Multiclassing, Paths, Destinies, and Name Level

[I'm A Banana]

Here's a little bit of rampant speculation.

It has been said that Paragon Paths and Epic Destinies are things that you get in addition to, not instead of, your basic class abilities. So you may become a spymaster without ever stopping to be a rogue, and you may become a weapon master without ever stopping to be a fighter. You'll get your base class abilities, AND the abilities from your paths and destinies.

Now, because every character will basically be taking advantage of these, this seems to resemble "name level" from earlier editions. You get to level 10, your Wizard suddenly gets a special title, a special focus, and now there are abilities related to your new title.

It seems like this would be one good way to implement multiclassing. When you reach Paragon level, your Paragon Path becomes a new class. You keep advancing as a Wizard, plus you get the Rogue abilities, or the Fighter abilities, much in the same way that your cleric friend gets his Radiant Servant of Pelor abilities (or somesuch).

The advantage of this is now that you're not doing two things at half effectiveness. Your ability to be a rogue doesn't make you a weaker wizard. You're still all the Controller you need to be at your level, you just also have a sprinkling of Striker. You're not 100% Rogue, and you might not be doing all the wizardy things you'd be doing if you were an Archmage or a Spellsword or somesuch, but you're doing rogue things instead.

So, here's the rampant speculation: Perhaps, instead of simple level-by-level multiclassing, multiclass characters will be a high-level option, to be taken instead of Paragon Paths or Epic Destinies. Would this be a good idea? Or do you think that people who want to be fighter/wizards will want to be it from level 2 on?

 

[JohnSnow]

We've been told that 4e supports Multiclassing of any class, any level, and any combination. So i highly doubt that they're going to make it work the way you think.

On the other hand, I like the idea of equating Paragon Paths with name level. You might have something of a point.

 

[Xethreau]

I am not sure what the OP means, but I could see it being listed something like this:

Level: 23
Class: Fighter
Path: Weapon Specialist
Destiny: Epic Hero

Because you know the level, you would be able to assess how many of what the character had, and what benefits of the paths and destinies he had unlocked.

Supposing 'multiclassing' is "Unlockable" by taking training feats, then an additional class would not have to be listed in the class section, and would be self explanatory when feats are looked at.

 

[Nikosandros]

Well, paths aren't limited to a single class, but I'm fairly positive that there will be a system to begin multiclassing much earlier.

What I'm still unclear on is whether the various [class_name] training feats are the actual mechanics to multiclass or if those represents a lighter approach to "true" multiclassing.

 

[bonethug0108]

What I'm still unclear on is whether the various [class_name] training feats are the actual mechanics to multiclass or if those represents a lighter approach to "true" multiclassing.

That is the same question that burns inside me.

I like alot of what is said in this thread. All good speculation.

 

[Intrope]

I am not sure what the OP means, but I could see it being listed something like this:

Level: 23
Class: Fighter
Path: Weapon Specialist
Destiny: Epic Hero

Because you know the level, you would be able to assess how many of what the character had, and what benefits of the paths and destinies he had unlocked.

Supposing 'multiclassing' is "Unlockable" by taking training feats, then an additional class would not have to be listed in the class section, and would be self explanatory when feats are looked at.

This looks a lot like how Saga Prestige classes worked, too. Several of them effectively formed three-part setups like that (Jedi/Jedi Knight/Jedi Master especially).

And IIRC we've seen a playtest report with a 6th level Warlord who multi'd into Warlock. So, I don't think multiclassing is coupled to Paths/Destinys.