D&D (2024) Multiclassing as feats:

[Horwath]

would it be easier if multiclassing just takes your feat slots and you gain 1 or 2 levels of 2nd class every 4 levels by spending a feat.

feats:
Multiclass initiate: requires level 4+
+1 ASI
gain 1st level features of a chosen class with current multiclass rules

Multiclass adept: requires level 8+, multiclass initiate
+1 ASI
gain 2nd and 3rd level features of a chosen class

multiclass expert: requires level 12+, multiclass adept
+ 1 ASI
gain 4th and 5th level features of a chosen class, do NOT gain 4th level feat feature.

multiclass master: requires level 16+, multiclass expert
gain 6th and 7th level features of a chosen class

multiclass grandmaster: requires level 19+, multiclass master
gain 8th, 9th and 10th level features of a chosen class. any feats gained cannot have requirements higher than level 8.

 

[DEFCON 1]

would it be easier if multiclassing just takes your feat slots and you gain 1 or 2 levels of 2nd class every 4 levels by spending a feat.

No it would not be easier. It would just be different.

Which if that is what you want to use in your game... playtest it and see how it works.

 

[Krachek]

The key will be to create feats that don’t undermine the other ones.
Otherwise everybody will simply take multi class feats.

 

[MoonSong]

@Horwath You'd need to make multiclass speciffic benefits. Both to give relevant abilities, and to prevent pumping too much power. Remember the power level of a single feat which is way below a full class level, let alone two.

Also, keep in mind that multiclassing doesn't fulfill a single function, but rather it covers a range of them:

The sprinkle.- Get a single trick that is uncommon for your class.
The blending.- Combine two archetypes, hopefully to get more than the sum of the parts.
The custom class.- Piece together a concept by taking the relevant abilities from more than two classes.
The hard switch.- Cases like the fallen paladin, the thief who found god, the warrior who awakened a hidden power, or the barbarian who learned to read draconic.

How good is your idea to handle these cases?

 

[Corinnguard]

would it be easier if multiclassing just takes your feat slots and you gain 1 or 2 levels of 2nd class every 4 levels by spending a feat.

feats:
Multiclass initiate: requires level 4+
+1 ASI
gain 1st level features of a chosen class with current multiclass rules

Multiclass adept: requires level 8+, multiclass initiate
+1 ASI
gain 2nd and 3rd level features of a chosen class

multiclass expert: requires level 12+, multiclass adept
+ 1 ASI
gain 4th and 5th level features of a chosen class, do NOT gain 4th level feat feature.

multiclass master: requires level 16+, multiclass expert
gain 6th and 7th level features of a chosen class

multiclass grandmaster: requires level 19+, multiclass master
gain 8th, 9th and 10th level features of a chosen class. any feats gained cannot have requirements higher than level 8.

Pathfinder 2nd edition does make use of multiclassing feats.

 

[payn]

Do not like.

 

[Corinnguard]

Do not like.

I am not crazy about them either. There probably are better ways to multiclass in an RPG we can get behind than what's being currently offered in some RPGs.

 

[Horwath]

I am not crazy about them either. There probably are better ways to multiclass in an RPG we can get behind than what's being currently offered in some RPGs.

in dnd there are 2 problems:

1-2 level dips that give way more that they should.

50-50 split of classes sucks beyond all measure.

personally I am fond of giving extra class levels at levels 5/8/11/14/17/20(with no extra HP/HD) so your 20th level multiclass character ends with 13/13 in two classes but with HPs, HDs and proficiency on 20th level character, 10/10 split for HP,HD, Prof bonus.

 

[Corinnguard]

in dnd there are 2 problems:

1-2 level dips that give way more that they should.

50-50 split of classes sucks beyond all measure.

personally I am fond of giving extra class levels at levels 5/8/11/14/17/20(with no extra HP/HD) so your 20th level multiclass character ends with 13/13 in two classes but with HPs, HDs and proficiency on 20th level character, 10/10 split for HP,HD, Prof bonus.

There's also the problem where multiclassing pushes back the features you would like to get from your 1st class by a level or two.

 

[payn]

in dnd there are 2 problems:

1-2 level dips that give way more that they should.

I hear this, but its never mentioned in anything but the warlock. I think its more of a Warlock problem than a dipper problem.

There's also the problem where multiclassing pushes back the features you would like to get from your 1st class by a level or two.

I see that as the cost of multiclassing. You are delaying development to add options to your PC.