Talk:Mage / Thief/@comment-161.142.16.185-20190515184802

I disagree that unkitted thieves are better than kits when dual classing to mage. If you just want a utility thief (open locks / find traps) ala Imoen/Nalia, a Swashbuckler would be better. You get no thief skills penalty and the disadvantage of not getting backstab is moot because you don't invest in stealth, the backstab multiplier is low and your Thac0 is bad. Even a level 5 Swashbuckler gives handy bonuses: -2AC protects your mage, 2 bonus damage and Thac0 helps when you use ranged weapons or melf's minute meteors. You can specialize in daggers, making firetooth even better. 2 weapon style mastery can be used for dagger / Tenser's build.