D&D General Multiclassing Shouldn't be Treated as the Default

[MichaelSomething]

But how can 5E have Warlords without Fighter/Bard multi classing???

 

[James Gasik]

But how can 5E have Warlords without Fighter/Bard multi classing???

SHH! 5e isn't supposed to have Warlords!

 

[el-remmen]

I like multiclassing in a narrative way because I like long campaigns where in-game events influence the choices players make about their character advancement, not a pre-determined build concept. I am not knocking that approach, it just has never been one common to my circles. I like to think of it as, "At this time of his life, Waldorf the Wizard decided he was going to practice martial skills should he ever be cursed to lose his magic again!" or something, because of some adventure we had, and I take a few levels of fighter.

But I know that style of play frustrates some people who want everyone to be optimized.

Like I have had this idea kicking around for a while to play a Ranger/Wizard. I have no idea if these classes that work well together mechanically, I just want to play a person with that life trajectory and go on adventures. I don't need a specific rangery-wizard class. Maybe because my groups tend not to optimize that we have never had a problem with multiclassing.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Multiclassing is a traditional part of D&D that has been part of the game since 1st edition. You can’t remove it (or deliberately break it) any more than you can remove rangers.

 

[Horwath]

simple idea would be to replace multiclassing with less fixed class features and more feat slots for every class.
90% of subclas abilities can be feats, same with base class abilities.

with more feat slots, players can choose to have more general feats or will they "steal" features of other classes.
put class(and subclass) features at levels: 1,2,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19 and 20 and feat slots at levels 1,2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20.

 

[CleverNickName]

A relatively minor complaint I have about 5th edition is having to wait until third level to get my subslcass. In a few of the D&D campaigns I've run, players have wanted to skip to level three because "that's when it gets fun." One of the reasons we wait until third level to get our subclass is to avoid encouraging players to multiclass by dipping their toes into various classes to get those abilities at level one.

I let my players choose their subclass at 1st level, if they don't already get to. I let the player pick some kind of minor boon for their character that fits the flavor of the subclass (nothing more powerful than a Background feature, Language, or Tool proficiency), give it to them at 1st level, and call it good.

I don't allow multiclassing in my campaigns...I find it to be more trouble than it's worth. The good news is that it's optional, as you said.

 

[Stormonu]

While I kind of hate multiclassing, and it goes against the whole idea of a class-based system...

In 5e, martial classes easily have no choices to make after lv3 if they don't multiclass, so it's kind of necessary for them, just to feel like there is a decision point every level.

Feats are still a choice, so that's a lie.

 

[Horwath]

I don't allow multiclassing in my campaigns...I find it to be more trouble than it's worth. The good news is that it's optional, as you said.

only multiclass that I like would be even split, but that is really awful in 5e, maybe if levels for Extra attack stack, martials could got away with it as in 3.5e with base attack bonus,

we played with version of multiclass where you are even split between 2 classes but on levels 5,8,11,14,17 and 20 you get 2 class levels instead of one, you still get only one increase of HPs(alternating between lower and higher HP gain), HDs and proficiency bonus.

I.E: fighter wizard at 20th level would have features of 13th level fighter and 13th level wizard, but still be 20th level total with +6 proficiency bonus and HPs of 10th level fighter and 10th level wizard.
with one extra limit, cannot have 2 full spellcasters multiclass.

 

[Theory of Games]

A relatively minor complaint I have about 5th edition is having to wait until third level to get my subslcass.

"Wait until 3rd level"? In fifth edition? So waiting a whopping 900 X.P. is now a problem?

 

[CreamCloud0]

i dislike multiclassing because it's a hideously clunky implementation and causes class design to need to be far too careful about potentially unexpected combinations, though i'm more than fine with subclasses all being at 3rd,

but if it was removed i would still desire for there to be a better system to combine archetypes, perhaps if subclasses were built to be more interchangeable and feats contained bigger design space to pick up individual pieces from other classes.

so i could build an Oath of Vengance Rogue and pick up Rage as a feat, or a Circle of the Land Sorcerer with a Pact of the Chain familiar.