One-level-only multiclassing

[Ravellion]

The main problem with taking one level of a psionic class is psychic combat. Having 0-1 defense modes and almost no powerpoints makes this character extremely vulnerable to psionic attacks now that their mind is 'open'.

Of course, the two groups I play in are yet to use psionic combat (other than the occasional mind blast) and we have had a few psions and psychic warrior characters.

Heh, I forgot that I removed psionic combat entirely. The thing is, no psion in his right mind rolleyes: ) will use Psionic Combat. It just takes too long, so you'll get completely pummeled by the fighters in the opposing party if you do engage in PsiCombat. (Killing/disabling someone with psionic combat takes at least 5 rounds, if you are very, very lucky - now look at the range you need to be for Psi-combat... hmmm.)

In fact, I had a 3rd level goblin psion engage in Psionic combat with my friend's 3rd level shaper. My friend ignored psionic combat, and proceeded to open a can of whupass with his shortspear and +1 BAB... and he won easily

Rav

 

[Chun-tzu]

For a war wizard, one level of cleric works nicely to get armor proficiencies, martial weapon proficiency (if you take the War domain), domain powers, a boost to Fort save, and access to healing wands. Armored wizards are do-able in many different ways. Some prestige classes, like Spellsword, reduce ASF. There are also d20 feats that do the same. In Book of Eldritch Might II, there's magic armor that reduces ASF. Or, if you're a war wizards that uses wands and staves, ASF doesn't apply.

For high-level rogues, I like wizard better than any other spellcaster. A high-level character can easily afford to scribe a ton of 1st level spells into her spellbook, and so the character has far more options than a Sorcerer or Psion.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

one level of cleric works nicely to get armor proficiencies, martial weapon proficiency (if you take the War domain), domain powers, a boost to Fort save, and access to healing wands.

i had forgotten about that last one

one level of cleric allows the use of any spell trigger item a cleric could use, since it would appear on the cleric's spell list

 

[d12]

wizard

I have player that is building a character toward arcane archer. He's currently a montecook ranger 5/ deepwood sniper 2 and just took 1 level of wizard [since arcane archers have to able to cast 1st level arcane spells] . Now this character can do 40 points of damage with a single shot on occasion and routinely does 35 points of damage in a round. When he took his wizard level I thought to myslef "Okay, now this will basically be a wasted level and the characters in the party can catch up a little bit to this monstrosity." Wrong. He took his level in diviner which gives him 2 True Strikes per day and he took a toad familiar which gives him +2 to his Con. So, his wizard level, in effect, gave him more hit points than he has gotten from any other single level. Grr!

But I can't complain - he's doing it all by the rules. That toad WILL fry in a fireball one of these days and the character still has poor will saves.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I always thought that taking a single level of one other class is a bit of cheat really...

Unless you do the work and role-play it in. I mean, take the classic ranger1/fighter...how many of these characters actually justify the favoured enemy bonus, two weapon fighting, etc etc?

I've nothing against people that back up these decisions with background and roleplaying, but when it's done for pure munchkininess it annoys me a wee bit.

PS: With all that said, in one campaing I'm playing a Rogue2 that heading for fighter and eventually Duelist, so who am I to talk?

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

Heh, I forgot that I removed psionic combat entirely. The thing is, no psion in his right mind rolleyes: ) will use Psionic Combat.

Rav

At higher levels, it becomes powerful again. Especially with all of those feats, extra PPs to blow, and you target an obviously weak ability score. (Strength for mages/Charisma for fighters etc...)

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

The most popular one-level multiclass by far is ranger,

*shameless plug* I attempted to fix this by combining the Ranger and Barbarian classes. Check the House Rules section for my work */shameless plug*

 

[MavrickWeirdo]

Re: wizard

When he took his wizard level I thought to myslef "Okay, now this will basically be a wasted level and the characters in the party can catch up a little bit to this monstrosity." Wrong. He took his level in diviner which gives him 2 True Strikes per day

only 2 True Strikes? He should get 1 casting for being a 1st level wizard, 1 bonus casting for being a specialist, and 1 bonus casting if his Int is 12 or more. That would give him 3 True strikes/day (be glad he didn't take Sorcerer, then he would get 4 castings/day).

 

[JoeBlank]

Taking one level of a class can make sense when it fits the character concept too. I am playing a dwarf wizard with one level of fighter, as he was raised by dwarves to fight. Works great min/max wise too, as you lose nothing in skill points, and gain 6 hp by starting as a fighter.

This was more beneficial at lower levels, as he could jump into melee when he had no useful spells, or wanted to save his spells for bigger problems. Now he is close to getting 3d level spells, and is using magic more than weapons. I know he is a level behind in spells. Still, it is good for a dwarf to know he can slap on a chain shirt, grab his warhammer, and hold his own in a fight.

For some good ideas on using a race's favored class in multi-classing, see the prestige classes in Bad Axe's Heroes of High Favor series.

 

[incognito]

If you stared at first level, and had exposure to the class you take a single level of - I have no problem, no mattre what is selected.

It when you have an adventuring partywho reaches mid to high level, and some one dies and comes back as some horrible Ranger1/barbarian1/Sorcerer1/Rogue N that I have a problem with it.

In my current party I have a player that insistsed on playing a Cleric who focused on mid control spells (hold person, that sort of thing), and wanted to start with a level of Babarian - oh - and Worship Pelor...