Multiclassing between variants

[Dirigible]

THis is probably a question that's been answered somewhere really obvious... but can you multiclass between variants of the same class?

F'rex, could you have a Fighter (core) 3 / Fighter (sneak attack) 3?

 

[Ashardalon]

If you are referring to Unearthed Arcana variants, page 48.

To boil it down - it depends strongly on the variant. If it is much like the wizard, where you choose a specialty, then it is a strict no. If it is reasonably removed from the "base" class (bardic sage, wilderness rogue and urban ranger are used as examples), then it might be ok to allow it. It is essentially a DM's call.

 

[Dirigible]

Thanks, I see that now.

So, are the sneak attack Fighter and core Fighter different enough to be combined?

 

[Ashardalon]

It is in a way a stronger departure than the more fleshed-out variants. I'd be inclined to allow it, though I'd propably follow the idea presented with the variant to combine it with the thug variant.
The final answer lies of course with the DM of the respective game.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Another good example on the no side of things is the cleric of Pelor trying to multiclass with a cleric of Heironeous. You can't do that according to game mechanics. [Heh, although with the addition of the complete books one could be a cleric of Pelor and a Favored Soul of Heironeous! ]

Anyway, I don't have the appropriate UA so I can't help you on the fighter stuff. I would be careful of doing it, but as the above poster said - if they are different enough it could be legit.

 

[Rystil Arden]

I wouldn't allow it--it seems to me like someone who did that would be trying to cherry-pick the feats from the first Fighter levels and the Sneak Attack from the first Fighter variant level while retaining full BAB in something like Fighter2/SAFighter1. Think twice before you allow this multiclassing because otherwise you are offering something more powerful than allowing the Fighter to swap out any one bonus feat piecemeal for Sneak Attack.

 

[Cabral]

It depends ... if you think of them almost like replacement levels, I can see a justification for allowing the multiclassing...

 

[Dirigible]

Thanks for the input, humanoids.

I'd be inclined to allow it, though I'd propably follow the idea presented with the variant to combine it with the thug variant.

Good idea in principle, but it's for Midnight; fighters already get bonus skill points.

Anyway, I don't have the appropriate UA so I can't help you on the fighter stuff. I would be careful of doing it, but as the above poster said - if they are different enough it could be legit.

That's what I figured, especially as the bonus feats are the only real class feature of the fighter.

By and by, Nonlethal, do you know what the creature in your avatar is and which book it's from? I'd like to see a larger version of that pic if possible.

...it seems to me like someone who did that would be trying to cherry-pick the feats from the first Fighter levels and the Sneak Attack from the first Fighter variant level while retaining full BAB in something like Fighter2/SAFighter1.

Character in question is a Fighter 3 / SA-Fighter 3 / Duellist 3. I'm just trying to make a more 'treacherous', dirty tricks warrior.

Think twice before you allow this multiclassing because otherwise you are offering something more powerful than allowing the Fighter to swap out any one bonus feat piecemeal for Sneak Attack.

Can you explain what you mean here?

 

[Rystil Arden]

Can you explain what you mean here?

Basically, allowing the multiclass is slightly (only because of the quick gain at level 1) more powerful than allowing all Fighters to gain the following feat added to their feat selection:

Sneak Attack [Fighter]:

The Fighter gains 1d6 Sneak Attack damage or her existing Sneak Attack damage increases by 1d6.

Special: This feat can only be selected as a Fighter Bonus Feat and cannot be taken in any other fashion

If you wouldn't allow this feat, then think twice about allowing the multiclassing.

 

[Dirigible]

I do allow that feat

Or at least, a more limited version of it (requires some ranks in Hide and Move Silently, and can only be taken a certain number of times).