I have a situation arising in my campaign that I would greatly appreciate some outside opinions. A player recently informed me that at the next level he planned to take the Cleric class to help the party which is lacking that area. Their only other healer is a cleric3/paladin2 and a complete pacifist. But the character started as a monk and turned to sorcerer up to now. He is wanting to trade out the armor and shield proficiencies (4 in total) for the Skill Focus-Diplomacy and skill Focus-Heal feats. On one hand the concept and back story mesh real well with both his character and the parties needs. But at the same time I am concerned for balance. He wouldn't use armor anyway under most circumstances. And the the medium and heavy armors have only ever been used once in this group many, many years ago. So I am not sure the trade-off is equal.
In Question about a Cleric
- Thread starter ProfYeti
- Start date
Altamont Ravenard
Explorer
IMO, that looks fine. Skill Focus feats are hardly unbalancing, especially the ones he selected. Furthermore, even if the trade is slightly in the character's favor, characters that multi-class a lot end up somewhat less powerful than uni-class characters. You say the character is a monk/sorcerer/cleric? He misses out on high-level monk abilities. He doesn't have high-level arcane spells, and now he's going to have low-level clerical abilities.
I say give him the feats
AR
PS: Welcome to the boards!
I say give him the feats
AR
PS: Welcome to the boards!
Tilla the Hun (work)
First Post
ProfYeti said:
The trade isn't balanced... but in the opposite direction than you may fear. If he gives up 4 total feats to gain 2, you can't really argue that it's 'unbalancing'.
However, this situation, as you've described it, is one of the rare situations wherein I tell a player 'nope, sorry, you didn't plan this one out real well'. I disagree with the school of thought thinking that you need to plan out every level, but in some cases, limited planning helps focus a character.
In this case, I'd give the player the option of a new character, but little else. From the little you've described I definitely get the sense this is a player after my own heart - sacrifice something I'll never use to gain an advantage.
If it were me, I'd be 60 against, 40 for. The backstory/concept might tip the scales and I'd allow it, but only if it was *really* good, and only because 4 feats for 2 skill emphasis' is a disadvantageous trade.
Who else thinks players should be able to trade in feats for others at a rate of 2 for 1?
MerakSpielman
First Post
Don't worry about it. When the player realizes he's 6th level and can still only cast 1st level spells he'll start to understand why people don't multiclass casters.
DreamChaser
Explorer
MerakSpielman said:
or perhaps he knows the consequences and doesn't care. his twinkie/role play ratio may be out of wack to the point where a concept (or the good of the party) is more important than power.
DC
To answer some of the post I will do my best.
He is Monk2, Sorcerer3, and soon Cleric1. His original concept was to be strictly Monk/Sorcerer. But the only other clerical ability recently changed to the Paladin class. And the Cleric/Paladin doesn't get near combat unless the party yells for them to help someone.
So I am thinking the backstory fits plus he is taking a hit for the team. I just wanted some input to see how viable an idea it was.
Yes he is considering the Mystic Thuege PrC. Though he won't qualify till ninth and be eligible to advance in the class till 10th Level.
He is Monk2, Sorcerer3, and soon Cleric1. His original concept was to be strictly Monk/Sorcerer. But the only other clerical ability recently changed to the Paladin class. And the Cleric/Paladin doesn't get near combat unless the party yells for them to help someone.
So I am thinking the backstory fits plus he is taking a hit for the team. I just wanted some input to see how viable an idea it was.
Yes he is considering the Mystic Thuege PrC. Though he won't qualify till ninth and be eligible to advance in the class till 10th Level.
So, you've relaxed the multi-classing rules WRT Monks?ProfYeti said:
Well, he might just have an enjoyable character concept on his hands afterall (not a self nerf)... but bare in mind that it takes a while for the MT to 'come into his own', and he isn't starting for a while, so unles you are expecting this group to go all the way (20+ levels), he may end up coming back to you with further revisions, or a "kill me now!" so I can start over. YMMV
Mike
No the rules are still there in regard to the monk. So he is finished with his progression from that point. But the multi-classing levels has been relaxed if it makes sense within the game. He seems to think of all his characters with a look towards 20th level.It may change but it is just his way of character creation.
