D&D 5E Life Cleric Multiclass armor prof

[EzekielRaiden]

Yes. Most probably I would. I would not grant bonus proficiencies from a nulticlass if it is called bonus proficiency. The valor bard level 3 proficiencies seem more problematic than the cleric proficiencies because you may end up being able to use every martial weapon but not every simple weapon if you came from wizard...

So...if you started off as a Sorcerer, then decided to actually get some ejumakayshun at the Bard school, studying combat techniques doesn't teach you anything at all?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

yes. Most probably. You het your starting proficiencies which include light armor. Nothing else IIRC. I know this solution may be hard and maybe I would give one martial weapon and maybe shields.. or all simple weapons instead... its just a bad situation. Either illogical or too hard...

 

[spectacle]

Why not just ban multiclassing completely if you're going to withhold proficiencies characters need to make good use of their new class features? Multiclassing is an optional rule after all, there's no harm in not using it in your game.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

yes... I maybe would also give a reduced number of skills. 1 or 2.
Its not my choice that multiclassing proficiencies work the way they do and I honestly think that a general rule like: you can only gain proficiency in martial weapons if you can use all simple weapons. You gain proficiency in the use of only 3 martial weapons instead.

All proficiency gains beyond first level should be more incremental if I would have been asked. And I would have given heavy armor users proficiency in heavy armor at a later level. Maybe I had splitted armors in simple and advanced armor and splitted it in proficiencies so a rogue would only have leather at level 1 and studded leather at level 2 or 3. And chain mail for fighters at level 1 and plate armor at level 3 or so. This way you could have been more lenient in giving armor profuciencies by multiclassing...

Maybe there should be a proficiency system for armors and weapons and you gain proficiencies equal to your class level. You gain a certain number of proficiencies at start and you can chose some more everytime you level up from a list that depends in your class. A fighter may start with chain mail chain shirt and leather. He may gain proficiencies in all armors.
When you multiclass into fighter you need to spend your first proficiencies gained on those armors if you don't already have them. The same proficiencies may be used for tool training, maybe even skill trining for some classes, and you may save up to 3 proficiencies. The system may be made more granular making heavy amors more expensive but that is not needed.

So bard feature and cleric features could gve you just more options to spend your proficiencies on. The lore bard feature may just say: you may spend up to 3 proficiencies on skills. While the valor bard says: you may spend your proficiencies on martial weapons and medium armors and shields.

 

[Li Shenron]

Yes. Most probably I would. I would not grant bonus proficiencies from a nulticlass if it is called bonus proficiency. The valor bard level 3 proficiencies seem more problematic than the cleric proficiencies because you may end up being able to use every martial weapon but not every simple weapon if you came from wizard...

Another good reason why such Wizard should have got the simple weapon proficiency from the first Bard level.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Another good reason why such Wizard should have got the simple weapon proficiency from the first Bard level.

yes. At least some of them. See my edited post.

 

[Kithas]

That's my reading too, but it seems to be unpopular. Can't think why

That brings up another issue though, what about literally all the other cleric domains?
Knowledge, Nature, Tempest, and War all say "At first level..."
While Life, Light, and Trickster all say "When you choose this domain at first level..."
By your reading you only get the abilities for the second and not the first? If I MC into Light cleric I don't get my light cantrip? Or for Trickster I don't get the dex check ability?

All in all I like the multiclassing system of 5e. As with all the rules in this god-awful rulebook they are vague and in some cases unhelpful. But we get the idea of something that is functioning and at least mediocrely balanced :/

 

[BoldItalic]

That brings up another issue though, what about literally all the other cleric domains?
Knowledge, Nature, Tempest, and War all say "At first level..."
While Life, Light, and Trickster all say "When you choose this domain at first level..."
By your reading you only get the abilities for the second and not the first? If I MC into Light cleric I don't get my light cantrip? Or for Trickster I don't get the dex check ability?

All in all I like the multiclassing system of 5e. As with all the rules in this god-awful rulebook they are vague and in some cases unhelpful. But we get the idea of something that is functioning and at least mediocrely balanced :/

It's not as bad as all that. Features that grant cantrips and so on, are not denied. It's only proficiencies that are problematic. Some domains grant bonus skills proficiencies at first level, and by the strict reading of the multiclassing rules they too would be denied, but it's not game-breaking either way. Where it starts to worry people is when it limits armour and weapon proficiencies.

 

[Celtavian]

Hopefully Crawford answers soon. I'd love to see a ruling.

 

[Kithas]

It's not as bad as all that. Features that grant cantrips and so on, are not denied. It's only proficiencies that are problematic. Some domains grant bonus skills proficiencies at first level, and by the strict reading of the multiclassing rules they too would be denied, but it's not game-breaking either way. Where it starts to worry people is when it limits armour and weapon proficiencies.

The issue is though if you are using the syntax of the feature as a reason to deny or allow the feature then you have to do it for all features that share that syntax. Otherwise it isn't a valid reason/ruling. Alternatively your ruling could be that any feature that gives you proficiencies at level 1 doesn't if multiclassing. That however would clearly be a house-rule and not the RaW, possibly the RaI but we have no way of knowing that currently and that doesn't seem to be the intent to me.
I too don't think that either ruling will cause problems and honestly it is a small matter at most tables. I just like to clarify that the syntax is not the reason for the ruling and it can be very confusing to your players if you explain it that way.