D&D 5E Multi-Class Alternative Using Sub-Classes

[Wulffolk]

One of the problems with the way that multi-classing has worked since 3e came out has been that it encourages optimizers to dip into classes for front-loaded benefits without the character making any meaningful commitment to the class. I miss the old days of characters starting out with multiple classes, like the: Cleric/Magic-User, Fighter/Cleric, Magic-User/Thief, Fighter/Thief, etc.

While dreaming up character concepts for 5e I found myself yearning for the ability to create a Sacred Fist (Monk/Cleric) that wasn't so watered-down as to be useless. One of the things I like about 5e is that the Players' Handbook came with a solution to this baked into the system. By using the Eldritch Knight and Arcane Trickster as inspiration I have created numerous multi-class options that replace the standard sub-classes.

I am interested in hearing any feedback or constructive criticism. I did not include options for Clerics because the Domains are vital to a Cleric and give enough options to cover many options. I left out Paladins because they should be focused on fulfilling their Oaths. Warlocks are left out because they need a Patron to make sense, and Sorcerers because they need their Origin.

 

[Wulffolk]

Barbarian

Barbarian / Bard (1/3rd Caster,reduced HD d10)
3rd - Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Instrument), Musical Instrument, Performance Skill, Bardic Inspiration 1d6
6th - Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest 1d6
10th - War Caster, Bardic Inspiration 1d8
14th - Font of Inspiration, Song of Rest 1d8

Barbarian / Cleric (1/3rd Caster,reduced HD d10)
3rd - Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Divine), Religion Skill
6th - Channel Divinity, Domain (all 1st and 2nd level Domain benefits)
10th - Domain (6th level benefits)
14th - Domain (8th level benefits), Destroy Undead (½ CR)

Barbarian / Druid (1/3rd Caster,reduced HD d10)
3rd - Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Druidic), Nature Skill
6th - Circle (2nd level benefits), Wild Shape (2nd Level)
10th - Circle (6th level benefits), Wild Shape (4th Level)
14th - Circle (10th level benefits), Wild Shape (8th Level)

Barbarian / Fighter
3rd - Fighting Style
6th - Second Wind, Heavy Armor Proficiency
10th - Action Surge
14th - Indomitable

Barbarian / Ranger (Non-Caster)
3rd - +1 Skill (Ranger List), Favored Enemy, Natural Explorer
6th - Fighting Style
10th - Land's Stride, Favored Enemy Improvement
14th - Hide In Plain Sight

Barbarian / Rogue (Reduced HD d10)
3rd - Sneak Attack 1d6, Thieves' Cant, +1 Skill (Rogue List), Thieves' Tools
6th - Sneak Attack 2d6, Cunning Action
10th - Sneak Attack 3d6, Uncanny Dodge
14th - Sneak Attack 4d6, Evasion

Barbarian / Sorcerer (1/3rd Caster,reduced HD d10)
3rd - Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Sorcerous Origin (1st level benefits), Arcana Skill
6th - Font of Magic, Metamagic (1st option)
10th - War Caster
14th - Origin (6th level benefits), Metamagic (2nd option)

Barbarian / Warlock (1/3rd Caster,reduced HD d10)
3rd - Pact Magic, Patron (1st level benefits), 1 Invocation
6th - Pact Boon, 2 Invocations
10th - War Caster
14th - Patron (6th level benefits), 3 Invocations

 

[Wulffolk]

Fighter

Fighter/ Bard (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Instrument), MusicalInstrument, Performance Skill, Bardic Inspiration 1d6
7^th- Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest 1d6
10^th- War Caster, Bardic Inspiration 1d8
15^th- Font of Inspiration, Song of Rest 1d8
18^th- Countercharm, Bardic Inspiration 1d10

Fighter/ Cleric (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Divine), Religion Skill
7^th- Channel Divinity, Domain (all 1^stand 2^ndlevel Domain benefits)
10^th- Domain (6^thlevel benefits)
15^th- Domain (8^thlevel benefits), Destroy Undead (½ CR)
18^th- Divine Intervention (as if 10^thlevel), Destroy Undead (1 CR)

Fighter/ Rogue
3^rd- Sneak Attack 1d6, Thieves' Cant, +1 Skill (Rogue List), Thieves'Tools
7^th- Sneak Attack 2d6, Cunning Action
10^th- Sneak Attack 3d6, Uncanny Dodge
15^th- Sneak Attack 4d6, Evasion
18^th- Sneak Attack 5d6, Blindsense

