D&D 5E Feats For Multiclassing, and MC Variant Rules

[doctorbadwolf]

I have often been frustrated with some of the weird little things that pop up when multiclassing. From a level 8+ PC with levels only in full warrior classes (those that get Extra Attack in the base class) not having extra attack, not to mention something like a paladin/blade bard, to MC wizards having worse ritual casting capability than if they'd taken the Ritual Casting feat, and MC full casters having spell slots at levels where they have no known spells.

Some of these feel like detriments beyond what is "fair" or reasonable, while others are just annoyances that I would like to be able to solve with character options like feats.

Spoiler: Extra Attack and Multiclassing, variant optional rule.

When you take levels in more than one class that normally gains Extra Attack as a base class feature, or when you take levels of such a class and of a class that can gain Extra Attack from a subclass or optional feature, you follow the rules below. In all cases, if you gain a level of one of your classes that gives Extra Attack normally, you can ignore this rule and simply gain Extra Attack at that point.

If a class gains Extra Attack as a level 5 base class feature, count your levels in that class -1.
If a class gains Extra Attack from a subclass, and you have chosen that subclass, count your levels in that class -2.
If some of your levels are in the warlock class, count your levels in that class -1, for determining your warlock level for the purpose of determining when you can take an invocation that grants the Extra Attack feature.

Your DM might allow you to count a class at level -1 if the chosen subclass gains Extra Attack at level 5, such as the Armorer Specialization for the Artificer.

Add your levels in all your classes, making the appropriate subtractions. If the result is 5 or greater, and you do not already have Extra Attack, you gain the Extra Attack feature.

Wordy, but simple in practice, and just un-wierds a few sweet spot levels that can really such for a lot of builds.

Mystic Polymath - new feat
Prerequisite, at least 1 level in a class with the Spellcasting, or Ritual Casting, feature.
You are a person of mixed disciplines, and have learned to make the most of your diverse studies. You gain the following benefits;

• If your multiclassed spellcaster level grants you spell slots of a level for which you do not have any spells known, you learn 1 spell of that level from the class spell list of the spellcasting class for which you have the most levels. If your levels are evenly split, you may choose which class to learn a spell from. This spell does not count against any limit on spells known, but does count against a limit on spells prepared.
• If you have the Ritual Casting feature from one or more of your classes, you can learn any spell as a ritual if the spell is on the class spell list for one of your spellcasting classes, and is of a level equal to half your total character level, rounded down. You can choose which ritual casting feature provides the rules governing your ritual casting for all rituals you can cast.
• You can cast a spell that you know with your choice of Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom as your spellcasting ability modifier. You cannot do so again until you complete a long rest.

-This feat could lose the last bullet point without any real harm, but I think it's fine as is. Powerful, sure but I wouldn't place it on the same tier as GWM or SS or PAM.

Any other MC woes that could use a special rule or feat?

 

[DND_Reborn]

So, if I understand your concept, a character with two classes with Extra Attack would have to gain the Extra Attack feature no later than level 7?

I would find this too much of a boon personally. Remember that such a MC character will have additional features beyond the single class PC and the loss of Extra Attack is of course for balance. For instance, a 3/4 Fighter/ Barbarian will have the following:

• Fighting Style
• Second Wind
• Action Surge
• Fighter Subclass feature
• Rage
• Unarmored Defense
• Reckless Attack
• Danger Sense
• Primal Path feature
• ASI

Compared to a Fighter 7:

• Fighting Style
• Second Wind
• Action Surge
• Fighter Subclass feature
• ASI
• Extra Attack
• ASI
• Fighter Subclass feature #2

and Barbarian 7:

• Rage (+1 more uses)
• Unarmored Defense
• Reckless Attack
• Danger Sense
• Primal Path feature
• ASI
• Extra Attack
• Fast Movement
• Primal Path feature
• Feral Instinct

While this is a simplification, since certain features might be more highly valued by some than others, it seems fairly well-balanced overall IMO. Besides, an even split class will have Extra Attack by level 9 at the absolute latest anyway. IME if Extra Attack is such a priority, the character reaches level 5 in one class before starting the other.

As for spellcasting MCs, I don't find them having the extra higher slots without spells that much of a hindrance. It sucks in some ways, but odds are the increased versatility is well worth it.

Overall, I don't think any of your ideas will be completely OP in any way.

My larger issue with MCing is the delay in the ASI. Our house-rule is the ASIs are based on character levels, not class levels, with Fighters and Rogues gaining extras on class levels.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So, if I understand your concept, a character with two classes with Extra Attack would have to gain the Extra Attack feature no later than level 7?

