D&D 5E Multiclassing Benefits?

[kenmarable]

Haven't had a chance to play any MC characters yet, but in the past I have generally always been very heavy with the multiclassing - mostly because I like the blended character concepts - but usually did wind up behind the power curve, especially if I was spellcasting (unless we threw together a mystic theurge style workaround). However, the 5e MC rules have really impressed and look like they can support more blended character concepts better than past editions.

One thing I was hesitant about was ability score advancement since it is tied to class levels not character levels. However, after a few minutes with mapping out some actual builds I was surprised that it's not nearly the problem I thought it would be, especially for dual-classed characters. The issue is that with more classes you mutliclass into, the more staggered your ability score/feat advancement is, but personally I see that as a feature and not a bug.

So I don't have specific class advice, but my suggestion is sketch out some rough builds and see for yourself how things map out. There will be a slight power hit in exchange for the increased versatility, but I haven't found any major set backs. The biggest thing might be getting used to the odd pacing of some power jumps (it is obvious with the ability score advancements). You might have to wait just a bit longer to get the boost, but you often get a second boost very quickly behind it. So your power progression is often in fits and starts rather than smooth.

 

[Lrdroland]

Good information from all. The paladin is definitely intriging but I am leaning towards agreeing that I don't want to slow down my wild shape. The reason I am asking is because I want to take advantage of the great changes to multiclassing. I think the Warlock/Wizard combination might play very well with each other. A wizard in the begining that discovers a fey or demon and makes a deal for greater power.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

As a DM, I have to admit that I've never been very comfortable with the concept of multiclassing. If you want to play a Fighter/Wizard because that's the concept you had in mind when you were creating your character, it's one thing, but playing a Warlock/Druid/Paladin just because you like the powerset doesn't seem kosher and would require, in my campaign, some very well-argued in-character reasons.

 

[Lrdroland]

As a DM, I have to admit that I've never been very comfortable with the concept of multiclassing. If you want to play a Fighter/Wizard because that's the concept you had in mind when you were creating your character, it's one thing, but playing a Warlock/Druid/Paladin just because you like the powerset doesn't seem kosher and would require, in my campaign, some very well-argued in-character reasons.

I agree. That is why as a druid I could only see a very few multiclass options especially with my background story I have written. The Nature Domain Cleric and Oath of the Ancients Paladin would be very much in line with a slight change to my characters outlook. I was asking this question because I don't want to be irrelavent to the party by multiclassing. Though not the whole part of why I play DnD but why would I want to suck at things in a fantasy world I created. I suck at plenty of things in real life don't need to suck in the pretend one as well.