D&D (2024) Multiclassing as feats:

[mellored]

in dnd there are 2 problems:

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

That's been addressed. Moving subclasses to 3 and such.

 

[Argyle King]

4th Edition did something like that

 

[mellored]

4th Edition did something like that

So does Pathfinder 2e.

Though it work better in those systems because virtually all the options take actions. So they won't stack.

You could either do a barbarian attack or a rogue attack. But you don't combine them.

 

[Horwath]

4th Edition did something like that

no it did not.
4E drained from your class features, not extra feats.

 

[CandyLaser]

no it did not.
4E drained from your class features, not extra feats.

It did both - initially, you took a multiclass feat which typically granted a skill proficiency and a weaker version of a class power, like an at-will power usable 1/encounter. That feat made you count as a member of both classes for other feats, and opened up access to the Novice, Acolyte, and Adept Power feats. Those feats let you swap your class powers for powers from your other class.

Later they released rules for hybrid classes, which basically let you mash together two weakened versions of existing classes to make your own custom class.

 

[jmartkdr2]

The 2024 rules don't seem amenable to this - consider what a one-level dip into fighter gets you:

Proficiency in all armor, which could be up to four regular feats (not origin feats - none of those give armor proficiency!)

Martial weapon proficiency - one feat

Three weapon masteries - the feat only gives one, so this would be three feats

Second wind - a feat at least

So that's 9 feats for one level.

 

[Weiley31]

EN5IDER had an article or something that pretty much came up with Multi-Class Feats. They were pretty neat.

 

[Horwath]

It did both - initially, you took a multiclass feat which typically granted a skill proficiency and a weaker version of a class power, like an at-will power usable 1/encounter. That feat made you count as a member of both classes for other feats, and opened up access to the Novice, Acolyte, and Adept Power feats. Those feats let you swap your class powers for powers from your other class.

those feats were horribly designed, you only took the 1st one in chain as it was glorified skill proficiency feat.

Later they released rules for hybrid classes, which basically let you mash together two weakened versions of existing classes to make your own custom class.

that was kind of good design, but it only worked because of base design of 4E.

 

[Argyle King]

no it did not.
4E drained from your class features, not extra feats.

Yes it did. To multiclass, you would take a multiclassing feat for the class you wanted to multiclass into (which typically gave proficiency in a skill, some minor benefit, and allowed you to count as the second class for picking Paragon Paths.) If you later wanted to pick up more powers and abilities from the second class, that usually meant taking more feats.

I say "usually" because Half-Elves and Bards had some special options for multiclassing. It's been a while, but I believe you could also more-fully multiclass at level 11 instead of taking a paragon path.

If you had PHB3, you could also use the rules for creating a hybrid class.

If you really wanted to, you could start as a hybrid class and also multiclass.

There was also an Epic Destiny that allowed you to start counting as other "races" (they weren't called "species" yet).

With one of my characters, my goal to entertain myself as to see how many different races and classes I could have one character count as.