Quick question on multiclassing strategy

[Digital Archon]

Ok, if you just want a little bit of one class, say, 4 levels of fighter and plan on filing on another class, would it be best to:

a: take the four levels of fighter first, and then multiclass into something else
b: take a few levels of the primary class, say, 2 or three, and then take the fighter levels for a while and move back
c: split the levels evenly for the first 8 levels (ie primary -> fighter ->primary->fighter etc or vice versa)
d: Something completely different that i haven't thought of

 

[Jack Simth]

Depends on what you are after in your character, the party makeup, and any favored class issues. If the classic roles are already filled by the rest of the party, then do whatever order best suits other considerations; otherwise, focus on a role not otherwise taken first. If neither of your two classes are favored, you pretty much need to keep them even; otherwise, this aspect doesn't matter. If you have a "story" for the character that would indicate a particular trend (such as early training as a wizard, but forsaking study for a time to better survive the hardships life throws your way) then go with the RP; otherwise, don't worry about this aspect.

 

[Kobold Stew]

One thing to consider is which to take as your first level. There are two principal variables here.

1. Hit points. Many play with max hit points at first level. If you know you are making a fighter/rogue, the difference between the d6 and the d10 is significant.

2. For my money, though it does not match the gains in skill points. The skills ytou get at first level are quadrupled; therefore, if I know I am intending on multiclassing, I will almost always take the class with the most skill points first.

Consider a character rogue 1/ Fighter 4 with Int 13.

rogue/fight/fight/fight/fight - 48 skill points
fight/rogue/fight/fight/fight - 30 skill points

The difference is huge, and more than offsets the avg. 2 hit point difference.

If rogue, ranger, bard (even barb) are in your build, take that at level 1. There is really no reason for your first level to be fighter.

Hope this helps.

 

[the Jester]

It won't be 2 hp, though, it'll be 4 hp.

 

[Digital Archon]

One thing to consider is which to take as your first level. There are two principal variables here.

1. Hit points. Many play with max hit points at first level. If you know you are making a fighter/rogue, the difference between the d6 and the d10 is significant.

2. For my money, though it does not match the gains in skill points. The skills ytou get at first level are quadrupled; therefore, if I know I am intending on multiclassing, I will almost always take the class with the most skill points first.

Consider a character rogue 1/ Fighter 4 with Int 13.

rogue/fight/fight/fight/fight - 48 skill points
fight/rogue/fight/fight/fight - 30 skill points

The difference is huge, and more than offsets the avg. 2 hit point difference.

If rogue, ranger, bard (even barb) are in your build, take that at level 1. There is really no reason for your first level to be fighter.

Hope this helps.

It jelps big time, Thanks.

It won't be 2 hp, though, it'll be 4 hp.

Actually, you're both right. On a roll for HP, the average difference is 2 (3.5 vs 5.5). On a "max HP at first level build", it's 4.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

It won't be 2 hp, though, it'll be 4 hp.

Actually, it's a two hit point difference after level 1. Taking fighter at first level gives you four more hit points than you'd otherwise have at that level. However, taking rogue at 2nd level gives you two fewer hit points than you would have had if you'd taken fighter.

All of the examples below exclude Con (which would add evenly, assuming it remained constant across the board).

max at 1st level then 1/2+1
Ftr 1/Rog 1: 14 hp (10+4)
Rog 1/Ftr 1: 12 hp (6+6)

Average hit points:
Ftr 1/Rog 8: 38hp
Rog 1/Ftr 1/Rog 7: 36hp

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Multiclassing as a fighter.

1. If you're ever going to take a class with more than 2 skill points per level, it's usually a good idea to take it first.

2. If, on the other hand, you're going to take only classes with 2 skill points per level, it's often a good idea to go for the better starting hit points.

3. If you plan on having your primary role in the party be fighting, it's usually good to start off by doing that.

For instance:
Ftr 4/Wiz 6 and Wiz 6/Ftr 4 both get the same number of skill points. The difference is that the second character has three fewer hit points.

OTOH: Ftr 4/Rog 6 and Rog 6/Ftr 4 have a difference of two hit points but 18 skill points and the skill list that controls the distribution of their initial skill points.

On consideration 3, your character will generally select his 1st level feats and stats with an eye to what he'll be doing in the future. If your fighter/wizard starts play as a wizard with Power Attack and Cleave and a higher strength than int, he's going to be very tough to play effectively until he reaches level 2 and can start using good weapons and armor.

The upshot of it all is this:

Fighter/ Rogue, Bard, Ranger, Druid, Barbarian, or Monk? Start as the non-fighter part. You'll benefit from the extra skill points much more than one or two hit points.

Fighter/ Wizard, sorcerer, or cleric? Start as a fighter. The extra hit point won't hurt and starting out with the weapon and armor you eventually want to grow into enables you to buy/use masterwork stuff at first level without worrying about losing money when you sell it or having to adopt a radically different strategy at first level than throughout the rest of your career.

Fighter/Paladin? It depends primarily on whether you want to take Paladin the rest of the way. In that case, you have to take Paladin first. (And if you want 16 levels of paladin, you probably don't want to start multiclassing at level 17--a few feats would not make up for losing smite evil, mount, and lay on hands progression). If you're only in Paladin for a few levels, though, it comes down to which skill list you like better. What's more important, Intimidate (Ftr), or Sense Motive/Diplomacy/Knowledge: Religion/Knowledge: Nobility and Royalty (Pal)

 

[Particle_Man]

One thing to consider: There is only one point at which you get two bonus feats right after each other and that is fighter 1/fighter 2. So if you are a human you could take "whatever has a BAB of +1 per level" for three levels, and take Dodge and Mobility at 1st, Combat Expertise at 3rd. Then take fighter at 4th and 5th to take Spring Attack (can't be taken before one has a +4 BAB) and Whirlwind attack. This is the only way to get a Whirlwind Attack by 5th level.

If the "other" class doesn't have a +1 BAB per level, then this maneuver can be delayed until the "other" class has a +3 BAB (4th level for rogues, 6th level for wizards) and then switch to fighter and get the whirlwind attack reasonably quickly.

But that is for a very specialized maneuver.

Note that Fighter 2/Psychic Warrior 2 gets you 4 bonus feats in 4 levels.