multiclassing idea

[Saeviomagy]

4 stat points will just mean that a character's lowest stats will get a little lower. A 12 will become a 10 and a 10 will become an 8 most of the time.

In exchange for that, you get 2 extra at wills and the best armor. Expect lots of one-dimensional rogue/rangers, invoker/clerics, X/shaman (because at-will spirit companions are pretty ludicrous) etc. etc.

Seriously - the hybrid rules do what you want and so far the optimization board hasn't broken them in any serious way, while at the same time they make a decent showing. That tends to suggest that they're more-or-less balanced.

 

[aco175]

I recall a 3pp making a 3rd edition class listing with point buys for each feature and for things like starting HP and for what types of armor they started with. I would like to see something like this for 4E and could see what class is getting the most power compared to the others. Granted it is a bit slanted by the writer, but overall fair and balanced.

Another point I have been seeing in 4e is just to make classes that act as multiclassed characters. Want a fighter/mage, play a swordmage. You could really just take a combonation you want and rename it with some of the same and some new powers. Want a mage/thief, decide if you want more thief or more mage and go from there. As a DM, I would want part in the power picking of my players, but generally trust them to make each fair to the others.

 

[Argyle King]

So, could I lower one ability by 4 and gain the benefits of this rule?

If so, what stops a player from choosing an ability which does not hurt him? For some classes, having INT 4 or CHA 4 wouldn't matter.

 

[OSEZNO]

So, could I lower one ability by 4 and gain the benefits of this rule?

If so, what stops a player from choosing an ability which does not hurt him? For some classes, having INT 4 or CHA 4 wouldn't matter.

4 int or 4 cha wouldn't matter? Mechanically, in combat, maybe not. But every out of combat experience would be an uphill battle

Int 4: "UHGGHGGHGA..."
Cha 4: "Everything I say is detestable and I'm hideous! Tra la la..."

Edit: But I think the OP's idea was to lower the amount of points available to you for point-buy, not to lower a stat by x.

 

[KahnyaGnorc]

How about this:

-Double the powers everyone gets (4 At-Will, 2 Enc, 2 Dailies at 1st level, 2 every level that gives 1). Multiclass characters just split them. (Having some PCs with twice the power selection as others seems too broken)

-Balancing class features would be tougher, so I'd say start with the hybrid features for multiclass and work from there.