Paragon Multiclassing Questions

[Torquin Trebuchet]

As a way to get familiar with the character creation rules, I've been building a high level multi-class Fighter/Warlock. Now, the first problem is that it's not entirely clear what a multi-class warlock gets as his or her very first multi-class encounter power - depending on where you look, it might be eldrich blast or might be a pact power. Once it seemed it would be the curse.

But, leaving that aside, the Paragon Path step is even fuzzier. There is some evidence that you give up choosing a Paragon Path at all in exchange for the right to swap an at-will power, and then choose three more multi-class powers as you level up. This would mean that you lose out on getting 3 paragon path features. However, there is also evidence to suggest that you actually chose a Paragon Path from your new class. This in itself leads to new problems, as a character who multies into Warlock doesn't have the ability to curse, and many of the warlock paragon path features involve manipulating your curse in some way.

So...I'm just not sure how it's intended to work. Balance-wise, trading three paragon path features for the right to switch an at-will seems pretty steep. On the other hand, taking a paragon path from another class seems to bring up unworkable inconsistencies in some cases.

Anyone have any thought on this conundrum?

 

[LightPhoenix]

You actually have a choice:

1) Choose a PP from your original class (ie, Fighter in this case).

2) Choose a PP from the class you have your multiclass feat in (ie, Warlock). Note that you don't have to take any other feats other than the initial multiclass feat.

3) If you take the three "Power" feats, you can choose the option to forego a PP and instead take powers from your multiclass (ie, Warlock powers). You gain an Encounter power at 11th, a Utility at 12th, and a Daily at 20th. There are from the highest available category at the time, so a 7th-level Encounter, a 10th-level Utility, and a 19th-level Daily.

 

[Samurai]

As a way to get familiar with the character creation rules, I've been building a high level multi-class Fighter/Warlock. Now, the first problem is that it's not entirely clear what a multi-class warlock gets as his or her very first multi-class encounter power - depending on where you look, it might be eldrich blast or might be a pact power. Once it seemed it would be the curse.

But, leaving that aside, the Paragon Path step is even fuzzier. There is some evidence that you give up choosing a Paragon Path at all in exchange for the right to swap an at-will power, and then choose three more multi-class powers as you level up. This would mean that you lose out on getting 3 paragon path features. However, there is also evidence to suggest that you actually chose a Paragon Path from your new class. This in itself leads to new problems, as a character who multies into Warlock doesn't have the ability to curse, and many of the warlock paragon path features involve manipulating your curse in some way.

So...I'm just not sure how it's intended to work. Balance-wise, trading three paragon path features for the right to switch an at-will seems pretty steep. On the other hand, taking a paragon path from another class seems to bring up unworkable inconsistencies in some cases.

Anyone have any thought on this conundrum?

Multiclassing at the Paragon level seems not to have been playtested, or else it was massivly slighted as a way of discouraging it, I'm not sure which (or maybe it's both...)

You have the option of choosing either to multiclass into the base class (and indeed lose 3 Paragon abilities compared to other paths), or you may choose a Paragon Path from either your base class or your multiclass's lists. As you noted, several of the Paragon Paths require abilities that multiclass characters don't get (the Ranger and Warlock being the main offenders here). Check out the 4e house rules board for some solutions to these problems, so that both choices are fair and viable.

 

[Vempyre]

I'm not sure what you've been reading but the rules are very clear on what you get and what you don't.

 

[Torquin Trebuchet]

Well, that does seem to cover it. Hadn't occurred to me that you could choose the other PP so easily, but as I look back over that interpretation seems very good.

As to what I'm reading, I assume it's the same illicit material that everyone else is ; ) In my version, under the multi-classing page, the Pact Initiate gets one power in the text, and another in the chart.

 

[Vempyre]

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4ex/20080430a

Pact Initiate
Cha 13
Warlock: skill training, pact at-will 1/encounter

That one?

Ether or not it's what's in book I will know in 3 days. I don't have access to the feat description to see if it matches the excerpt's table and don't want to, th ebooks are to be here soon anyway. Ppl are all talking about what they seem to have seen in their "pdf"s before even seeing the real books. Wait until the real books are in your hands and if it still doesn't match (description vs table) as you say, then WotC will certainly put up a fast errata about that.