Fighter/ Sorcerer (1/3^rdCaster,reduced HD d8)
3^rd- Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Sorcerous Origin (1^stlevel benefits), Arcana Skill
7^th- Font of Magic, Metamagic (1^stoption)
10^th- War Caster
15^th- Origin (6^thlevel benefits), Metamagic (2^ndoption)
18^th- Origin (14^thlevel benefits)

Fighter/ Warlock (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Pact Magic, Patron (1^stlevel benefits), 1 Invocation
7^th- Pact Boon, 2 Invocations
10^th- War Caster
15^th- Patron (6^thlevel benefits), 3 Invocations
18^th- Patron (10^thlevel benefits)

Fighter/ Wizard (1/3^rdCaster,reduced HD d8)
3^rd - Spell Book, RitualCasting, Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Arcane Recovery, Arcana Skill
7^th - Tradition (2^ndlevel benefits)
10^th - WarCaster
15^th - Tradition(6^thlevel benefits)
18^th- Tradition (10^thlevel benefits)

 

[Wulffolk]

Monk

Monk/ Cleric (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Divine), Religion Skill
6^th- Channel Divinity, Domain (all 1^stand 2^ndlevel Domain benefits)
11^th- Domain (6^thlevel benefits)
17^th- Domain (8^thlevel benefits), Destroy Undead (½ CR)

Monk/ Rogue
3^rd- Sneak Attack 1d6, Thieves' Cant, +1 Skill (Rogue List), Thieves'Tools
6^th- Sneak Attack 2d6, Cunning Action
11^th- Sneak Attack 3d6, Uncanny Dodge
17^th- Sneak Attack 4d6, Blindsense

Monk/ Sorcerer (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Sorcerous Origin (1^stlevel benefits), Arcana Skill
6^th- Font of Magic, Metamagic (1^stoption)
11^th- War Caster
17^th- Origin (6^thlevel benefits), Metamagic (2^ndoption)

Monk/ Wizard (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd - Spell Book, RitualCasting, Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Arcane Recovery, Arcana Skill
6^th - Tradition (2^ndlevel benefits)
11^th - WarCaster
17^th- Tradition (6^thlevel benefits)

 

[Wulffolk]

Ranger (1/2Caster, spell-casting classes just add to spell list, not the total spell slots available)

Ranger/ Bard
3^rd- Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Instrument), Musical Instrument, Performance Skill, Bardic Inspiration 1d6
7^th- Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest 1d6
11^th- War Caster, Bardic Inspiration 1d8
15^th- Font of Inspiration, Song of Rest 1d8

Ranger/ Cleric
3^rd- Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Divine), Religion Skill
7^th- Channel Divinity, Domain (all 1^stand 2^ndlevel Domain benefits)
11^th- Domain (6^thlevel benefits)
15^th- Domain (8^thlevel benefits), Destroy Undead (½ CR)

Ranger/ Druid
3^rd- Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Druidic), Nature Skill
7^th- Circle (2^ndlevel benefits), Wild Shape (2^ndLevel)
11^th- Circle (6^thlevel benefits), Wild Shape (4^thLevel)
15^th- Circle (10^thlevel benefits), Wild Shape (8^thLevel)

Ranger/ Sorcerer (Reduced HD d8)
3^rd- Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Sorcerous Origin (1^stlevel benefits), Arcana Skill
7^th- Font of Magic, Metamagic (1^stoption)
11^th- War Caster
15^th- Origin (6^thlevel benefits), Metamagic (2^ndoption)

Ranger/ Wizard(Reduced HD d8)
3^rd - Spell Book, Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Arcane Recovery, Arcana Skill
7^th - Tradition (2^ndlevel benefits)
11^th - War Caster
15^th- Tradition (6^thlevel benefits)

 

[Wulffolk]

Rogue

Rogue/ Bard (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Instrument), MusicalInstrument, Performance Skill, Bardic Inspiration 1d6
9^th- Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest 1d6
13^th- War Caster, Bardic Inspiration 1d8
17^th- Font of Inspiration, Song of Rest 1d8

Rogue/ Cleric(1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Ritual Casting, Spellcasting Focus (Divine), Religion Skill
9^th- Channel Divinity, Domain (all 1^stand 2^ndlevel Domain benefits)
13^th- Domain (6^thlevel benefits)
17^th- Domain (8^thlevel benefits), Destroy Undead (½ CR)

Rogue/ Fighter
3^rd- Fighting Style, Medium Armor Proficiency, Shield Proficiency,Martial Weapons Proficiency
9^th- Extra Attack, Heavy Armor Proficiency
13^th- Action Surge
17^th- Indomitable

