Rich Baker on Paladin Mounts and Multiclassing

[Roman]

Leaning toward? Shouldn't this be figured out by now?

It probably is, but Rich Baker preceded the quote with a statement on how he does not want to pre-empt official previews.

As for multi-classing, I suspect that there is no restriction because there is no multi-classing. Not in the 3E sense of the word. I think there will be class training feats/talents taking the place of multiclass.

I agree. The indications seem to be that 'traditional' multiclassing is gone and once a character class is chosen, the character stays with that class indefinitely, but can dabble into other classes through class training feats or talents or perhaps even paragon paths/epic destinies.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Something there worries me alot....


He didn't suggest it being a talent.

He said Paragon path, or feat selection, but didn't suggest making it a talent. I havn't seen anything that confirmed Talents are in. And that worries me, I like talents I think they are a far better mechanic than static class abilities. I hope they're using them.

I definitely think talents are out. I get the impression that they've decided to go the "more classes" route rather than a lot of variation within the classes.

This actually provide two benefits:
-Easier to balance a class that doesn't change in power heavily based on which talents you take
-Easier to make a clear role for a class when there are less choices to make

My current theory on this issue is that we'll still see class abilities on some levels but that the classes are HEAVILY defined by their Powers.

So, for instance, at level 3 as a Paladin you might get the choice of "Stunning Smite" as a per encounter Power or "Healing Smite" or "Protecting Smite" and you get to choose whether you want to stun the enemies when you attack or heal your allies or add AC to your allies. Since you will be using powers almost every round, your choice affects what type of Paladin you are playing.

It also prevents you from gimping you character by making "bad" choices. No matter which of those powers you take, you'll be good at fighting just different. With Talents, it is possible to choose "great diplomat" or "great disarmer" over "better at weapons".

 

[Moon_Goddess]

I definitely think talents are out. I get the impression that they've decided to go the "more classes" route rather than a lot of variation within the classes.

This actually provide two benefits:
-Easier to balance a class that doesn't change in power heavily based on which talents you take
-Easier to make a clear role for a class when there are less choices to make

My current theory on this issue is that we'll still see class abilities on some levels but that the classes are HEAVILY defined by their Powers.

So, for instance, at level 3 as a Paladin you might get the choice of "Stunning Smite" as a per encounter Power or "Healing Smite" or "Protecting Smite" and you get to choose whether you want to stun the enemies when you attack or heal your allies or add AC to your allies. Since you will be using powers almost every round, your choice affects what type of Paladin you are playing.

It also prevents you from gimping you character by making "bad" choices. No matter which of those powers you take, you'll be good at fighting just different. With Talents, it is possible to choose "great diplomat" or "great disarmer" over "better at weapons".

I certainly hope your very wrong.

 

[Klaus]

I hope they add "dragon" as an option. I'd love to play a character like Eragon.

 

[GreatLemur]

We're leaning toward making paladin mounts optional, not a built-in part of the class. So you might gain access to a cool mount by deciding to take the right paragon path or spending the appropriate feat. Paladin players who don't want the complexity of a mount can avoid it easily enough, but those who do want the mount can still make the decisions to get a unique mount.

Paladin multiclassing restrictions are gone.

Man, it's about time. On both counts.

Seriously, did anyone ever actually observe the Paladin and Monk multiclassing restrictions? Or, for that matter, multiclassing experience penalties? I should start a poll...

I definitely think talents are out. I get the impression that they've decided to go the "more classes" route rather than a lot of variation within the classes.

I'm with DarwinofMind. This would disappoint me tremendously.

I hope they add "dragon" as an option. I'd love to play a character like Eragon.

Oh lord, borble flashback...

 

[glass]

He said Paragon path, or feat selection, but didn't suggest making it a talent. I havn't seen anything that confirmed Talents are in. And that worries me, I like talents I think they are a far better mechanic than static class abilities. I hope they're using them.

Its been pretty obvious for a while now that they aren't. Feat, skills, and three kinds of powers seem like they should be able to cover pretty much any ability without adding a sixth type of character abilities.


glass.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

I certainly hope your very wrong.

I hope not, I love the idea. Plus, it's the only one I can think of that fits all the facts I've heard so far:

-Not able to create a substandard character accidentally(Not having to give up your fighterness in order to be the party diplomat)
-The Paladin article on Smites(all of them being gained at odd levels and all of them doing almost the exact same damage, even the level 27 one)
-The Powers section being one of the biggest ones in the PHB
-Spells being named after the lever you get them at (level 20 spells, etc)
-Bo9S being a preview of 4th Ed(where almost all the classes get a couple of abilities, but are mostly defined by their choice of maneuvers)
-All classes getting the same BAB, the same saves, the same bonus to AC
-At one point in testing the classes were a little too similar and combat a little too homogeneous in that everyone was using the same powers over and over again until they added per day abilities back into the game and added in the bloodied state in order to change the feel of the battle part way through

All of it points to a system where the classes are as equal as possible in everything except their Powers. Which powers you take and how you use them will define the difference between a Strength specialized Fighter with a Greatsword who likes to output large damage to the enemy vs an Intelligence specialized Fighter who likes to debuff the enemy through trips and disarms.

Outside of combat, I think it will be your choice of skills(as it sounds like you choose skills a lot like non weapon proficiencies in 2e) and your choice of feats that matters rather than your class.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Its been pretty obvious for a while now that they aren't. Feat, skills, and three kinds of powers seem like they should be able to cover pretty much any ability without adding a sixth type of character abilities.

Yeah, Talents are essentially feats that are restricted only to your class. As the designers would say, they fill the same "design space". If the class should have it, make it a class ability. If it should be available to everyone them make it a feat.

 

[glass]

Yay for both! Personally one of the biggest mistakes 3.5 did was take away a Paladin's ability (from sword & fist) to choose a custom mount. With mounts being optional, I am sure this will now make it so one can choose to have a tiger as a mount, etc.

Er, they didn't take it away, they moved it into the DMG.


glass.

 

[Dragonblade]

Well, in R&C they mentioned "familiar" being an impliment for wizards (like staff/wand) that they will impliment in a later supliment. So wizard familars are cut for now.

No clue on animal companions.

Good. Familiars suck! They are more a liability to a caster than an asset. I'd rather trade my familiar in for an extra feat or something.

If they really wanted to make familiars cool then don't penalize a caster for having one. If a familiar dies, then a caster should suffer no penalties beyond the loss of the familiar's services, and his familiar should reform in a few minutes, or by expending one of his per day or per encounter abilities.