a new campaign coming up for the summer and our party is currently missing both arcane caster and divine caster. I was going to just roll a cleric so we could have some form of healing and divine magic but that's no fun :P. Im now toying with the idea of multiclassing and picking up both divine and arcane class. What combination go best together for such a set up? Is it even viable? I've never tried this or seen it done so I could be theorycrafting too much haha.
EDIT:
I should also note that we've already rolled ability scores. We'll be starting from 7th level and my base ability score rolls are as follows:
17
16
13
13
12
11
Not only is it possible - and allowable - there's a prestige class for just such characters: Mystic Theurge
To qualify to become a mystic theurge, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Skills: Knowledge (arcana) 3 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 3 ranks.
Spells: Able to cast 2nd-level divine spells and 2nd-level arcane spells.
IMO your best options are wisdom based sorc+clr for SAD or wiz+clr for good spell access. I'd go either Wiz2>Clr1>Mystic Theurge, or Clr2>Sor1>Mystic Theurge, picking a domain or bloodline respectively that grants a 2nd level spell as an ability.
Remember though, regardless of how you do your direct offensive casting will be limited; you'll generally be very good at various forms of support casting however.
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Your best option is probably actually a Witch with the healing patron. They're pretty good about getting the "someone might die or turn into a shadow or mummy if I don't have this spell" spells and also adequately serving the wizardly utility role.
This, this, this. Mystic Theurge is viable...if you're experienced and very good at what you're doing. Witch is always viable. Take the Healing Patron, and maybe the Hedge Witch Archetype, and you're almost as good a healer as a Cleric, and can still wreck people with save or sucks via both spells and Hexes (Slumber, Evil Eye, and Misfortune combine brutally, and are all good on their own as well...especially combined with Cackle).
Advanced Class Guide playtest document, Shaman class. You're a full caster, with the Druid list, most of the very best Cleric spells, and a handful of the best Wizard spells; And you can hand-pick a few Arcane spells with the Lore spirit. It is, IMO, the new hotness in single-class multi-casters.
Another option is Magaambyan Arcanist PRC, or Pathfinder Savant.
There are a few problems with Mystic Theurge:
1) At lower levels it can be frustrating for the player. You are swapping levels between two classes, and lower level play can be especially frustrating for Wizards or Sorcerers.
2) As you will be swapping levels, say level 3 Wizard and level 3 Cleric, you will start the Prestige Class at level 7.
Level 7, cast as Wizard and Cleric at level 4 each
Level 8, cast as level 5 each
Level 9, cast as level 6 each
Level 10, cast as level 7 each
Level 16 cast as level 13 each.
The caster level and spell progression go up, which is the main thing for those classes, but all other class benefits (domain abilities, specialist or bloodline abilities) specifically DO NOT level up. Not necessarily a problem, but it can be.
While this is not necessarily a problem, it can be one. What I mean is that in some campaigns it is better overall to reduce the overall power level of a spellcaster. This does it in that the caster level is lower and the spell levels are lower. But you might be in a campaign where it is better to be a higher level caster.
Multiclassing is sometimes good in Pathfinder, but in many cases it kind of screws the character later overall. But that really depends on the gaming group and the campaign style.
There are a few problems with Mystic Theurge:
1) At lower levels it can be frustrating for the player. You are swapping levels between two classes, and lower level play can be especially frustrating for Wizards or Sorcerers.
2) As you will be swapping levels, say level 3 Wizard and level 3 Cleric, you will start the Prestige Class at level 7.
Level 7, cast as Wizard and Cleric at level 4 each
Level 8, cast as level 5 each
Level 9, cast as level 6 each
Level 10, cast as level 7 each
Level 16 cast as level 13 each.The caster level and spell progression go up, which is the main thing for those classes, but all other class benefits (domain abilities, specialist or bloodline abilities) specifically DO NOT level up. Not necessarily a problem, but it can be.
While this is not necessarily a problem, it can be one. What I mean is that in some campaigns it is better overall to reduce the overall power level of a spellcaster. This does it in that the caster level is lower and the spell levels are lower. But you might be in a campaign where it is better to be a higher level caster.
Multiclassing is sometimes good in Pathfinder, but in many cases it kind of screws the character later overall. But that really depends on the gaming group and the campaign style.
Everyone uses early entry with SLAs to qualify now so you barely get set back. Of course that requires a certain level of system mastery that people who don't read the forums wouldn't have.
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Advanced Class Guide playtest document, Shaman class. You're a full caster, with the Druid list, most of the very best Cleric spells, and a handful of the best Wizard spells; And you can hand-pick a few Arcane spells with the Lore spirit. It is, IMO, the new hotness in single-class multi-casters.
Shaman's still in playtest mode, and IMO one of the most likely classes to be changed radically by the actual ACG. I'd strongly recommend not using it until the book is actually out.
If you want to use the early entry be sure to ask your gm. some don't like that rule and don't use it.
