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Best level combinations for min-max?
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<blockquote data-quote="nameless" data-source="post: 689894" data-attributes="member: 1543"><p>I feel dirty discussing min-max in public, but call me masochistic, it's just damn interesting to me. In my time with 3E, I've seen the same level combinations for min-maxing before taking a first level in a prestige class between levels 6 and 10. It seems to me that there are definite breaking points for multiclassing when grabbing all the abilities possible before a PrC, and losing the minimum BAB/Saves. Here's what I've noticed as far as useful levels:</p><p></p><p>Barbarian: 2 Levels is perfect. You get Fast Movement, a Rage, and Uncanny dodge. Skills list is good, so you can use class skill points to improve perception skills and possibly Wilderness Lore.</p><p></p><p>Bard: Not that great for multiclassing. 1 or 2 levels might work for the save increases, and music. The hit to BAB is rough though, and you still only have level 1 spells.</p><p></p><p>Cleric: Like Bard, 1 or 2 levels for the saves is good, but this doesn't mix too well with non-Cleric classes.</p><p></p><p>Druid: Never seen a multiclass Druid. All the good abilities come later, so it's not really worth the restrictions on weapons and armor to get the early ones.</p><p></p><p>Fighter: 2 or 4 levels is good. I mostly see 2 levels for the 2 bonus feats, but 4 levels gets you a Weapon Specialization. 3 levels is bad because you get nothing at 3 except your poor saves. I lean towards 2 because it'll never hit you with a multiclass penalty and the next two levels net you +1 to all saves and one feat... I can do better than that.</p><p></p><p>Monk: 1 or 4 levels is good. All the cool bonuses at level 1 are good, and by level 4 you've increased all your saves to +4, and got faster movement and 1d8 unarmed damage, plus some other minor abilities. Since you've already lost the 1 BAB at level 1, 2-4 are kind of a free ride.</p><p></p><p>Paladin: Bad for multiclassing. LG restriction, mainly. 1 level is good, if you can get a decent Cha. That save bonus is amazing. The class declines from there unless you're in it for the long haul.</p><p></p><p>Ranger: 1 level is best, unless you use Monte Cook's alt.ranger. Then 4 is good.</p><p></p><p>Rogue: 3 is the magic number. At 1, you gain +1d6 sneak attack but no BAB. At 2 evasion, but no offense. At 3, Uncanny Dodge and another sneak attack die. 4 is nothing, and at 5 you lose a 2nd BAB.</p><p></p><p>Sorceror: Best choice for arcane spellcaster multiclassing. You'll never have powerful spells, so you might as well get a lot per day. You also gain a BAB at the same time you gain a new spell level, so even numbers in Sorc are good. That said, I usually pick 2 or 4. Only drawback is the Cha dependency. That means you have to either pick a physical dump stat or Wisdom if you still want enough skills to play with.</p><p></p><p>Wizard: Not good for multiclassing. Numbers get all messed up with BAB, spell levels and saves.</p><p></p><p>My main goal with this is to minimize the levels with +0 BAB, and the levels with no class abilities. The main problem with this approach is low Will saves, but it's usually 2 points at the maximum.</p><p></p><p>On an aside, I hope Revised 3E keeps track of the fractional ability gains, and hurts the +2 to good saves at first level syndrome. It would make a world of difference when multiclassing in the non-warrior classes. Does anyone else notice little trends like this as far as low-level class balance?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="nameless, post: 689894, member: 1543"] I feel dirty discussing min-max in public, but call me masochistic, it's just damn interesting to me. In my time with 3E, I've seen the same level combinations for min-maxing before taking a first level in a prestige class between levels 6 and 10. It seems to me that there are definite breaking points for multiclassing when grabbing all the abilities possible before a PrC, and losing the minimum BAB/Saves. Here's what I've noticed as far as useful levels: Barbarian: 2 Levels is perfect. You get Fast Movement, a Rage, and Uncanny dodge. Skills list is good, so you can use class skill points to improve perception skills and possibly Wilderness Lore. Bard: Not that great for multiclassing. 1 or 2 levels might work for the save increases, and music. The hit to BAB is rough though, and you still only have level 1 spells. Cleric: Like Bard, 1 or 2 levels for the saves is good, but this doesn't mix too well with non-Cleric classes. Druid: Never seen a multiclass Druid. All the good abilities come later, so it's not really worth the restrictions on weapons and armor to get the early ones. Fighter: 2 or 4 levels is good. I mostly see 2 levels for the 2 bonus feats, but 4 levels gets you a Weapon Specialization. 3 levels is bad because you get nothing at 3 except your poor saves. I lean towards 2 because it'll never hit you with a multiclass penalty and the next two levels net you +1 to all saves and one feat... I can do better than that. Monk: 1 or 4 levels is good. All the cool bonuses at level 1 are good, and by level 4 you've increased all your saves to +4, and got faster movement and 1d8 unarmed damage, plus some other minor abilities. Since you've already lost the 1 BAB at level 1, 2-4 are kind of a free ride. Paladin: Bad for multiclassing. LG restriction, mainly. 1 level is good, if you can get a decent Cha. That save bonus is amazing. The class declines from there unless you're in it for the long haul. Ranger: 1 level is best, unless you use Monte Cook's alt.ranger. Then 4 is good. Rogue: 3 is the magic number. At 1, you gain +1d6 sneak attack but no BAB. At 2 evasion, but no offense. At 3, Uncanny Dodge and another sneak attack die. 4 is nothing, and at 5 you lose a 2nd BAB. Sorceror: Best choice for arcane spellcaster multiclassing. You'll never have powerful spells, so you might as well get a lot per day. You also gain a BAB at the same time you gain a new spell level, so even numbers in Sorc are good. That said, I usually pick 2 or 4. Only drawback is the Cha dependency. That means you have to either pick a physical dump stat or Wisdom if you still want enough skills to play with. Wizard: Not good for multiclassing. Numbers get all messed up with BAB, spell levels and saves. My main goal with this is to minimize the levels with +0 BAB, and the levels with no class abilities. The main problem with this approach is low Will saves, but it's usually 2 points at the maximum. On an aside, I hope Revised 3E keeps track of the fractional ability gains, and hurts the +2 to good saves at first level syndrome. It would make a world of difference when multiclassing in the non-warrior classes. Does anyone else notice little trends like this as far as low-level class balance? [/QUOTE]
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