Custom leveling system madness help?

[Uber Dungeon]

Your first time running a game is not the time to introduce massive house rules to the game's internal structure, no matter how familiar you were with the game's predecessor. I still don't understand 4e well enough to tinker with it, mostly because I don't care. If he doesn't understand how Prestige Classes work, he certainly has no business attempting to tinker with the core system yet.

But if I'm reading the system right, it looks like he's trying to combine the way it worked in AD&D with the way it worked in 3.X, and then combining them in the worst possible fashion.

I agree, I think thats what he was going for. we alternate DM's and If we had known when we appointed him DM; that he knew squat about 3.5 inner workings including basic standard 3.5 multi classing rules. We would have said no for sure.

 

[Uber Dungeon]

Story event based? Basically, you level up after certain plot points are reached?

This is pretty much what I've switched to in all of my games. It helps keep the PCs level in check so that they don't out-level everything you've got planned for them.

Yep, Thats the way I like to do it. Single campaigns only last so long anyways, then they become cameo appearances for a later date, lol

 

[Herzog]

Ok, first off: I think I understand what he is trying to do:
He wants all your classes to progress simultaneously, instead of the 3.5 alternating method.

Assuming you still want to play with this DM, you need to do the following:

1. Try to convince him PrC's are not classes, and they have prerequisites.
Tell him the prerequisites should be met before you can take the PrC, and that when you take the PrC, you shouldn't be allowed to multiclass it.
2. Try to convince him his idea isn't bad, but the implementation is.
If he wants parallel progression, an X amount of XP should amount to the same total of class levels for single, double and triple progression.

To accomplish this, he should add the total levels of the classes, and look up the amount of XP it would take to get to that total level.
They shouldn't have to divide the xp over the classes, and it's easier to keep track of. (you can use the standard XP table,but levelling happens in jumps)
That way, dual or triple class characters start with an advantage, but stay at the same level longer, and all classes level at the same time.

Another way would be to allow dual or tripple characters to advance a class of their choice each time they level, with an LA of +1 for dual classers and an LA of +2 for triple class characters, and requiring all classes to reach the same level before continueing the highest level class.
(in fact, he will be using the normal progression rules, but requiring multiclassers to keep their classes balanced. You don't have to tell him that though )

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Another way would be to allow dual or tripple characters to advance a class of their choice each time they level, with an LA of +1 for dual classers and an LA of +2 for triple class characters, and requiring all classes to reach the same level before continueing the highest level class.

Forcing multiclass characters to keep their levels within 1 is a pretty big nerf on its own without the Level Adjustment on top. Honestly, the d20 multiclassing system does not work for trying to recreate multiclass AD&D characters and it makes it very difficult to describe individual characters in terms of their class.

If he wants something more akin to AD&D multiclassing, propose this to him:

• Characters advance in all of their classes simultaneously, as in the Gestalt variant.
• Characters have a Level Adjustment of +2 per character class after the first.

Of course, this rules out Prestige Classes, but most of them can be converted into Base Classes with a little effort.

It's not quite what I'm running, but this is easier than trying to post my XP tables here or attach all of my house rules.

 

[kitcik]

Why not simply say "you can't multiclass unless you keep all you levels within one" and just leave XP alone?

 

[Herzog]

Forcing multiclass characters to keep their levels within 1 is a pretty big nerf on its own without the Level Adjustment on top.

The LA+1 or +2 is for the fact you actually start out as a second or third level character:

Fighter 1/Rogue 1 at 0 XP is a second level character, and should receive a level adjustment of +1
Fighter 1/Rogue 1/Wizard 1 at 0 XP is actually a third level character, and should receive a level adjustment of +2.

To do the above WITHOUT LA, he could let them start as single class, and require multiclass characters to take their other classes before progressing into the second level of their first class.

And I agree the requirement to keep your class levels within 1 is a nerf, but if you deviate from that you (possibly) come into the realm of XP penalties, and I don't think you want to start that discussion up with this particular DM.

This is all, to be clear, to allow the DM in question to fulfill his desire to replicate an (IMO) outdated multiclass system, while remaining within the 3.5 levelling rules, avoiding the problem the OP has brought forward (that is, that the current system he uses sets single class characters at a disadvantage)

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Why not simply say "you can't multiclass unless you keep all you levels within one" and just leave XP alone?

Mostly because it murders spellcasters. Nerf bats shouldn't draw blood.

 

[Herzog]

[MENTION=9249]Viktyr Korimir[/MENTION]

I think you are missing the point.
Yes, this particular DM is using a very blunt Nerf Bat.
Assuming he won't give up this particular house rule about multiclassing the goal is to minimize the damage he's doing by presenting an XP progression that fits the normal progression rules.

Of course, the best solution would be to convince him to drop the houserule and adopt the normal multiclass rules. Or choose someone else who has a better understanding of the rules (or at least is willing to accept explanations of the rules from players that know the rules better than he does) to DM

 

[Vespucci]

It looks like your ref is more comfortable with 2e. Why don't you just play under those rules, and teach him 3.x in somebody else's game?