Multiclassing spellcasters

[Darklone]

Ok, the rule is easy. A dude with two spellcasting classes each at level 1 or higher may take a class a la MT, but with spellcasting advancement like the rogue BAB (one level not, 3 levels yes...).

With three classes like wizard BAB (every second level all classes advance).

What do you think?

Examples: Clr1/Wiz1/blafasel 18: casts both classes as spellcaster level 14.

 

[Purzel]

I like the idea of a (flavorless) auxiliary class, that helps with any case of spellcaster multiclassing. What i'd like to know is, what class abilities, if any, improve over the course of progression? Undead turning? Familiar? Wildchange?

BAB for the class? Worst?
Saves?
Skillpoints? 2+INT
Classskills?

 

[der_kluge]

I was going to try to find an alternate for the multi-class rules for <non-spellcaster>/Sorcerer.

Specifically, one of my players wants a fighter/sorcerer multi-class, but I think he's looking for a minor multi-class for the sorcerer side. And I'm not sure I like the idea of him having to drop his hit dice to d4 every other level to maintain that.

I was thinking of creating a variant rule for him to give him a sorcerer multi-class and retain his current hit dice, saves, and maybe BAB, but with some reduced spell-casting capabilities. He'd have to forego fighter feats, for example, but it might be a more appealing alternative for him, than to take a "full" level of sorcerer. If I come up with something, I'll post it.

 

[Planesdragon]

I was going to try to find an alternate for the multi-class rules for <non-spellcaster>/Sorcerer.

IMC, I allow caster levels to stack (among oodles of other tweaks.) A ranger/sorceror casts better than a fighter/sorceror, for example.

 

[RangerWickett]

IMC, I allow caster levels to stack (among oodles of other tweaks.) A ranger/sorceror casts better than a fighter/sorceror, for example.

The Elements of Magic, by E.N. Publishing, has rules for caster levels stacking. It is a bit more of a radical change, since it lets spellcasters make new spells piece by piece, but you might want to take a look at it.

 

[der_kluge]

Planesdragon, how would you handle something esoteric like a druid/paladin, or a sorcerer/cleric, or a bard/wizard? How would those stack?


This is the variant sorcerer I devised, and the rules associated with it. I would be interested in any thoughts and feedbacks on this.

There are 10 available levels of this Sorcerer. But, it's essentially a core class.

Saves/BAB/HD/Skills: Same as the other class, as if they had increased a level in that class.
Restrictions:
- When taking a level of this class, you do not gain a level in your other class for purposes of class abilities. So, while the BAB, etc, might increase, any special abilities may lag behind.
- This Sorcerer can not summon a familiar.
- The number of Sorcerer levels can never exceed half the total number of class levels. That is a, 10th level character, can't have more than 5 of these sorcerer levels.

	—————— Spells Known —–—————									
Level	0	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1st	4	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	5	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	5	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th	6	2	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
5th	6	3	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
6th	7	3	2	1	—	—	—	—	—	—
7th	7	3	2	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
8th	8	3	3	2	1	—	—	—	—	—
9th	8	4	3	2	2	—	—	—	—	—
10th	9	4	3	3	2	1	—	—	—	—


	————— Spells Per Day —–————									
Level	0	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th
1st	4	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
2nd	5	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
3rd	6	4	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4th	6	4	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
5th	6	5	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
6th	6	5	4	2	—	—	—	—	—	—
7th	6	6	4	3	—	—	—	—	—	—
8th	6	6	5	4	2	—	—	—	—	—
9th	6	6	5	4	3	—	—	—	—	—
10th	6	6	6	5	4	2	—	—	—	—

 

[RangerWickett]

IMC, I allow caster levels to stack (among oodles of other tweaks.) A ranger/sorceror casts better than a fighter/sorceror, for example.

The Elements of Magic, by E.N. Publishing, has rules for caster levels stacking. It is a bit more of a radical change, since it lets spellcasters make new spells piece by piece, but you might want to take a look at it.

 

[Tywyll]

Stacking Levels...

While I don't see a reason to allow a fighter/sorcerer's level's to add together for spell casting purposes (become an eldritch Knight if you want) I do agree that ranger/druids or paladin/clerics should stack their levels of casting.

I took a nod from Arcana Unearthed and allowed Caster level to improve for purposes of Spell Pen, duration, number of targets, etc, but not for spell slots. So, a cleric 5/Paladin 10 has the same number of spells per day as his level suggestes, but they are all cast as a 10th level caster (5 +1/2 *10).

 

[Planesdragon]

Stacking

Planesdragon, how would you handle something esoteric like a druid/paladin, or a sorcerer/cleric, or a bard/wizard? How would those stack?

Each class gives either "given" magic levels (divine), or "taken" magic levels (arcane.) The linchpin of the system is the magical "source" that each character takes (and that determines which of the fourteen schools of magic the character can use)--some are given-only, some are taken-only, and some are taken-or-given. All of a given character's levels that give a particular type of spellcasting stack when they can use the same source.

For example:

A Paladin 4 / Sorceror 6 has 2 given-magic levels from his paladinhood, and 6 taken-magic levels from their inborn sorcorous training. If he takes, oh, the "Divine Light" (given only) and "Dragon-kin" (taken only) sources, he casts as a 2nd level caster with the schools from the Divine Light source, and a 6th level caster from the Dragon-kin source. (And he suffers the drawbacks of both Divine Light and Dragon-kin, plus the "adoption" drawback of the second source he took.)

If this same charcter takes the "Nature's Balance" magical source, he can stack all of his given and taken magic levels, so he casts as an 8th level spellcaster. (Nature's Balance, of course, doesn't give a lot of flashy evocation spells...)


The system (part of my not-D&D-anymore game I call "As Above, So Below") has, IMO, one big advantage over The Elements of Magic--it's very easy to convert extant spells over to use it.

FWIW, my schools, and the slight changes:

First, the eight regular schools:
Evocation (changed to be Sor/Wiz style "raw magic" spells.)
Abjuration
Transmutation
Divination
Conjuration
Illusion
Enchantment
Thatamurgy (new school--for metamagicish / dispel-magic spells)

Next, two holy schools
Benediction (holy magic--Bless, Prayer, Holy Word, etc.)
Healing (all of the healing spells, of course.)

And last, the two unholy schools:
Diabolism (unholy magic, plus the evil healing magic)
Necromancy (just as in the PH.)


If you're interested in more, e-mail me. (Or just respond--I'll keep an eye out.)

 

[Chacal]

While I don't see a reason to allow a fighter/sorcerer's level's to add together for spell casting purposes (become an eldritch Knight if you want) I do agree that ranger/druids or paladin/clerics should stack their levels of casting.

A fighter is getting better at will saves and can have a better spelcraft or knowledge arcana level than a low level wiz/sorc. And a high level wiz10 ftr 1 fights better than a ftr 3-5.
You can rationalize it by saying that levelling increases some aspects that don't belong to your specialty. It can come along with a stronger will and a better ability to resolve puzzles and overcome challenges.


that's your world ¨!


Chacal