NerfedWizard
First Post
Let me preface this by saying that IMHO 5e is shaping up to be a classic edition fit to challenge BECMI D&D and 1st ed. AD&D in my affections.
Multiclassing Spellcasters
[EDIT:- since I posted this it has been pointed out to me lower in the thread that the following example doesn't work because you don't actually get to be an Eldritch Knight until 3rd level Fighter. Even so I think in principle everyone should use the same rules for slots.]
Top marks for effort, but watch what happens if a 3rd level paladin (3 x 1st level spell-slots) multiclasses 1st level fighter (for argument's sake, might or might not be an eldritch knight; I don't think it makes a difference). For purposes of multiclass spell-slots, the paladin levels now count as 1.5 multiclass spellcaster levels, rounded down to 1. The fighter level is either 0 or one-third, rounded down to 0. Even if you were meant to add the one-third to the 1.5 before rounding, that would still be 11/6, rounded down to 1. Result:- you now have level 1 multiclassed spell-slots (2 x 1st level spell-slots). Thus, by multiclassing fighter level 1 (whether or not eldritch knight), your 3rd level paladin has reduced his spell-slots from 3 to 2.
Two easy fixes occur to me.
1. The Power-Down Fix. Calculate all spell-casters' spell slots (except Warlock obviously) exactly as per the multi-classed spellcaster rules, ignoring the single-classed spell slots tables. Thus, a single-class 3rd level paladin only has 2 x 1st level spell slots to begin with, and loses nothing by multiclassing. Basically, this means that the paladin is 1 level behind in going up in spell slots, and the arcane trickster is 2 levels behind, compared to PHB, except at 2nd and 3rd level respectively (when the first spell-slots are gained). Thus the paladin would be behind the PHB roughly half the time, and the arcane trickster roughly two thirds of the time.
2. The Arithmetical Fix. Do not round down when calculating total levels for multiclass spell-caster spell slots. Instead, add all fractions together (from all your different classes) then round up, unless the fractions total less than 1. Thus an arcane trickster 2, eldritch knight 2, paladin 1 gets 4/3 + 1/2 = 11/6, round up to 2, for a total of 3 x 1st level spell-slots, equivalent to a single-classed arcane trickster of 4th through 6th level, or a paladin of 3rd or 4th level. By this method an eldritch knight 7-9 would get the same spell-slots whether under the single-classed or multi-classed rules. A paladin 5-8 likewise. I have not systematically checked but if I have guessed the pattern correctly then this would hold true in other cases too, but it does require you to not be scared of arithmetic, and to be capable of converting to sixths.
Dragonborn Sorcerers
Specifically, dragonborn sorcerers of draconic bloodline, especially (though not only) if of the same dragon type for both. Makes sense thematically for a dragonborn to have a matching draconic bloodline, right? Except that it is specifically a disadvantage to be a dragonborn sorcerer of draconic bloodline, because your racial abilities overlap with your class abilities with nothing to make up for this. The first instance of this is languages:- your ability to speak Draconic. So far, so trivial. Personally, I would rule that dragonborn sorcerers of draconic bloodline gain claws enhancing their unarmed combat damage to 1d4, or if already 1d4 or higher then by one die-type. Thus a dragonborn sorcerer of draconic bloodline level 1, multiclassed to monk level 17, would inflict d12 damage in unarmed combat.
Another point is that the draconic bloodline sorcerer can gain resistance to damage type temporarily at 6th (elemental affinity) but the dragonborn race (if dragon types are matching) gives this for free anyway, and the two don't stack. I would fix this by saying that multiple resistances do stack, as follows:-
1 resistance:- half damage
2 resistances:- one third damage
3 resistances:- one quarter damage
etc. (i.e. divide damage by N+1 where N = number of resistances).
Tavern Brawler
This seems quite potent compared to low-level monk unarmed combat. Should it stack with monk unarmed combat abilities? Should it upgrade unarmed combat damage by one die-type? What about a dragonborn sorcerer of draconic bloodline level 1, multiclassed monk level 17, with tavern brawler - d12+1?
