help?

Gloves were indeed done away with.

1. what level do people usually multi-class at?

That totally depends on you! For instance, before I multi-classed I wanted to get certain things out of my starting profession (which happened to be priest), such as skills and prayers (priest spells). Then, I saved up 10 build, and opened up another list. I think I was around level 12? I can't remember. Regardless, It all depends on exactly how you want your character to progress. You could very well save up and immediately open up another profession, but it would leave you with very little build to get skills from either, at least for a while. However, if you have a neat character concept and want to save up your build and open up another profession immediately, go for it!

I hope that helps you out 

When to multi-class should totally be an IG decision of your character, honestly  - it should follow the RP of how your character is, who they interact with, and what makes sense for who that character is becoming.  While OOG factors are certainly taken into account, the major impetus - be it getting a skill, learning a list, or even who you associate yourself with while you are in character - should all be InGame, Roleplaying decisions that are appropriate for the character you created.

That being said, there are certainly OOG benefits of waiting to Dual-class until after 10th level- you can look that up in the Rulebook - but its up to you to decide how important that is.  I've seen people that have come into game with one list and in less than 3 events they have picked up another (one person came into game and learned a second list his first event as that character for RP reasons).  Heck, one of my characters had 3 lists before she hit like 13th level, while another character of mine only picked up her second list something like 2 or 3 years after I started playing her (i have no idea what level I was at the time at this point, had to have been at least in her teens).

In the end, its all personal preference. 

In regards to boffer fists, they are basically very simple boffer weapons made to be dagger size, only completely covered in white duct tape rather than any other color, and no hilts or anything like that.  Seeing as how the last real boffer I made was like 6 years ago, thats all the advice I can give, heh.

1. what level do people usually multi-class at?

  I agree the reason to multi-class should be an IG decision... however, from a fun to play attitude and coming from someone who triple-classed as soon as possible, I'm going to give you a heads up.  Early on you get build pretty fast, this lets you make your character into what you want.  It will allow you to get fairly well into one class allowing you to participate more usefully in the combat/magic area of the game.  (All characters are useful, if built well, but there is no doubt you get better with time spent honing your skills)  If you multi-class early, you are taking 10 build (which is like 3 events worth of build) to open up a wider skill base.  This will set your character back about 3 events in seasoning for your main class, and you will be spliting your build (as you see fit) between chasing down two professions.  The major disadvantage is you feel like your character is developing slower than other characters of your season.  All of the priests who have been around as long as I have (Kate's ,Charlie's, Emily's) who had more prayers to learn, finished out their profession a while ago, while I'm still missing a few prayers and skills.  My Alchemy skills are sad when you look at other alchemists who started before me.  And even as I progress in my scholar path with determination, I find Charlie's character and Paul's character at least pacing me, if not outpacing me.  This can be frustrating, but on the other hand, Osred wouldn't be Osred if he wasn't spread so thin... (not that you know Osred, that's my character's name).  While I OOGly sometimes regret my decision to take on Alchemy then, it opened me up to some nice Role-playing, and every once in a while when I have time, I can make some money from it (and it even saved my life more than once), and it's likely I will progress further in Alchemy when I finish up some scholar and priest paths I want to take.

So to some it all up, if you don't mind waiting two years to finally start getting to the top of a profession, then multi-classing with an even spread is fine.  If you are multi-classing because your character has suddenly had an epifany and decides to follow another vocation, leaving his old one behind (for the most part), you will do fine.  If you are someone who gets impatient to be 'that guy' able to do incredible things, then don't multi-class.  However, as Kristen said, your IG will never lead you wrong, follow what your character would do, and that's what classes you should have.  (I nearly took on Warrior Monk, due to some IG issues of a need to protect myself, but IG when faced with the dedication that the order would require of me, my character couldn't promise to live up to it, so I passed on that profession.)  But no matter what you play, it will be fun.

Mike and I took different paths to try to reach the same place.  While he branched into Alchemy for reasons only known to Chronicler , I did not open a second Profession until I had completed the Priest Profession.  I stuck to my second class (mimicking Mike I took Scholar, as I thought it was a logical step for the rather pedantic priest I play) and am still filling in a few odds and ends, but they are peripheral things.

One thing left unsaid is the desirability of obtaining a trade.  There are so many good reasons, such as one gets to interact with PCs one normally would not, as well as perhaps getting to use a "real life skill" IG.  However from a gaming standpoint, after your first year, the maximum expected build per Event is 3.  Gaining an additional one through the Lifestyle system is both a good opportunity for RP and it increases your base build by 1/3.

I also avoid mentioning the trade system to new players unless they ask about it - its such a system within the greater rules system that I've found it far too often causes brain overload, hehe.