D&D 4E 4E multiclassing - is Arcane Initiate too powerful?

[Quartz]

I've just been reading the Arcane Initiate feat and it seems to me that this is a vastly powerful feat when you then also take Ritual Caster. Your 24th level fighter can cast 24th level rituals! Or am I missing something?

 

[Runestar]

Your 24th level fighter can cast 24th level rituals!

.....So....?

 

[mattdm]

I've just been reading the Arcane Initiate feat and it seems to me that this is a vastly powerful feat when you then also take Ritual Caster. Your 24th level fighter can cast 24th level rituals! Or am I missing something?

Yes, you're missing that they could take Skill Training and do the same thing. Or Initiate of the Faith, or Soldier of the Faith, or Pact Initiate.

Basically, ritual magic is open to any hero who wants to spend the effort for the training.

 

[Lizard]

Just to point out what seems to be a common misconception -- you do NOT need Ritual Caster to cast a ritual from a scroll. Your 24th level fighter can cast any ritual he wants, with no feat investment, provided he has a scroll and the appropriate components. Hell, a first level fighter can -- there are no level limits on ritual scrolls. Joe the peasant farmer can cast Raise Dead, if he has a)a scroll, and b)Gold. Since there's no chance of the skill check failing, he doesn't even need to be Trained in Arcana to have a decent chance of succeeding. Heck, he can have an Int of 3 and still do it.

The multiclass feats are powerful, in that you're much better off taking them than Skill Training if there's a skill you want that's a class skill for the other class (and you meet the prereqs), but they're not really unbalanced otherwise. I personally think Initiate of the Sword is pretty weak compared to the others (Hmmm...Sneak Attack 1/encounter or +1 to hit 1/encounter? Hmmm....), but that's just me.

 

[Caliban]

The multiclass feats are powerful, in that you're much better off taking them than Skill Training if there's a skill you want that's a class skill for the other class (and you meet the prereqs), but they're not really unbalanced otherwise. I personally think Initiate of the Sword is pretty weak compared to the others (Hmmm...Sneak Attack 1/encounter or +1 to hit 1/encounter? Hmmm....), but that's just me.

Don't forget that the multi-class feat also give you access to the class feats from that class, and the paragon path as well if you so desire. In most cases you probably don't plan on taking them, but it might be worth it for some builds.

 

[FadedC]

The multiclass feats are powerful, in that you're much better off taking them than Skill Training if there's a skill you want that's a class skill for the other class (and you meet the prereqs), but they're not really unbalanced otherwise. I personally think Initiate of the Sword is pretty weak compared to the others (Hmmm...Sneak Attack 1/encounter or +1 to hit 1/encounter? Hmmm....), but that's just me.

Well the sneak attack one is a bit weak too given that you need to be using a light blade or xbow to use it. I'm not sure that any class other then rogue is likely to use that.

 

[Lizard]

Well the sneak attack one is a bit weak too given that you need to be using a light blade or xbow to use it. I'm not sure that any class other then rogue is likely to use that.

True. I was looking at it in the context of a warlock who'd be using a dagger...

IAE, the multiclass feats are probably among the most powerful at Heroic Tier, both because they're equal to "Skill Training...Plus" and because they "unlock" any number of possibilities (cross training, paragon paths). Even if you don't plan on taking them, you never know when something is going to synergize nicely.

 

[Storminator]

Considering the number of PCs that are likely to have the INT to qualify, it's not that bad. There are only ~3 reasons to have an INT 13...

PS

 

[Regicide]

Joe the peasant farmer can cast Raise Dead, if he has a)a scroll, and b)Gold.

And since 'a' can be acquired with 'b', it goes to prove that mounds of gold solve every problem. Poor peasant Joe who will never have 'b' unless he goes out and slays the dragon.

 

[Lizard]

And since 'a' can be acquired with 'b', it goes to prove that mounds of gold solve every problem. Poor peasant Joe who will never have 'b' unless he goes out and slays the dragon.

Well, it's D&D. A mound of gold solves EVERY problem.

Adventuring is usually the best way to get a mound of gold, thus, no matter your problem, you become an adventurer.

(Me, I want to know why the ONLY people who will pay full price for Ritual scrolls are the PCs. According to the rules, no one else will pay more than half price.)