D&D 3E/3.5 3.5 alternate ways of handling favoured classes and multiclassing

[Lady Chaomii]

I'm gonna be frank with you. The way 3.5 handles multiclassing... Sucks.

Giving a character a serious learning disability because they put a level or two into a different class is just stupid, mechanically and fluff wise. Mechanically because the multiclassed character is going to fall FAR behind the rest of the group without getting such a massive advantage to really warrant it. There are favored classes, but really, what if you want to put 3 levels in bard? Non of the core races have bard as a favored class. A human? But you don't want to make a human. Too bad the mechanics of the game force you into choosing a human. (And even if another did have bard as a favored class, you'd be equally forced into choosing that race)

The fluff? Don't even get me started on how this fails miserably fluff wise.

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Now that I'm done picking apart one of the only mechanics of 3.5 I don't like. Let's discuss the point of this thread.

As DM of my own game, I've just violently torn out the multiclass penalty rules and incinerated them with holy fire. But I feel it leaves the different races' favored classes un-utilized.

Are there any alternate methods of handling favored classes? I was thinking something that maybe gives a small bonus rather than a devastating penalty.

I was looking at the way pathfinder handles favored classes, but the issue is; firstly pathfinder is balanced around the favored class rules and secondly pathfinder lets you choose your own favored classes, which might make it a little too serious an advantage.

 

[Dandu]

There's racial substitution levels for various classes, which might get the concept across.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Seen the Advanced Player's Guide? It's got racial alternate favored class bonuses, where instead of +1 HP or +1 skill point, you get a special benefit based on your race and your class. So you only get bonuses for race/class combinations that are iconic in some fashion.

Me, I'm trying to figure out a way to make the 3.X multiclassing system work for me... and I'm bringing back the idea of racial class limits. Not the way they were handled in AD&D, which was kinda boring, but with each race getting access to a specific selection of classes and archetypes.

 

[Drowbane]

I have ignored "Favored Classes" and the multiclassing penality since roughly 2001.

Only "mundanes" really multiclass, and penalizing the boys who can't cast spells seemed pointless to me. For similiar reasons I have used "Fractional BAB and Saves" since UA came out...

 

[Dandu]

Me, I'm trying to figure out a way to make the 3.X multiclassing system work for me... and I'm bringing back the idea of racial class limits. Not the way they were handled in AD&D, which was kinda boring, but with each race getting access to a specific selection of classes and archetypes.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RovF1zsDoeM]AVENUE Q - 'Everybody's a Little Racist,' Broadway Cast - YouTube[/ame]

 

[nonsi256]

Try this:


There are no multiclassing XP penalties of any sort, for any reason.
Each race has 3 base classes that come more natural to it than other classes.
Advancing a favored class requires only 90% of the usual XP-diff from the previous ECL.
The favored classes for the PHB races are as follows:

- Dwarf: Cleric, Fighter, Paladin
- Elf: Druid, Ranger, Wizard
- Gnome: Bard, Rogue, Wizard
- Half Elf: Monk, Ranger, Sorcerer
- Half Orc: Barbarian, Fighter, Monk
- Halfling: Bard, Ranger, Rogue
- Human: Any three

 

[Sekhmet]

The fluff of favored classes is actually pretty solid. When the majority of the race tends toward one particular class, the way they raise their children will reflect the values and ideals represented by that class, making new children tend toward those values and therefor that class.

Warrior societies breed warriors, thieves breed thieves, and so on and so forth.

With all that said, I don't know anyone who actually uses favored class mechanics.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

The fluff of favored classes is actually pretty solid.

Except Elves, Wizards don't fit into my idea of Elf.

I second @Drowbane , While I am a strict lover of the law and do most everything as per RAW, me and mine have ignored Multiclassing penalties.

And, coincidentally, have adopted fractal BAB & Saves as well. Drowbane, we need to play a game together.

 

[Sekhmet]

Except Elves, Wizards don't fit into my idea of Elf.

I second @Drowbane , While I am a strict lover of the law and do most everything as per RAW, me and mine have ignored Multiclassing penalties.

And, coincidentally, have adopted fractal BAB & Saves as well. Drowbane, we need to play a game together.

The D&D Elf is definitely Wizard. They're long lived, studious individuals with a passion for the arts and magic - perfect complement to the "book smart" Wizard archetype.
Druids are so rare that they couldn't be a favored class, and Rangers are more solitary than Elves (very social people) tend to be.
The only other thing that would make sense would be a Bard, but Elves tend to stick to their own kind rather than becoming worldly.

I can argue it, but I also don't use favored classes. I have a list of "nonstandard classes" which receive a 10% penalty to EXP for each race, but those are so absurd that it almost makes sense.

For example, Orc Wizards, Halfling Barbarians, Half Ogre Rogues, and other such combinations that are just absolutely silly.

 

[Dandu]

Halfling Barbarians

Eberron.