I would find this too much of a boon personally. Remember that such a MC character will have additional features beyond the single class PC and the loss of Extra Attack is of course for balance. For instance, a 3/4 Fighter/ Barbarian will have the following:

• Fighting Style
• Second Wind
• Action Surge
• Fighter Subclass feature
• Rage
• Unarmored Defense
• Reckless Attack
• Danger Sense
• Primal Path feature
• ASI

Compared to a Fighter 7:

• Fighting Style
• Second Wind
• Action Surge
• Fighter Subclass feature
• ASI
• Extra Attack
• ASI
• Fighter Subclass feature #2

and Barbarian 7:

• Rage (+1 more uses)
• Unarmored Defense
• Reckless Attack
• Danger Sense
• Primal Path feature
• ASI
• Extra Attack
• Fast Movement
• Primal Path feature
• Feral Instinct

While this is a simplification, since certain features might be more highly valued by some than others, it seems fairly well-balanced overall IMO. Besides, an even split class will have Extra Attack by level 9 at the absolute latest anyway. IME if Extra Attack is such a priority, the character reaches level 5 in one class before starting the other.

As for spellcasting MCs, I don't find them having the extra higher slots without spells that much of a hindrance. It sucks in some ways, but odds are the increased versatility is well worth it.

Overall, I don't think any of your ideas will be completely OP in any way.

My larger issue with MCing is the delay in the ASI. Our house-rule is the ASIs are based on character levels, not class levels, with Fighters and Rogues gaining extras on class levels.

I disagree about Extra Attack. If the change makes MC less annoying and weird, and isn’t OP, it’s good.

As for the caster feat, the point isn’t whether it’s a hindrance. If it was too much of a hindrance I’d be suggesting an optional rule, not a feat. I don’t believe in feat taxes.
The feat allows a full caster MC to still cast like a full caster, including knowing at least 1 spell of every level they can cast, and allows anyone with the ritual caster feature to use it fully without burning an entire feat just to get full ritual casting for a class that already lets them ritual cast.
The 3rd benefit is gravy. Cool for Tiefling wizards and high elf bards and the like, as well as bard/clerics.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I disagree about Extra Attack. If the change makes MC less annoying and weird, and isn’t OP, it’s good.

As for the caster feat, the point isn’t whether it’s a hindrance. If it was too much of a hindrance I’d be suggesting an optional rule, not a feat. I don’t believe in feat taxes.
The feat allows a full caster MC to still cast like a full caster, including knowing at least 1 spell of every level they can cast, and allows anyone with the ritual caster feature to use it fully without burning an entire feat just to get full ritual casting for a class that already lets them ritual cast.
The 3rd benefit is gravy. Cool for Tiefling wizards and high elf bards and the like, as well as bard/clerics.

That's fine. IME when people are bringing up such things (myself included! ) it is usually because they want something the RAW won't allow or makes them wait for--and most people hate waiting.

So, wanting to get Extra Attack sooner is such a case. Personally, I think other classes should get extra attack at higher levels (like 11th - 16th levels). But I understand from a balance issue why it doesn't happen.

As always, do what you want of course, but this isn't something I would adapt for our table myself. I understand your desire for something like these features, but think the general power boost from multiple classes make up for it.

Anyway, try it out, good luck with it, and share your results.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That's fine. IME when people are bringing up such things (myself included! ) it is usually because they want something the RAW won't allow or makes them wait for--and most people hate waiting.

So, wanting to get Extra Attack sooner is such a case. Personally, I think other classes should get extra attack at higher levels (like 11th - 16th levels). But I understand from a balance issue why it doesn't happen.

As always, do what you want of course, but this isn't something I would adapt for our table myself. I understand your desire for something like these features, but think the general power boost from multiple classes make up for it.

Anyway, try it out, good luck with it, and share your results.

I generally find that MC builds are less powerful, not more so.

but two levels difference in when you get extra attack isn’t really a balance concern, either way. It’s a player satisfaction concern. And as I am primarily a DM, this has nothing to do with any desire on part to get anything sooner.

Even when I do play, I have few MC characters, and none of my MC characters currently have any levels in a full warrior class.

But every player I know who does MC warriors gets annoyed by the way Extra attack not coming in until level 8 or 9 unless you take levels very unevenly makes the whole leveling process weird for the warrior MC characters. None have ever felt, nor seemed to me as DM, to be more powerful than if they’d stayed single class.