D&D 5E Ability Score Requeriments for Multiclassing, yay or nay?
- Thread starter MoonSong
- Start date
Falling Icicle
Adventurer
Nay. I don't really like having such restrictions. People just find loopholes, like someone planning on being a fighter 1/wizard 19 taking the fighter level first to avoid the Str requirement. It seems to me like the only people it actually hurts are those who choose to multiclass for roleplaying reasons, rather than power gaming.
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Warbringer
Explorer
(Edited... There you are 
, didn't see it initially)
Re minimums, story wise they are a little strange since single class do not have ..(FYI a rationalization is not a reason). Game mechanic wise, sure its stops maximizing 2 or 3 stats and dipping into 3 or 4 distinctly different classes.
Yeah or Nay? Yeah with a heavy dose of "meh"
, didn't see it initially)Re minimums, story wise they are a little strange since single class do not have ..(FYI a rationalization is not a reason). Game mechanic wise, sure its stops maximizing 2 or 3 stats and dipping into 3 or 4 distinctly different classes.
Yeah or Nay? Yeah with a heavy dose of "meh"
TrippyHippy
Hero
I like them.
Sorry.
I've listened to the arguments about 'why don't single-classes have prerequisites too?'. My counterpoint is that they'd be largely redundant. The used to include prerequisites for all Classes - Fighters used to be required to have a minimum Strength of 9, ditto Rogues for Dexterity. But honestly, what's the point if you have points spend at character generation anyway? If a player deliberately chooses a low strength Fighter, or whatever, then it's down on them.
Multiclassing is a different issue, however. Players who want to shift Classes after starting play need to be able to justify it both in game terms and narratively. A character is very unlikely to shift Classes unless he shows a clear aptitude for the role - which is represented by the Ability score requirements. I would argue that there also needs to be a mechanism, possibly, for shifting character traditions, paths, etc, within Classes however.
Sorry.
I've listened to the arguments about 'why don't single-classes have prerequisites too?'. My counterpoint is that they'd be largely redundant. The used to include prerequisites for all Classes - Fighters used to be required to have a minimum Strength of 9, ditto Rogues for Dexterity. But honestly, what's the point if you have points spend at character generation anyway? If a player deliberately chooses a low strength Fighter, or whatever, then it's down on them.
Multiclassing is a different issue, however. Players who want to shift Classes after starting play need to be able to justify it both in game terms and narratively. A character is very unlikely to shift Classes unless he shows a clear aptitude for the role - which is represented by the Ability score requirements. I would argue that there also needs to be a mechanism, possibly, for shifting character traditions, paths, etc, within Classes however.
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MoonSong
Rules-lawyering drama queen but not a munchkin
Must spread XP. But yes this, this is my argument too.
Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
They're fine with me. They meet the intent without being excessively burdensome.
Falling Icicle
Adventurer
One problem I forgot to mention in my first post is that the ability requirements are based on a stereotypical and narrow-minded view of each class. Multiclass fighters have to have a Str of 15. But what if I want to play an archer fighter or a swashbuckler-like finesse fighter that prefers Dex over Str? Nope, you still need a 15 Str. WotC built fighters tough! Rawr!
tuxgeo
Adventurer
As mentioned in another thread, the Stat Prerequisites won't stop mad level dipping.
A better way to limit multiclassing would be something similar to the 4E way: limit the number of times any one character could do it. Now, the 4E limit was 1 -- you could only multiclass into one other class during or after character creation; and you could only hybridize with one other class, ever. If 5E were to adopt a slightly looser limit -- say once per 5 character levels, so: no sooner than Level 2, again no sooner than Level 7, again no sooner than Level 12, and fourthly no sooner than Level 17 -- that might accomplish much of what was intended without the Prereq. limits.
A better way to limit multiclassing would be something similar to the 4E way: limit the number of times any one character could do it. Now, the 4E limit was 1 -- you could only multiclass into one other class during or after character creation; and you could only hybridize with one other class, ever. If 5E were to adopt a slightly looser limit -- say once per 5 character levels, so: no sooner than Level 2, again no sooner than Level 7, again no sooner than Level 12, and fourthly no sooner than Level 17 -- that might accomplish much of what was intended without the Prereq. limits.
