D&D (2024) Rules Clarification: Epic Boon at 19th Class Level or Total Character Level?

[Mort]

Fascinating. I have only played around with D&D Beyond...does D&D Beyond prevent one from creating a character that violates some kind of character creation rules. For example, would I be permitted to make a character that had two 9th-level spell slots if I wanted to make such a character?

You would have to override the default.

If DnD Beyond allows the epic boon, it doesn't mean it's correct, but it does mean the programmers and whoever is directing them think multicasting still grants the boon.

 

[John Lloyd1]

I think this the relevant rule:

Level 4: Ability Score Improvement
You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat (see chapter 5) or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Barbarian levels 8, 12, and 16.

As long as you are (character) level 19 you can take the epic boon. Notice that this rule specifies the class while the epic boon prerequisite doesn't.

 

[Mort]

I think this the relevant rule:

Level 4: Ability Score Improvement
You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat (see chapter 5) or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Barbarian levels 8, 12, and 16.

As long as you are (character) level 19 you can take the epic boon. Notice that this rule specifies the class while the epic boon prerequisite doesn't.

Right.

Abilities that require a certain level in a class specify it. For example, the warlock powers that require a certain level don't say level 5+, they say level 5+ warlock.

 

[Hatmatter]

You would have to override the default.

If DnD Beyond allows the epic boon, it doesn't mean it's correct, but it does mean the programmers and whoever is directing them think multicasting still grants the boon.

Right.

Abilities that require a certain level in a class specify it. For example, the warlock powers that require a certain level don't say level 5+, they say level 5+ warlock.

Hmmm...the mystery deepens.

So, Mort, is Ad Hoc's proposed interpretation (which -- to be clear -- Ad Hoc does not believe to be correct) in which a level 15/3 (total character level 18) character can acquire two epic boons by using the "Ability Score Improvement feat (see Chapter 5) or another feat of your choice for which you qualify" class feature when leveling to 15/4 and then again when leveling to 16/4 the correct interpretation of the rules according to you and John Lloyd and Chaltab?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I think you can read it either way.

Level 19 in a class explicitely calls out epic boons.
Multiclassing is special.

 

[Mort]

Hmmm...the mystery deepens.

So, Mort, is Ad Hoc's proposed interpretation (which -- to be clear -- Ad Hoc does not believe to be correct) in which a level 15/3 (total character level 18) character can acquire two epic boons by using the "Ability Score Improvement feat (see Chapter 5) or another feat of your choice for which you qualify" class feature when leveling to 15/4 and then again when leveling to 16/4 the correct interpretation of the rules according to you and John Lloyd and Chaltab?

It's an interesting edge case.

If someone is playing "organically" they would have to forgo a feat for several levels to do this, it's a big tradeoff actually.

The exploit is if the adventure is a high level one shot or otherwise starting at high level. You get 2 boons without that cost.

That said there IS a cost, if you multi class to do this, you don't get a class capstone level 20, that's a big sacrifice.

Especially if it IS a continuing high level campaign. The single class will eventually get the capstone and multiple boons. The multiclass will never get the capstone.

Looking at the capstones though, the capstones ALSO don't have any reference to specific class level. So that puts things back to being unclear. Clearly the capstones don't apply to multiclasses.

It's ambiguous, I think I'd allow it (just so everyone gets the epic boon) but they could really clear that up.

 

[John Lloyd1]

I had a look at some other cases where it could be ambiguous whether it referred to character or class level. Elf traits refer to 'character level' but the cantrips I looked at just referred to 'level'.

 

[John Lloyd1]

Looking at the capstones though, the capstones ALSO don't have any reference to specific class level. So that puts things back to being unclear. Clearly the capstones don't apply to multiclasses.

Can you explain the issue with capstone features? I assume you mean the class' level 20 one.

 

[Hatmatter]

It's an interesting edge case.

If someone is playing "organically" they would have to forgo a feat for several levels to do this, it's a big tradeoff actually.

The exploit is if the adventure is a high level one shot or otherwise starting at high level. You get 2 boons without that cost.

That said there IS a cost, if you multi class to do this, you don't get a class capstone level 20, that's a big sacrifice.

Especially if it IS a continuing high level campaign. The single class will eventually get the capstone and multiple boons. The multiclass will never get the capstone.

A reasonable and thoughtful approach Mort, thank you. I wonder what Ad Hoc would say? I find it all fascinating!

Yeah, I see the ambiguity but other things which specify level like cantrips are clarified in the multiclassing rules. Feats are not.

If allowed, this would be another example of how wonky multiclassing is.

I appreciate everyone helping me thinking this through.

 

[Mort]

Can you explain the issue with capstone features? I assume you mean the class' level 20 one.

Right, the level 20 feature (each class has one).