Warlocks
I saw a poll on here which suggests Warlocks have "won" the PHB. Really? They seem quite underpowered to me, compared specifically to clerics, which have the same hit points, better armour, shields, the best possible spell-slots and more base cantrips than a warlock, plus in effect the ability to turn/destroy undead, and domain features. To make up for this warlocks have up to eight invocations and also have pact magic features. But how strong are these?
For instance, up to 8th level, Light domain gives clerics extra spells known (fireball!), a bonus cantrip (!), disadvantage an attacker x Wis mod between long rests, radiance of the dawn (as an alternative to turn undead), and at 8th add your wis mod to cantrip damage.
Compare this to a 9th level infernal warlock with pact of the tome who gains a similar expanded spell list (fireball!), about 12-13 temp hitpoints when he reduces a foe to 0 hitpoints (so only kicks in when you are winning, not when you are desperate) - let's say that balances with turn/destroy undead, then the luck advantage (let's say that balances the disadvantage attacker thing, though doubtful), and 5 invocations. With pact of the tome the warlock has the same number of cantrips as the cleric (5).
Invocations include agonizing blast (inferior to the cleric add wis mod to cantrip damage thing), armour of shadows (not a match for the cleric's armour + shield advantage), and three others. Let's say the warlock chooses bewitching whispers and sign of ill omen - these effectively simply expand the warlock's spell-list in a minor way. Then he chooses whispers of the grave - speak with the dead at will. Now that in itself could be potent, but it's very narrowly focused, and non-combat. Then the warlock has two 5th level spell-slots and the cleric has no 5th, but 2 4th, 3 3rd, 3 2nd and 4 1st.
Am I missing something here? The 9th level warlock seems to me to be about as potent as a 7th level cleric. Then at high levels he doesn't even retain his advantage of having the highest level spell slots - mystic arcanum being limited to 1 slot per spell level 6th-9th.
Multiclassing Spellcasters
[EDIT:- since I posted this it has been pointed out to me lower in the thread that the following example doesn't work because you don't actually get to be an Eldritch Knight until 3rd level Fighter. Even so I think in principle everyone should use the same rules for slots.]
Top marks for effort, but watch what happens if a 3rd level paladin (3 x 1st level spell-slots) multiclasses 1st level fighter (for argument's sake, might or might not be an eldritch knight; I don't think it makes a difference). For purposes of multiclass spell-slots, the paladin levels now count as 1.5 multiclass spellcaster levels, rounded down to 1. The fighter level is either 0 or one-third, rounded down to 0. Even if you were meant to add the one-third to the 1.5 before rounding, that would still be 11/6, rounded down to 1. Result:- you now have level 1 multiclassed spell-slots (2 x 1st level spell-slots). Thus, by multiclassing fighter level 1 (whether or not eldritch knight), your 3rd level paladin has reduced his spell-slots from 3 to 2.
Two easy fixes occur to me.
1. The Power-Down Fix. Calculate all spell-casters' spell slots (except Warlock obviously) exactly as per the multi-classed spellcaster rules, ignoring the single-classed spell slots tables. Thus, a single-class 3rd level paladin only has 2 x 1st level spell slots to begin with, and loses nothing by multiclassing. Basically, this means that the paladin is 1 level behind in going up in spell slots, and the arcane trickster is 2 levels behind, compared to PHB, except at 2nd and 3rd level respectively (when the first spell-slots are gained). Thus the paladin would be behind the PHB roughly half the time, and the arcane trickster roughly two thirds of the time.
