Here is an attempt to make balanced multiclassing (e.g. a 5/5 Fighter/Wizard split) more competitive with standard multiclassing. I was originally working on AD&D style multiclassing but the rules seemed too clunky. Please give me feedback on the balance compared to single classed characters and standard multiclassing.
Balanced Multiclassing
A character level 6 multiclassed 3/3 (+1 Feature Bonus) Barbarian/Wizard would gain the 3rd level class feature in the class that just leveled (Primal Path or 2nd level Wizard spells) and gain two ASIs (the same number of ASIs as a level 8 single classed character) from gaining 4th level class features in both classes (spell slots and prepared spells as a level 4 Wizard)
A character level 8 multiclassed 4/4 (+1 Feature Bonus) Fighter/Paladin would gain an additional ASI instead of gaining Extra Attack for the second time (spell slots and prepared spells as a level 5 Paladin)
A character level 12 multiclassed 6/6 (+2 Feature Bonus) Barbarian/Wizard would gain the 7th level class feature in the class that just leveled (Feral Instinct or 4th level Wizard spells) and gain two ASIs (the same number of ASIs as a level 16 single classed character) from gaining 8th level class features in both classes (spell slots and prepared spells as a level 8 Wizard)
A character level 18 multiclassed 9/9 (+3 Feature Bonus) Barbarian/Wizard would gain the 11th level class feature in the class that just leveled (Relentless Rage or 6th level Wizard spells) and gain two ASIs (this will be one more ASI than a level 19 single classed character) from gaining 12th level class features in both classes (spell slots and prepared spells as a level 12 Wizard)
Balanced Multiclassing
- At character level 2 you may choose to split your levels between two classes evenly, and from then on their class levels may not differ by more than 1 during advancement (e.g. 5/4 Fighter/Wizard would be allowed, but a 5/3 would not be)
- At character level 6 gains a +1 Feature Bonus, increasing to +2 @ 12, and +3 @ 18
- When gaining a class level add your Feature Bonus to your class level to determine what features you gain and for determining spells known/prepared (see examples), due to the spacing of the Feature Bonuses dual ASIs are gained at character level 6, 12, and 18 (ending up with one more ASI than a single classed character)
- Feature Bonuses do not affect hp, hit dice, cantrip damage, or proficiency bonus
- Feature Bonuses will only increase spell slots per day or pact slots per day if only one of the classes is able to cast spells (e.g. a character level 18 multiclassed 9/9 +3 Feature Bonus Barbarian/Warlock would have the pact slots and Mystic Arcanum of a level 12 Warlock, but a character level 18 multiclassed 9/9 +3 Feature Bonus Sorcerer/Wizard would have the spell slots of a level 18 caster)
- Channel Divinity uses per day stack between classes (e.g. a Cleric 5/Paladin 5 +1 Feature Bonus could Channel Divinity three times per rest)
- Gaining Extra Attack a second time gives an ASI instead
- Warlocks that have the Spellcasting feature use the Multiclass Spellcaster table (counting Warlock levels as a full caster levels) instead of gaining Pact Magic slots and they must expend a spell slot to cast any Mystic Arcanum spells (e.g. a character level 18 multiclassed 9/9 +3 Feature Bonus Sorcerer/Warlock would have level 18 spell slots to cast spells known as a level 12 Sorcerer and a level 12 Warlock, but a 9/9 +3 Barbarian/Warlock would have the pact slots of a level 12 Warlock and be able to use Mystic Arcanum 6th level once per long rest)
A character level 6 multiclassed 3/3 (+1 Feature Bonus) Barbarian/Wizard would gain the 3rd level class feature in the class that just leveled (Primal Path or 2nd level Wizard spells) and gain two ASIs (the same number of ASIs as a level 8 single classed character) from gaining 4th level class features in both classes (spell slots and prepared spells as a level 4 Wizard)
A character level 8 multiclassed 4/4 (+1 Feature Bonus) Fighter/Paladin would gain an additional ASI instead of gaining Extra Attack for the second time (spell slots and prepared spells as a level 5 Paladin)
A character level 12 multiclassed 6/6 (+2 Feature Bonus) Barbarian/Wizard would gain the 7th level class feature in the class that just leveled (Feral Instinct or 4th level Wizard spells) and gain two ASIs (the same number of ASIs as a level 16 single classed character) from gaining 8th level class features in both classes (spell slots and prepared spells as a level 8 Wizard)
A character level 18 multiclassed 9/9 (+3 Feature Bonus) Barbarian/Wizard would gain the 11th level class feature in the class that just leveled (Relentless Rage or 6th level Wizard spells) and gain two ASIs (this will be one more ASI than a level 19 single classed character) from gaining 12th level class features in both classes (spell slots and prepared spells as a level 12 Wizard)
