To multiclass or not to multiclass? That is the question.

[Darklone]

Playing a bar/rog/rgr/sor/bard

Yes I am a secondary fighter for the group. As well as a secondary everything. Jack of all trades is my name. And still the groups DM is complaining about me being too good. Well. I am a backup for everyone in the group. No substitute.

Since we have 7 player characters, the full score positions are taken.

My opinion about multiclassing: It's a bit unfair with PrClasses. PrClasses only give you lots of advantages, the only reason not to take as many as you can get is: Not enough XPs.

 

[Li Shenron]

In the game DMed by me I encourage straightforward single-classing, but ONLY for roleplaying reason. No restriction by me, anyway, but I'd like to see multiclassed chars only if it is necessary to cover some team missing ability (for example a Cleric/Rogue is welcome if the party misses both a healer and a trap-handler).

Also, for RPG ideas I like pc with 2 classes, not more: they tend to be very poorly roleplayed if they have 3 or more classes.

Different for prestige classes: a PrCl added to a single core class is perfect! Two PrCl are usually a very bad idea.

In conclusion, to me the perfect is:

Single core class
Single core class + single Prestige Class

and ok overall also:

2 core classes
2 core classes + single Prestige Class

All considerations done for taste of roleplay; if I think of "smacking" advantages, results would be very different...

 

[0-hr]

I guess that my rule of thumb is:

- - -

When playing a caster focused type, don't ever take a level that doesn't give you "+1 spell casting level".

When playing a melee focused type, don't ever take a level that doesn't give you "+1 BAB".

- - -

These rules apply to PrCs as well. Beyond that do whatever you want. The casters rule is more important as you really need to get those high-level spells as absolutely soon as possible. For melee types, it not such a big deal. And for skill focused or character focused types, take whatever suits your fancy.

 

[hong]

Hong's 8th law?

Hey, I'm still working on laws 4-7!

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Actually, the plan is for the character to be Ftr 2/Wiz 7/Spellsword 4/Sacred Exorcist 2 at 15th level.

At that point, he'll have a +9 BAB (not too impressive), a decent number of hit points, and cast spells as an 11th level wizard. Consequently, his AC will be through the roof (+3 mithril chain shirt, +3 shield, Amulet of Natural Armor +2 to +4 persistent shield, cat's grace and potentially dispel evil for a total of AC 36 to 42 before Expertise). He'll also be shielded from area effect attacks by an Energy Buffer spell.

And then he'll be able to cast haste, activate a Divine Power spell from his Iuon stone and cast Tenser's Transformation in the following round. That will deliver plenty of smack. (He could just use one of those spells if major smack isn't required).

Or he could just hammer his enemies with Icy Bursts, Magic Missiles, and Evard's Black tentacles.

The problem for him is going to be levels 8 and 9 when he's Ftr 2/Wiz 5/Spellsword 1 and 2.

As far as the role he plays in his groups, it varies. Because he's a Living Greyhawk character, he rarely plays with the exact same group twice. Usually, he's a secondary fighter but recently he's ended up as a party's primary fighter and has done fairly well in that role. The big difference between him and the Ftr 4/Bbn 2 is that he's optimized for defense and special tactics. He doesn't take down enemies as quickly as the pure fighting classes, but he's able to hold off superior foes for longer. He's also good at the various disarm/etc. manuevers. (By virtue of having True Strike and a reach weapon).

I am a firm believer in character concepts. And you certainly are free to play however you wish. I just wonder how effective your "melee focused" Fighter/Wizard will be when he is Fighter 11/ Wizard 4 as compaired to a Fighter 15 or a Fighter 11/Barbarian 4. Is this Fighter/Wizard the primary fighter for the group or is he the secondary or tertiary fighter?

I personally like the idea of having my character dish out a SMACKDOWN. So for me I like the idea of a specialist, because, especially at high level, the fighting specialists seem to deliver the most SMACK.

But then again check out my name.

 

[Darklone]

Also, for RPG ideas I like pc with 2 classes, not more: they tend to be very poorly roleplayed if they have 3 or more classes.

Different for prestige classes: a PrCl added to a single core class is perfect! Two PrCl are usually a very bad idea.

I disagree. First: PrClasses are usually for munchkins. hehehehe. The standard excuse for taking a PrClass due to roleplaying reasons could be played as well with the same coreclass the character had before. But NOONE takes PrClasses for all those nifty extra abilities you get for free usually every level....Sure

Second: I would have loved to play a singleclass character but there is no coreclass that fits. What do I do? Multiclassed with abovementioned 5 classes. And no, I don't have only 1 lvl of ranger...

 

[The Furious Puffin]

Another in the one or two levels of a class boat.

It really helps some characters in terms of bredth of ability to take a level of ranger or Rogue upfront, just for the extra skill points.

This is most notable in the case of rogues, where the huge list of class skills and numerous skill points are great. You can also get some of those excuslive skills.

The chance to get spot, listen, hide, move silently, open locks and everything else can really add depth to another class, such as a fighter. Sneak attack, and later evasion, also add a whole buch of options.

Rangers have give the track feat and more skill points to a heavily armoured fighter, and two-weapon fighting to a lightly armoured one. They also have +1 BAB up-front, which means that fighter types feel the punch less.

One level of bard can work well with some rogues, as the perform checks arn't level dependant, but mearly DCs. This is good if you don't really envision your bard as a spell caster.

Also, in small groups mulitclassing is GREAT, or at least the ability to fill several roles. Our group usally only has two or three players, which means that everyone has to be able to fill many roles. Often we don't have a front-line fighter or a serious arcane spell caster, and someone has to fill these boots.

However, multiclassing is BAD news for spell casters unless there is +1 caster level PrCs avilable, which are often very good indeed

 

[Corwin the Confused]

I guess that my rule of thumb is:

- - -

When playing a caster focused type, don't ever take a level that doesn't give you "+1 spell casting level".

When playing a melee focused type, don't ever take a level that doesn't give you "+1 BAB".

- - -

These rules apply to PrCs as well. Beyond that do whatever you want. The casters rule is more important as you really need to get those high-level spells as absolutely soon as possible. For melee types, it not such a big deal. And for skill focused or character focused types, take whatever suits your fancy.

Ki Ryn,

I agree, especially for big groups (6 characters).
I just like to stick with a simple concept or I get too confused.

But I can see everyone elses point if they are in small groups and need a character to take a class so that the group doesn't suffer. Or if they play in a campaign where they never know with whom they are going to be grouped.

Corwin the Confused

 

[shmurghi]

risk-taking and playing style

it comes down to whether you'd rather be "safe" or risk alternating fortunes.
thus, your taste for risk-taking and gaming style determines whether you'd rather :
A. usually be able to adapt (albeit imperfectly), but never reach any pinnacle of achievement
or
B. steal the show sometimes, and just bounce off the adversary or get mauled on others.


also, if you really want to be a jack of all trades, why not just play a straight bard. that's what the class was created for in way back in 1st ed. unearthed arcana (it was more unique and powerful back then).

My favorite "splash" by the way, is rogue at 1st level for the diverse skills.

 

[Thanee]

This thread is like 4 years old.

Bye
Thanee