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Originally Posted by Nonlethal Force  The more class abilities a class has that is based on their class level, the more poorly multiclassing works. If you count caster level as a class ability, this sentence even includes spellcasting. |
I agree, this is a good point for analyzing multiclasses in D&D. However I think it should be further refined because certain class features are static abilities where it does not matter if you take them at 1st level or 20th. Other bonuses get stronger linearly with class level. Others have a steeper power curve increase over levels in the class. A fighter gets 1 bonus feat whether it is 6th level or 20th. A rogue gets +1d6 sneak attack whether it is level 1 or level 19 in the class. A paladin gains +cha bonus in lay on hands whether it is 5th level or 15th. These are equivalent power value. A wizard/cleric/druid gains a new 9th level spell slot at 17th level but only a 3rd level spell slot at 5th class level.
I would say that spell slot advancement is qualitatively different from sneak attack advancement. A d6 of sneak attack cumulatively adds to martial combat at both low and high levels. A low level spell is much more situational.
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Take a Ranger 10 / Paladin 10. Yes, they immediately have decreased casting ... but we both agree that's a problem so I don't think more needs to be said. The combo character has depleted abilities in almost everthing they get. Favored enemy is weaker. Ability to hide is weaker. Animal Companion is weaker. Aura of good is weaker, Smite is weaker, Lay on hands is weaker, Turn Undead is weaker, Special Mount is weaker, Remove Disease is weaker.
One might argue that the blended character has the same BAB, roughly the same HP, reasonably close saves, etc to the straight character. One might argue that their versatility makes up for their general weaker abilities, but I lift up the Theurge spellcasting as a reasonable illustration that if it isn't true for spellcasting it probably isn't true for class-level based class abilities. The fact that almost all the class abilities gained (except for Divine Grace and all the ranger abilities that emulate feats) are significantly weaker really hampers the character. And this isn't even going into the lack of spellcasting lost/gained.
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The question is are the level 11-20 abilities of either class combined with its 1-10 abilities significantly more powerful than combining those 1-10 abilities with the 1-10 abilities of the other class. If they are roughly equal then it is balanced to multiclass. If not then it is unbalanced favoring either single classed or multiclassed depending on which way the power lies.
I think you are giving too much weight to the class based abilities for these classes.
This 10/10 character does allright
IMO. He has half the power in each of his class level based abilities but they work well together to form a decent gestalt. Favored enemy and smite can stack on the same blow. He can ride on his paladin mount and have his companion flank for him. His tracking and save bonuses are not level dependent. His paladin grace save bonus adds to his evasion save. He can use full turning checks to power divine feats. He has the maximum BAB and iterative attacks.
At heart paladins and rangers are warrior types who smack things in combat. Their class abilities help them do so in different ways with either flat bonuses or linearly increasing powers. Their powers are not the attacks themselves but are only boosts to them. Mixing and matching the classes to blend the powers to taste seems viable to me.
The mystic theurge does not seem to be an applicable comparison to me. Spellcasters have so much of their power tied into the top spell slots that the 10/10 full caster is significantly underpowered because he does not have any top slots and all his spells are underpowered for the encounters expected to be faced. He generally cannot signigicantly combine the two class abilities the way a ranger/paladin can when smacking a foe with full BAB, the theurge type can only do one reduced class ability at a time.