It's super explicit in the FAQ, so this would be like asking your GM if they super allow Fighter.
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A cleric could have a couple of levels in the veiled illusionist PrC by 7th level and hence a couple of sorcerer/wiz illusion spells on top of what the Trickery domain might give you. You can dabble in arcane magic without taking arcane classes if you want to go that way.
Similarly an oracle with the heavens mystery can do some arcane-looking battlefield control without having to multiclass. The mystic theurge PrC is far from the only way to broaden your spell list.
my suggestion would be:
plumekith aasimar
Str 11; Dex 16+2[race]; Con 13
Int 12; Wis 17+2[race]+1[@4th]; Cha 13
wildblooded sorc [empyreal] 2/cleric [Korada] 1/Mystic Theurge 4
domains: Fate (inquisition), Good[Azata]
you could take whatever feats you want, but your casting stat is high enough that you can use some save or suck spells so things like spell focus could be pretty useful (and benefit both sets of spells). you'd be a full spell level behind a cleric (not get 4th level spells until 9th) but you'd have them in both classes...
after maxing out MT pick one class to level and leave the other with 'just' 6th level spells. (personally, i'd level sorc but either would work)
You can get early entry into the Mystic Theurge PrC a number of ways based on SLAs. If you take a single level of Cleric with the Trickery domain the Copycat SLA is technically divine level 2. Aasimar, Tiefling and Half-Elves all have SLAs that can qualify too.
I do like the concept of the Mystic Theurge, delaying arcane progression by one level in order to pick up a bunch of divine spells. I'd tend to go Wizard 3/Cleric 1/Mystic Theurge 10/Wizard X. You're pretty much a standard God Wizard who can also cast Heal, Freedom of Movement, Restoration when needed as well as a bunch of combat buffs, and can use divine spells to cover opposition schools. The sheer flexibility is very tempting.
Witches are pretty cool though you do need to pick your focus and stick to it, and the Shaman looks borderline broken.
*Edit*
With the starting rolls given, at level 7 this would look like:
CN Human
Wizard 3/Cleric 1/Mystic Theurge 3
Str 11
Dex 13
Con 13
Int 20 (17 +2 racial +1 level)
Wis 16
Cha 12
Arcane School: Conjuration, Opposition Schools: Divination, Evocation
Domains: Trickery, Luck
Feats: Whatever you like, probably including Spell focus (conj), Augment Summoning and Improved Initiative.
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If third party material is permitted, I think you might want to check out the Theurge class in the New Paths Compendium from Kobold Press
The theurge is essentially a base class inspired by the Mystic Theurge prestige class which also has a number of additional, new class abilities. The class has received many positive reviews.
- The Theurge is, in my opinion, a long needed addition to the game. The use of a "Prayer Book" elegantly handles the balance issues of giving a single class access to effectively every spell in the game.
- The Theurge is an amazing spellcaster that allows you to cast divine and arcane spells right from the get go ... the class can even cast two spells at the same time given that one is arcane and one is divine ... I find it very balanced in that fact.
- Remember the Mystic Theurge prestige class? I do, and I hated it. Fortunately, the Kobolds managed to salvage it and convert it into its own base class. Now you gain the ability to cast arcane and divine spells right from first level, a limited repertoire of spontaneous spells as well as you level up, two books for wizard and cleric spells which function like the former's spellbook, some bonus feats, and the ability to roll twice on concentration checks and take the higher result.
- The star for me is the Thergue. Similar to wizard in spell casting ability, the thergue has the ability to cast both arcane and divine spells. Level by level the thergue can prepare as many spells as the wizard but half of the spell slots are arcane and half divine ...
I think, given the kind of class you are looking for, the theurge would be perfect for you ... and you don't have to multi-class!
Here is another example of a strong Mystic Theurge:
Half-Elf (Drow Descended subtype) Oracle (Wood/Blackened) 1/ Tattooed Sorcerer (Marid) 2/ Mystic Theurge 4
Str 11
Dex 16
Con 13
Int 13
Wis 12
Cha 20
Reactionary, Magical Lineage (Fireball), +4 initiative familiar
Spell Focus (Evocation)
Mage's Tattoo (Evocation)
Improved Initiative
Rime Spell
Spell Specialization (Fireball)
Wow thanks for all the advice. I think I can work with the Mystic Theurge, it's not my first time playing a caster of either kind and I've been playing Pathfinder for a few years now so I think I can handle it. We're also starting from level 7 so the early levels of struggling will be mostly behind me.
... Oracle (Wood/Blackened) 1/ Tattooed Sorcerer (Marid) 2/ Mystic Theurge 4Problem with a spontaneous caster on both sides is you can't use arcane slots to cast divine spells or vice versa. Other than the dual class spell progression, this is the only class benefit of MT.
Yes, you can. (This is more erratum than FAQ, but that's where they put it....)