Do Multiclassed Epic Characters Get The Shaft?

[comrade raoul]

See the subject. Since you apparently need to be over 20th level in your class in order to get bonus epic feats from it, it sounds like a character who splits his levels evenly between two classes (fighter and rogue, say) would have significantly fewer bonus epic feats (until 40th level, when he hits 20 in both of his classes) than a "pure" fighter or rogue. Does that make him significantly weaker? Should anything be changed?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Multi-classed characters got shafted in the PH

 

[Astlin]

What he said. :|

Astlin

 

[Vecna]

Try using PrC instead of multiclassing.

For example, instead if Wiz 10+/Rog 10+, try Wiz 10-/Rog 10-/Arcane Trickster 10+

 

[Zerovoid]

I think this is obviously something to consider when planning your character for epic levels. Its probably better to have something like a rogue 5, fighter 15, than a 10 / 10. That way it won't take so long to get to the epic levels with one of your classes. You can still use your feat slots from every 3rd level to purchase epic feats though.

 

[dren]

The Shaft

Yes they get the shaft.

Should anything happen? uhh, no. Unless you are a munchkin, most players want to remain true to their character over extra feat(s). I find players care more about their character than maxing everything out, as role-playing at upper levels is paramount to everything else.

 

[comrade raoul]

Originally posted by Dren
Should anything happen? uhh, no. Unless you are a munchkin, most players want to remain true to their character over extra feat(s). I find players care more about their character than maxing everything out, as role-playing at upper levels is paramount to everything else.

I don't know about that. Balanced rules don't mean munchkiny ones, and characters who are on par with the other, single-classed characters in the party (and with the epic-level challenges) aren't necessarily maxed out. In fact, one of the nice things about balanced rules is that with them, you're not penalizing people for staying true to their characters. That is, you should never have to choose between role-playing well with a crappy character and giving up role-playing to play successfully. When all the different character are roughly on par with each other, you don't have to make that choice, so you're freer to pick the character you want as a role-player.

So when epic multi-classed characters are noticeably weaker than epic single-classed characters, you're not hindering role-playing by changing the rules to balance them out. If anything, you're helping the role-players, since you're not forcing them to decide between playing-a-game and playing-a-character. Dungeons and Dragons, remember, is about both. So the original question remains -- are you penalized for being an epic multiclassed character, and, if so, what can be done about it?

 

[Bastoche]

I'm not familiar with the ELH. Fact is I don't own it. My DM owns it and have plans for my 12th level character. He told me that once you're 20th level, your 21th level is an epic level form the class you chose to get a level in. I didn't believe him and it turns out I was right.

That tells me two things:

- I did not believe that multiclass epic characters got the shaft. That being said, I'm the only character in the game so I don't have to balance with single class characters.

- That could be a house rule: gaining epic levels even if you haven't reached 20th level in that class.

My character is 5th level fighter, 1st level ranger, 4th level rogue and 2nd level assassin. If I just take assassin levels, I get epic assassin levels at level 21. In other words, "core" prestige class needs only 10 level before getting epic levels...

 

[Mortaneus]

The big trick in multiclassing is to watch your BAB at 20th level, because that'll determine the max base number of attacks you'll have from then on out.

I've had quite a few players tinker with their class progressions to make sure they have that +16 BAB at 20th. They figure that since everything else gets better, they might as well get all the attacks they can when they can, and work on everything else later.

Min-maxed? Yes. Munchkin? Not really, considering it's then or never.

 

[Marshall]

Actually, since once youre 21st Character level, all bonus feats ARE eligible to be epic. No, MC characters arent totally screwed. If, however, you go with the ad-hoc ruling that you have to be 20+ Class level, Yes, they are screwed.

I'd suggest you go with what the books says, and not with what has been said post-publishing. Its not a mis-print, it appears in to many places.

Do a search for the other threads on this issue, once you take time to think it out, you realize its not a "munchkin" idea.