2. The Arithmetical Fix. Do not round down when calculating total levels for multiclass spell-caster spell slots. Instead, add all fractions together (from all your different classes) then round up, unless the fractions total less than 1. Thus an arcane trickster 2, eldritch knight 2, paladin 1 gets 4/3 + 1/2 = 11/6, round up to 2, for a total of 3 x 1st level spell-slots, equivalent to a single-classed arcane trickster of 4th through 6th level, or a paladin of 3rd or 4th level. By this method an eldritch knight 7-9 would get the same spell-slots whether under the single-classed or multi-classed rules. A paladin 5-8 likewise. I have not systematically checked but if I have guessed the pattern correctly then this would hold true in other cases too, but it does require you to not be scared of arithmetic, and to be capable of converting to sixths.
Dragonborn Sorcerers
Specifically, dragonborn sorcerers of draconic bloodline, especially (though not only) if of the same dragon type for both. Makes sense thematically for a dragonborn to have a matching draconic bloodline, right? Except that it is specifically a disadvantage to be a dragonborn sorcerer of draconic bloodline, because your racial abilities overlap with your class abilities with nothing to make up for this. The first instance of this is languages:- your ability to speak Draconic. So far, so trivial. Personally, I would rule that dragonborn sorcerers of draconic bloodline gain claws enhancing their unarmed combat damage to 1d4, or if already 1d4 or higher then by one die-type. Thus a dragonborn sorcerer of draconic bloodline level 1, multiclassed to monk level 17, would inflict d12 damage in unarmed combat.
Another point is that the draconic bloodline sorcerer can gain resistance to damage type temporarily at 6th (elemental affinity) but the dragonborn race (if dragon types are matching) gives this for free anyway, and the two don't stack. I would fix this by saying that multiple resistances do stack, as follows:-
1 resistance:- half damage
2 resistances:- one third damage
3 resistances:- one quarter damage
etc. (i.e. divide damage by N+1 where N = number of resistances).
Tavern Brawler
This seems quite potent compared to low-level monk unarmed combat. Should it stack with monk unarmed combat abilities? Should it upgrade unarmed combat damage by one die-type? What about a dragonborn sorcerer of draconic bloodline level 1, multiclassed monk level 17, with tavern brawler - d12+1?
Warlocks
I saw a poll on here which suggests Warlocks have "won" the PHB. Really? They seem quite underpowered to me, compared specifically to clerics, which have the same hit points, better armour, shields, the best possible spell-slots and more base cantrips than a warlock, plus in effect the ability to turn/destroy undead, and domain features. To make up for this warlocks have up to eight invocations and also have pact magic features. But how strong are these?
For instance, up to 8th level, Light domain gives clerics extra spells known (fireball!), a bonus cantrip (!), disadvantage an attacker x Wis mod between long rests, radiance of the dawn (as an alternative to turn undead), and at 8th add your wis mod to cantrip damage.
Compare this to a 9th level infernal warlock with pact of the tome who gains a similar expanded spell list (fireball!), about 12-13 temp hitpoints when he reduces a foe to 0 hitpoints (so only kicks in when you are winning, not when you are desperate) - let's say that balances with turn/destroy undead, then the luck advantage (let's say that balances the disadvantage attacker thing, though doubtful), and 5 invocations. With pact of the tome the warlock has the same number of cantrips as the cleric (5).
Invocations include agonizing blast (inferior to the cleric add wis mod to cantrip damage thing), armour of shadows (not a match for the cleric's armour + shield advantage), and three others. Let's say the warlock chooses bewitching whispers and sign of ill omen - these effectively simply expand the warlock's spell-list in a minor way. Then he chooses whispers of the grave - speak with the dead at will. Now that in itself could be potent, but it's very narrowly focused, and non-combat. Then the warlock has two 5th level spell-slots and the cleric has no 5th, but 2 4th, 3 3rd, 3 2nd and 4 1st.
Am I missing something here? The 9th level warlock seems to me to be about as potent as a 7th level cleric. Then at high levels he doesn't even retain his advantage of having the highest level spell slots - mystic arcanum being limited to 1 slot per spell level 6th-9th.
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- this only applies if you have multiple classes with the spellcasting feature (p164)