Rogue/ Sorcerer (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Sorcerous Origin (1^stlevel benefits), Arcana Skill
9^th- Font of Magic, Metamagic (1^stoption)
13^th- War Caster
17^th- Origin (6^thlevel benefits), Metamagic (2^ndoption)

Rogue/ Warlock (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd- Pact Magic, Patron (1^stlevel benefits), 1 Invocation
9^th- Pact Boon, 2 Invocations
13^th- War Caster
17^th- Patron (6^thlevel benefits), 3 Invocations

Rogue/ Wizard (1/3^rdCaster)
3^rd - Spell Book, RitualCasting, Spellcasting Focus (Arcane), Arcane Recovery, Arcana Skill
9^th - Tradition (2^ndlevel benefits)
13^th - WarCaster
17^th- Tradition (6^thlevel benefits)

 

[Wulffolk]

Wizard (Full Caster, spell-casting classes just add to spell list, not the total spell slots available)

Wizard/ Cleric
2^nd- Spellcasting Focus (Divine), Religion Skill
6^th- Channel Divinity, Domain (all 1^stand 2^ndlevel Domain benefits)
10^th- Domain (6^thlevel benefits)
14^th- Domain (8^thlevel benefits), Destroy Undead (½ CR)

Wizard/ Fighter​ (Improved HD d8)
2^nd - Fighting Style, LightArmor Proficiency, Shield Proficiency, Martial Weapons Proficiency
6^th - Action Surge, MediumArmor
10^th - Extra Attack, HeavyArmor
14^th- Indomitable

Wizard/ Rogue
2^nd- Sneak Attack 1d6, Thieves' Cant, +1 Skill (Rogue List), Thieves'Tools
6^th- Sneak Attack 2d6, Cunning Action
10^th- Sneak Attack 3d6, Uncanny Dodge
14^th- Sneak Attack 4d6, Evasion

 

[Aldarc]

Subclasses as a substitution for multiclassing is certainly an interesting, though hardly a profound, idea. That is not a detraction from the basic idea, but, rather, speaks to a certain degree of intuitiveness. This idea is already rooted deeply in a number of subclasses: e.g. Eldritch Knight, Arcane Trickster, etc. A part of me would likely prefer something more akin to hybrid classes - as per your idea - than what we have already, since I am not entirely satisfied with how multiclassing works in 5e.

When I look through the barbarian, one thing leaps out almost at once: ritual casting. You say that you are using the Arcane Trickster and Eldritch Knight as inspiration, but neither class gains access to wizard ritual casting. Furthermore, both the AT and EK have a far more restricted spell-selection than what either a rogue/wizard or fighter/wizard would have. The benefit of the Arcane Trickster over a Rogue/Wizard (presuming here a basic thief rogue and probably an illusionist wizard) is that it builds on a full-class rogue chassis (e.g. higher average hp, sneak attack, etc.) while expanding the utility of the mage hand cantrip and other trickster mage options.

With that in mind, there are two broad questions worth considering when designing your subclass system.

1) What are some significant patterns of multiclassing in 5e? What are people trying to address about their character through multiclassing? By this I refer to particular builds and popular dips. For example, there are a number of builds for various classes that will have you start as one class only a level or two for certain benefits (e.g. skills/expertise, saves, weapon/armor, or other class features) but then be mostly built on another class. Or sometimes it's dipping for cantrips/spells (e.g. Eldritch Blast/Hex).

2) How will you distinguish a Base Class X/Subclass Y from a Base Class Y/Subclass X? For example, how different a Barbarian (Sorcerer subclass) would be from a Sorcerer (Barbarian subclass)? Or to use our earlier example: a Rogue (wizard) from a Wizard (rogue)?

 

[Wulffolk]

2) How will you distinguish a Base Class X/Subclass Y from a Base Class Y/Subclass X? For example, how different a Barbarian (Sorcerer subclass) would be from a Sorcerer (Barbarian subclass)? Or to use our earlier example: a Rogue (wizard) from a Wizard (rogue)?

A Rogue/Wizard would be a full Rogue with 1/3rd caster Wizard, while a Wizard/Rogue would be a full caster Wizard that gives up a specialization in favor of some Rogue abilities.

 

[Aldarc]

A Rogue/Wizard would be a full Rogue with 1/3rd caster Wizard, while a Wizard/Rogue would be a full caster Wizard that gives up a specialization in favor of some Rogue abilities.

Okay. Is your Rogue/Wizard different from an Arcane Trickster?