3.5 and level 1 multiclass (apprentice) characters

[Kichwas]

Is it just me or did this feature get dropped from the game?

I'm referring to the section in the 3.0 DMG about starting out as a multiclass character at level one.

Any idea why?

Seems much more useful than the Epic material...
-shrug-

 

[Mark]

Seems much more useful than the Epic material...

Hiya arcady!

Did you use that option a lot? If so, how did it go?

 

[MerricB]

The variant rule for Apprentice-level characters was dropped; I expect this was because that there wasn't room - it has been mentioned by the WotC designers that some variant rules had to be cut.

I'd look for them to reappear in Unearthed Arcana when it comes out.

Mark - I've used them, and they're fine. At 2nd level, your character is almost exactly the same as if he'd progressed in the normal fashion.

The only exception is a Ftr1/Wiz1 (or similar) doesn't have the benefit of the +1 BAB for choosing feats at 1st level; similarly with a couple of other pre-requisites, hardly mattering at all in the long run.

Cheers!

 

[johnsemlak]

Hm

A reason to hang on to the 3.0 DMG.

I wonder, has someone compiled a list of stuff <i>dropped</i> from the 3.5 rules (which might be worth copying or whatever before you dump the old books).

 

[Kirowan]

One of the other things that seemed to have been dropped is the procedures for determining encounter distance. The spot distances got wrapped up in the terrain descriptions, but that's it. I don't have my 3.0 DMG anymore either.

Nick

 

[Pseudonym]

I have used the apprentice rules in the past for allowing ECL +1 races when I started the PCs at 1st level, with the caveat that the apprentice class had to be the race's favored class. It seemed to work out well.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

This was one of my favorite rules, and I'm really pissed that it got dropped.

This rule made the story part of a multiclassed character much easier to justify in game.

 

[paulewaug]

an alternative?

How do you guys feel about the idea of allowing them to have the full benefits of being level one in each class, basically becoming character level 2;
but still needing to acquire the full 3000 experience points to become CL/3?
It makes a "1st level" character more powerful but they wouldn't be getting anything new for a while and will still be a normal 3rd level character at 3rd level.

Feelings?

 

[tetsujin28]

I always disliked those rules - they were clunky. I always figured, you want multiclass PCs, start at 2nd. No big whoop.

 

[Ottergame]

I never saw much use in that rule, in fact I am surprised to hear that anyone used it more than once.

I mean, crap, just multiclass normally.