Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Storm Raven" data-source="post: 1191766" data-attributes="member: 307">Sure, but it didn't really matter that they only got half the hit points from each class, because they got hit points from both classes. And their saves were invariably better than the saves of a single classed character, since they took the best for each.To sum up: a multiclassed 1e/2e character took the best saves of both classes, the best THAC0, all of the class abilities of both classes, and had about the same number of hit points. All for the "cost" of lagging about a half level to one level behind due to the exponential structure of the experience point tables.Better THAC0, better saves, almost as many hit points, double the class abilities. Where was the real drawback here?Right, a time frame that, due to the exponential experience point tables took about one adventure. Yippie. A 7th level fighter, for example, who dual classed as a cleric, only needed enough experience points to advance from being 1st level to 2nd level as a normal 1st level cleric needed. Which meant (since he was adventuring with a bunch of 7th level characters), that his "lag time" would be about the amount of time they needed to advance a single level.So, instead of becoming an 8th level fighter, he could become an 8th level cleric/7th level fighter in the amount of time it took his buddies to go from 7th level to 8th level (or thereabouts). In other words, almost no cost. And if things got too tough, he could use his previous classes abilities (he just would earn no experience points for using them).And he kept his THAC0, his saves, and his hit points. And he could use them without penalty. So, suppose you wanted to dual class from fighter to cleric (fairly common choice). You still use armor, shields, cleric weapons, and so on. Your THAC0 was that of your previous fighter level, your hit points were the same as you had already gained. Effectively, you are a better fighting cleric than any single classed cleric could be at that level, all for no cost to you at that point. When your 7th level Fighter/4th level dual classed cleric runs out of spells, he can still swing a mace around while carrying a large shield and clad in full plate just as well as any 7th level fighter could, and suffers no penalty for doing so.Which is why you picked a class and went to a "break point" before switching. Not a big deal. Usually people advanced for a few levels as a fighter, then then switched to their real class, basically adding a bunch of hit points, the ability to use a lot of weapons, and so on before they switched to their "real" class.</blockquote>

Verification