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D&D 5E D&D Q&A Januarary 31

I think I've mentioned it a few times already, but I think my ideal multiclassing system would be a feat-based system as a prerequisite for taking levels in a new class. In order to multiclass, you need to first take a feat that would give you some of the abilities of the new class, and you might also need to meet other prerequisites, e.g. training in a Knowledge skill for a wizard, or proficiency with heavy armor for a fighter. This also has the added feature of making it easier for a cleric of the Warbringer to multiclass into fighter, while a wizard would have to pay a steeper cost.

That would severely limit multiclassing and bring us back to "plan your build", I know it sounds good on paper, but in many cases that means a heavy investment in feats before being able to multiclass and would somehow stereotype characters. if after a life changing event my third level rogue decides she wants to reform and study to be a cleric she has to earn four more rogue levels before being able to take the first level in cleric (two whole levels before being able to take the special multiclass feat and two more to take skill trainning into knowledge: religion), that means she not only has to keep going on the same path before being allowed by game mechanics to branch out (cannot take cleric levels or any other levels in the meantime so has to remain a rogue) will be a less viable cleric over time, too draconian for my tastes
 

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That would severely limit multiclassing and bring us back to "plan your build", I know it sounds good on paper, but in many cases that means a heavy investment in feats before being able to multiclass and would somehow stereotype characters. if after a life changing event my third level rogue decides she wants to reform and study to be a cleric she has to earn four more rogue levels before being able to take the first level in cleric (two whole levels before being able to take the special multiclass feat and two more to take skill trainning into knowledge: religion), that means she not only has to keep going on the same path before being allowed by game mechanics to branch out (cannot take cleric levels or any other levels in the meantime so has to remain a rogue) will be a less viable cleric over time, too draconian for my tastes
On the other hand, you run into the problem of going from zero religious background to being a full-fledged (if inexperienced) cleric practically overnight (or however long it takes to gain a level). This might be more plausible if the character doesn't adventure for a few months, but whether this is feasible would be campaign-dependant.

That said, ease of multiclassing is something that is probably suitable for a dial - if the core rules do indeed require prerequisites for multiclassing, there might be some balance considerations if the DM allowed taking a level in a new class without meeting the prerequisite feats (a repeat of the front-loading issues in 3e) but if the PC is required to make this up from his future feats, it should all balance out in the long run.

An alternate approach may be to have novice and apprentice levels for multiclassing characters, so that a PC taking levels in a new class will take a few levels to get all the benefits of a 1st-level PC in another class, or have some kind of generic transition class which grants bonus multiclassing feats as a class feature.
 

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