2nd ed SRD? Or... explanation needed.

[Bront]

My recolection differs slightly: Once you had caught up with your old classes level in your you could use both sets of abilities without restriction. Before you caught up, you could still use your old abilities, but if you did you got no XP for the encounter and only half for the adventure.


glass.

Other than you had to surpas your old level, that's correct. Some classes worked well with this than others (particularly since even padded armor restricted you to no casting of arcane spells)

 

[Bront]

Bards were the ultimate dual-classed character. Start as Fighter, go to 4th to 7th level; start over as a thief, go to 5th to 9th level, start over as a bard. And bards got druidic-type spells. Bard table went to 23rd level unlike others that only went to 20th. (Of course druid and monk were exceptions to the 20th level table; druids got 14, 15, and then Hierophant levels (16-23); Monks got 16 then 17 levels.

High Elves had major limits on levels (these are from memory so mistakes are likely; nevertheless, this is close to how it was):
Fighter 4th level
Str 17+ then 5th level
Str 18/01+ then 6th level
Str 18/26+ then 7th level
Str 18/51+ then 8th level
Str 18/91+ then 9th level

Wizard 7th level
Int 16+ then 8th level
Int 17+ then 9th level
Int 18+ then 10th level
Int 19+ then 11th level

Elves could not get 6th level spells. New spell levels were like they are now (1,3,5,7,9) until 6th level spells which were first gained at 12th level, then the progression went (12,14,16,18). Until late 2e there were no 0-level spells (cantrips) and even then you must give up a first level slot to memorize 4 cantrips. Most mages were considered to have lost, sold, or otherwise got rid of their book of cantrips after their initial training period as an apprentice.

There were other types of elves (drow, grey, sylvan. wild, sea, valley) and each had its own level limits.

Once you reached your maximum level you still split your xp between the two classes, so if one class maxed out early, the other one still moved up slowly. You only had one xp number unless one class had an xp bonus from high attributes and the other one didn't. The one xp number was read separately for each class. e.g 2,000 xp is 2nd fighter and still 1st wizard.
HP were rolled for each class and Constitution bonus was added for each, [but fighters got better Con bonuses than other classes (non-fighter classes maxed out at +2 hp/HD)] then that number was divided in half. e.g. Con 18, fighter d10+4/2 plus wizard d4+2/2= hp/level.

Ciao
Dave

That's the 1st Ed bard. 2nd Ed Bards were simply a viable regular class.

 

[ElectricDragon]

Gaaa! That's right. But the rest is 2ed, isn't it? Or is this just a really bad flashback?

Ciao
Dave

 

[Bront]

Gaaa! That's right. But the rest is 2ed, isn't it? Or is this just a really bad flashback?

Ciao
Dave

Both?

I remember high stats was an optional rule, don't remember everything about it though. (Because, it only makes sense that a stronger Elf fighter can make a higher level than a weaker one )

The elf types was another optional rule, same with halflings (though they were listed in the book, unlike the elves).

 

[irdeggman]

Except for elven fighter/mages.

Geoff.

But only when wearing elven mail. . . .

 

[Aaron L]

He wa probably recalling 1E when elven and half elven fighter/magic-users could wear armor and cast spells with no penalty.

 

[irdeggman]

He wa probably recalling 1E when elven and half elven fighter/magic-users could wear armor and cast spells with no penalty.

Most likely.

There seems to be a tendency to intertwine 1st and 2nd ed in these type of threads - even the original question was specifically about 2nd ed.