"Playtest PH3 Dual Classing"

[Daniel D. Fox]

Dual classing, multiclassing, bleh. I'd handle it on a per tier basis; level 1-10 as one class, level 11-20 as another class, level 21-30 as the third class.

 

[pawsplay]

What if dual class characters were a class unto themselves?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

with a different progression... interesting... could actually work... it depends how flexible this class may be and how restrictive...

 

[Scribble]

What if dual class characters were a class unto themselves?

Maybe sonmething like choose two classes as you gain new powers you essentially flip back and forth between them.

IE the first encounter power has to be your first class, then the second encounter power you get is the second class?

So you might be like 1st level Warlock/Rogue

At-Will 1: Warlock
At-Will 2: Rogue

Encounter 1: Warlock

Daily 1: Warlock

And then when you get to 5th level you would have:

At-Will 1: Warlock
At-Will 2: Rogue

Encounter 1: Warlock
Encounter 2: Rogue

Daily 1: Warlock
Daily 2: Rogue

Utility 1: Warlock

Not sure what it would mean to the other stuff though... (skills and basic class functions.)

 

[EP]

Maybe sonmething like choose two classes as you gain new powers you essentially flip back and forth between them.

IE the first encounter power has to be your first class, then the second encounter power you get is the second class?

That seems the easiest and most likely. Kinda one of those "so simple, why didn't they think of it sooner" things.

 

[Toben the Many]

Hmm. If this is like 1st and 2nd ed, a way in which you can stop advancing in your current class, and change your primary focus, while retaining some skills from your old class, I'll be very happy. That's one big hole in the current ruleset that really needs patching.

Agreed. There should be a way for the game to express a character who has a "change of heart" or revelation which causes them to go in a different direction.

 

[erf_beto]

That seems the easiest and most likely. Kinda one of those "so simple, why didn't they think of it sooner" things.

Actually, I think they did. I'm not sure about the where, when, who or why, but I remember seeing some designer in a thread around here talking about building a class like that. Perhaps it was in a discussion about a 4e implementation of that 3e class that could accomplish everything (I wanna say factotum, but... is that real?).

 

[rgard]

What if dual class characters were a class unto themselves?

That would make sense. For all it's flaws I think Palladium FRP did that with some of the blended classes and they came up with some fun ones back in the day.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[ppaladin123]

I wonder how they'd balance class features as opposed to powers.

Imagine a fighter with the warden's auto-marking ability and font of life or a paladin who simultaneously had up an aegis of shielding and a divine challenge.

How about a rogue with the warlock's shadow walk? A wizard with permanent swordmage warding? An invoker with the orb of imposition?

Only some of these features are currently available through feats and they often require paragon multi-classing.

There are a lot of class features and they may interact in completely unexpected ways.

Can't wait to see what this playtest is all about.

 

[RyvenCedrylle]

It seems that a 'dual-class' character has to be its own thing somehow. I mean, if it's just flat-out BETTER to dual-class than multi-class (given that only the Bard can truly MULTI-class; everyone else is really only dual-classing anyway) then WotC has essentially invalidated a major portion of its current ruleset. And what kind of feat investment would it be if it's not a core "class" somehow? We're already paying four for maximum multiclassing.

(Insert snarky remark or power creep alarm of your choice)

My guess is like pawsplay's - a 'dual class' is its own template. In multiclassing, you sacrifice balance between the two classes for flexibilty of power choice. In dual-classing, I suspect you sacrifice power choice for class balance. Some powers won't be accessible to dual-classed characters.