Quote:Which will work better, multi class or dual class Mage / Thief? Or can a Sorcerror some how work without thief skills?
Sorcerror, with the proper protection spell can tank most traps, (ironskin stop physical damage traps, and the magic ones can be negated by the proper protective spells). Also, knock will allow you to open locked chests and doors.
As for dual or multi, if you are planning on playing through Tob as well, you are better off with multi. One of the high lvl theif abilities is "use any item". This ability allows you to equip *anything* in the game. Regardless of requirements. need high str to equip that bow? no problem. Need to be paladin to equip that holy avenger? No problem. It also allows you to use any scrolls, potions, or other "use" items.
If you care to play through most of SoA to reach lvl 24 theif, then play long enough in ToB to reach 25 mage that would be best probably, but annoying. I'd go for multiclass, or perhaps a fighter mage theif, for the best of all worlds. The problem with multiclass is the limitations to your mage spells; you'll get them pretty slow, and most of the game(SoA and Tob) will be over before you get a decent amount of 9th lvl spells. Personally I think that the most useful spells are in lvl 3-5, but certainly not the most powerful ones.
If dualing, I'd suggest swashbuckler, then mage. No penalty to theif skills as well as bonuses to AC and thaco/damage. At lvl ten you can max most theif skills(100% at least), and have -3 AC, +2 thaco and damage(as well as melee specialization). Of course, no backstabs for swashbuckler...
Damn, I was just thinking, too bad you can't solo through as Edwin... :( He would be fun(the ultimate mage, +3 all levels of spells).
EDIT: BTW, if it hasn't been mentioned, I recomend checking out the mod scene for SoA and Tob. Even if you're not interested in actual mods, there are several "ease of play" mods that streamline certain rules of the game. An example would be a slight mod that makes ammo have limitless stacks(stupid 40 stack limit).
If soloing, I strongly suggest you have the exp limit removed. You will reach the limit in SoA by the first third of the game, and ToB soon thereafter when playing solo(as long as you do most quests/fight most monsters).