D&D 4E 4e Multiclassing structure and Weapons of Legacy, Dragonmarks, etc.

[Mort_Q]

I was thinking that the multiclass system might be an interesting and balanced way to bring Legacy Weapons, Dragonmarks, and other cinematic things into a campaign.

Least, Lesser, Greater Legacy or Dragonmark feats vs. Novice, Acolyte, Adept Power feats...

Would need to see all the rules to know what other sorts of balancing would need to be added, but I like the getting powers that no-one else can have (as opposed to different ways of accessing common powers) possibilities.

[edit]and symbionts, grafts, and maybe just maybe familiars and animal companions.[/edit]

 

[jeffhartsell]

I'm especially curious how dragonmarks will work. Swapping out a power via a dragonmark will be too weak since you could just multiclass. And getting a new *useful* power is probably too good. Hopefully they figure out how to make them not suck. I really like the concept, but most of the dragonmarks just did not work very well in 3e. Unless you took the dragonmark heir it was a big feat investment.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

I'm especially curious how dragonmarks will work. Swapping out a power via a dragonmark will be too weak since you could just multiclass. And getting a new *useful* power is probably too good.

Well, no, since you can get something from a dragonmark that you can't get from a class and since there is no reason that dragonmarks can't be as powerful as multiclassing.

 

[jeffhartsell]

Well, no, since you can get something from a dragonmark that you can't get from a class and since there is no reason that dragonmarks can't be as powerful as multiclassing.

I hope they figure out how to do it. The current dragonmarks are simply existing spells as per day spell-like abilities. It would be nice if they make dragonmarks unique daily powers. But gaining more powers seems like a no-no giving the dual-classing rules.

So, they probably will be swap feats; gain a new power in place of a level X power. But if that power is a dupe of a class power, then just dual-class to get that power. If it is a power you could not get with dual-classing, then it is a solid feat option.

 

[Mort_Q]

Exactly.

There's a reason why the Dragonmarked houses have so much power. They can do things at will that would otherwise can't be done, or perhaps only with an expensive ritual.

If a player doesn't want a dragonmark, they can take a Legacy type item, or a graft, or symbiont, or any other iconic Eberron item, and all is balanced.

 

[Lord Mhoram]

Well, no, since you can get something from a dragonmark that you can't get from a class and since there is no reason that dragonmarks can't be as powerful as multiclassing.

I like that - you multiclass with a feat, and take a second multiclass with a dragonmark. That could really be fun.

 

[Atlatl Jones]

Many of the dragonmark powers are ones that would now be covered by rituals. As such, it shouldn't be unbalancing to make them into daily utility powers that you get in addition to your other utility powers.

I just hope that the powers they give are unique, not just carbon-copies of cleric & wizard spells.

 

[The Little Raven]

Well, no, since you can get something from a dragonmark that you can't get from a class and since there is no reason that dragonmarks can't be as powerful as multiclassing.

Personally, I've been toying with the idea of turning Birthright-style scions into a multiclassing choice. At first level, you'd select your "Scion of <Bloodline>" feat, which would be just like the MC feats for classes, give each bloodline a list of unique powers that can be taken with multiclass power-swap feats, as well as the paragon path-style bonuses to be taken later.

 

[Incenjucar]

The nice thing about the paragon path thing is that, since your normal class progresses anyways, it can be an entirely new feature set without leaving you entirely gimped if that feature set is temporarily restricted.

So if your Paragon Path was, say, Mounted Combatant or MagiMech Operator, or whatever....

 

[Graf]

I was thinking that the multiclass system might be an interesting and balanced way to bring Legacy Weapons, Dragonmarks, and other cinematic things into a campaign.

Least, Lesser, Greater Legacy or Dragonmark feats vs. Novice, Acolyte, Adept Power feats...

Would need to see all the rules to know what other sorts of balancing would need to be added, but I like the getting powers that no-one else can have (as opposed to different ways of accessing common powers) possibilities.

[edit]and symbionts, grafts, and maybe just maybe familiars and animal companions.[/edit]

I'm torn. I think you're either a genius or completely wrong.

On the plus side
Sudden massive reduction in cheese. Nobody is playing a weird race, with strange magic item, psionics, prc and grafts and etc etc etc.

You get your race + class + one other thing. Done.

Of course, this "cheese" is hypothetical. 4e could descend to the strange race + strange template + 1 level dip in four classes + 1 level dip in two different strange PrCs + one awesome PrC that a character like this was never supposed to get into gamespace that 3.5 got stuck in. Or it could not.

On the minus side
Making all weirdness part of one uber system seems... vaguely wrong.
I mean, if a Warden of the Wood gets the two weapon fighting paragon path does it mean they can't get a two handed legacy weapon, ever?
(or a plant graft?)
A system that is too restrictive isn't necessarily going to be popular.