Option to Encouraging Multi-classing

[RogerBacon]

In the games I’ve played (3rd edition) there has been a strong preference for single classed characters, and prestige classes that ‘stack’ with that single class, to multi-classed ones. For example, everyone I play with would rather have a 10th level character than a 5th/5th. It is even more pronounced at higher levels. Sometimes they may take 1 or 2 levels in fighter but that’s about it.

To try and encourage multiclassing I’ve altered the experience system a bit. A multiclass character still requires the same amount of experience to go up to the next level, but he GAINS experience as if her were a slightly lower level.

For a character of X/X level he gains experience as if he were X+2 level. Thus our 5th level Wizard, 5th level cleric gains experience as if he were 7th level.

Also, since the 5th/5th isn’t perceived as strong as at 10th level character, I’m thinking of using the same system when determining the CR of the encounters. What does everyone think about this?

Roger Bacon

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

How much exp would a 7/3 character gain?

 

[Crothian]

I don't know, the 10/10 character will get experience as a 12 level character but the 20th level single class character will get XP a snormal. So the multi classed guy will get a lot more XP.

Also, how would you handle a character of 7/5 or other combinations of uneven level.

Why do you want to encourage multi classed levels? Perhaps that reason can help with giving it an advantage.

 

[RogerBacon]

How much exp would a 7/3 character gain?

For characters of X/Y level, where Y is less than or equal to X or X is less than or equal to Y, we count them as X+1 or Y+1, whichever is higher.

So, in your example, that character would earn experience as an 8th level character.

Roger Bacon

 

[RogerBacon]

Why do you want to encourage multi classed levels? Perhaps that reason can help with giving it an advantage.

In our games NO ONE was multiclassing more than one or two levels. To me, that means the system is unbalanced. Even with this adjustment, less than half of the players are multiclassing.

The weaker power of a multiclass character doesn’t show up much at lower levels but it becomes apparent at higher levels. Not many people would want to take their 7th/7th fighter/wizard up against a 14th level wizard…at least not in our games.

If your experiences are different, feel free to post.

Roger Bacon

 

[Spatzimaus]

Don't do it.

Multiclass characters are strong. In many ways, they're better than pureclass. However, an even split (5/5) is almost never a good idea.

Spellcasters lose too much by multiclassing heavily. It's been said before, a Fighter 4/Wizard 4 casts as a 4th level person, but fights like a 6th level. Fighter types lose less by multiclassing; their BAB still increases, their HPs still increase, etc.
So, if you're planning on playing a spellcaster, taking one or two levels of a melee class can be a very good idea (armor and weapons, for example) but more than that hurts your spellcasting too much.

If you're playing a melee type, you have very little motivation NOT to multiclass. A Fighter 8 is inferior to a Fighter 4/Barbarian 1/Ranger 1/Rogue 2 (assuming Human, Half-Elf, or Dwarf). He loses one attack bonus, two Feats, and one hit point, but gains improved speed, Track, rage 1/day, Improved Evasion, Favored Enemy 1, 2-weapon and Ambidexterity, 1d6 sneak damage, Uncanny Dodge, and has far more skills. Oh, and instead of 6/2/2 for base saves he'll be 8/4/1.

It really depends on your views on party death. Players who stick to a pure class tend to sacrifice flexibility (i.e., covering your weaknesses) to maximize one aspect of their character. This tends to make them more vulnerable.

 

[RogerBacon]

Yeah, the fighter10/Ranger10 gaining experience like a 12th level character would definitely be a problem. Such a character is very close in capability to a 20th level fighter or a 20th level ranger. I guess the more disparity between the two classes the more it hurts to multiclass. As an example, the wizard and the fighter are very far apart and the 10/10 split there seems to hurt a lot more.

Perhaps the experience benefit should only be offered when the classes have different base attack progression tables or when one is a spell-user.

Roger Bacon

 

[cerberus2112]

Many factors go into decinding to multiclass or not. In one of my games, we had a group of five regular players; the Sorcerer was pure Sorcerer, but the Rogue became a Rogue/Wizard and was able to sneak and climb better than a pure Rogue (he also was able to determine that he was stronger then Blue Slaad, but not stronger than Green Slaad, when he got slapped with a Slaad tatoo. Yeah, it was a Planescape conversion). The disparity in power levels always depends on what you are measuring. That Rogue/Wizard could tumble about like nobody's business (especially once he'd made himself glvoes of dexterity +4), turn invisible, spiderclimb, and run real fast (made boots of springing and striding for himself too). Was he the best spellcaster around? No. But he was the best rogue around for miles, with a lightning bolt alpha strike to boot.
If you have only four players, you probably won't see as much multiclassing as if you have five; you _need_ a cleric, a fighter, a thief and a wizard to play D&D (player perception more than reality). WIth five or six players, there is room to try out a little bit more, without worrying about total party kill because you can't cast a fireball at fifth level (trolls, I hate trolls!).

 

[Destil]

Ignore the standard multiclassing XP rules, and grant a 5% bonus to XP for any charachter who has levels in his race's prefered class as well as at least 1 other class. A far simpler and less problamitic solution.

 

[gpetruc]

you can remove freely the XP penality: in SW d20 there isn't, and nobody cares about it.
But I think that it wouldn't be enought.
Another idea might be counting the levels in all the other classes except the highest one as if they were half.
so a Ftr 4/Rgr 2 needs 5000 XP to level up and not 6000

Bout watch out that common things like Brb X/Ftr Y or Rgr X/Ftr Y are actually not much less powerful that the straight Ftr Z or Rgr Z or Brb Z. (Actually most minmaxed rangers are Rgr 1/Ftr x), and so they won't need XP bonuses.

For multiclassed spellcaster, instead, they will need big bonuses to be not heavily underpowered.