D&D 4E Multiclassing in 4E

[arcanaman]

I can't find the page right now while you can absorb current abilities from

other classes you can't wholely take on a second class can you?

 

[Kordeth]

No. You can choose to give up a paragon path to gain more abilities from your second class, but you cannot be, for example, a "fighter 5/wizard 4." Multiclassing is described on pp. 208-209.

 

[smallkiwi]

Also there are power swap feats which allow you to replace a power from your first class with a power of equal or lesser level from any multiclass you have the feat for. Basically multiclassing works through feats and power replacement.

 

[arcanaman]

thank you it's not as good as in 3E but it's different

 

[The Little Raven]

thank you it's not as good as in 3E but it's different

That's intentional. 3e's "pick and choose" multiclassing kinda defeated the purpose of a class-based system (which is to provide strong archetypes that are distinct from eachother), and also resulted in characters that were either subpar in either role or were ridiculously overpowered. The new system is more a representation of you being primarily one thing, and dabbling in another.

 

[arcanaman]

That's something I neverf thought of before but couldn't there be a mid

ground for it ?

 

[sukael]

That's something I neverf thought of before but couldn't there be a mid

ground for it ?

That's what specific hybrid classes, like paladin (cleric + fighter) or the upcoming swordmage (wizard + fighter) are for.

 

[The Little Raven]

That's something I neverf thought of before but couldn't there be a mid ground for it ?

There could be. We'll find out as the edition progresses, since so many people will be doing wrench work on it.

Personally, I'm not very happy with paragon multiclassing, so I intend to work on an alternative.

 

[N0Man]

On the other hand, you couldn't be a level 1 Figher/Wizard in 3E either. You were always a pure class at level 1, then half and half at level 2. 4E starts you full as one class, with a small fraction of a 2nd class added in.

 

[Lurker37]

There could be. We'll find out as the edition progresses, since so many people will be doing wrench work on it.

Personally, I'm not very happy with paragon multiclassing, so I intend to work on an alternative.

As I understand it, the powers gained from paragon multiclassing can be swapped out for higher level powers from the secondary class as you level up, just as powers from the power swap feats can be. i.e. without it counting as your retraining pick for that level. (I read that from post quoting a customer service response, so yes, it is open to debate until it hits the FAQ.)

If that is true, then paragon multiclassing is pretty close to a 50-50 split. The price of such splitting is not getting a paragon path, but I expect that the fact that the powers can scale up in level would compensate for that.