D&D (2024) Rules Clarification: Epic Boon at 19th Class Level or Total Character Level?

[Chaltab]

Additionally i think Crawford specifically said epic boons can be taken at 19th total level. But I'm not trawling through dozens of videos to find it.

 

[Chaltab]

For better or worse, multiclassing relies in system mastery.

There's a reason I generally discourage it, yes.

 

[Mort]

There's a reason I generally discourage it, yes.

I've noticed, when I'm running my regular campaign, none of the players multiclass. Current campaign is level 8 and no one even considered it yet.

But when I run one shots, especially tier 3-4 one shots, the multiclassing comes out.

Likely because, there is often a pain in multiclassing when actually going through the levels. But if you bypass the awkward levels entirely (start higher level) people are suddenly cool with it.

 

[abirdcall]

The multiclasses system, as it is, IS very difficult to balance. You can easily end up with a way underpowered character (such as your example).

On the other hand, you can have a very good combination. Minor change to your above character fighter 6/barbarian 4, works amazingly well.

For better or worse, multiclassing relies on system mastery.

I think even that is not actually very good once we hit 6 fighter/5 barbarian the 5th level of barbarian is basically a dead level and a level 11 fighter would be much better.

Multiclassing is clunky and having it in the game constrains the design of classes b/c they need to think about the combinations.

Subclasses are such a great elegant solution to that.

In another thread someone wants to play a Barbarian/Druid for theme but we have the Path of the Wild Heart Barbarian right there.

 

[Mort]

I think even that is not actually very good once we hit 6 fighter/5 barbarian the 5th level of barbarian is basically a dead level and a level 11 fighter would be much better.

But fighter 7-11 are all GREAT levels. keep barbarian at 4 and just keep going fighter.

 

[abirdcall]

But fighter 7-11 are all GREAT levels. keep barbarian at 4 and just keep going fighter.

That's what I'm saying though.

People just going for theme and not thinking about how to best make combos are going to have a bad time with multiclassing.

 

[mellored]

Epic Boons are feats
With "Epic Boon Feat (Prerequisite: Level 19+)"

Same as "level 17" that cantrips have.
Not "ranger level" or "level in this class".

And the class says
"You gain an Epic Boon feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify"

So they are just feats, with character level prerequisites.

So yea, you can take it multiclassing. In fact you can take 2 if you line up the last 2 levels correctly.
Fighter 12/rogue 6 for instance.

And while they are stronger than normal feats, they aren't that much stronger. So it's not really an issue.

 

[Hatmatter]

Additionally i think Crawford specifically said epic boons can be taken at 19th total level. But I'm not trawling through dozens of videos to find it.

I would LOVE to have such a reference. I have watched all of the video intervals with Crawford/Perkins/Wyatt, usually a few times. Does anyone recall about when (summer? fall?) such a video was released, I would rewatch some them to find such a comment.

 

[ECMO3]

Hello everyone,

I was watching the Youtuber DnD Builds create a 2024 character and at 21:25 of this video, he mentions that at 19th total character level of the character he was building (a 15 Druid/5 Fighter), the character could select an Epic Boon Feat with his Feat selection for 4th level Fighter (when his total character level was 19 due to 15 levels of Druid). That made sense to me.

However, in perusing the 2024 Player's Handbook, I did not find any place where it specifies that one should use the total character level for determining qualification for Epic Boon Feat. The prerequisites for the Epic Boon Feats on pages 210-211 specify "Prerequisite: Level 19+," which could be interpreted as either class level or total character level.

The feat rules on page 199 note that "If you're instructed to choose a feat from a specific category, such as the Origin category, that category must appear under the feat's name. If you're instructed to choose a feat and no category is specified, you can choose from any category."

The problem is that at 19th level for each of the character class Features tables, the feat available is specified as "Epic Boon." It would seem to me that a strict understanding of this would be that one can only take an Epic Boon Feat at 19th level in one's class level or, later, at 21st total character level and higher.

My gut tells me that DnD Builds is correct, but I was wondering if that is specified anywhere in the Player's Handbooks. Does anyone know?

The Epic Boons are just feats with a level 19 requirement. You can get them through any class ability that gives you an ASI or Epic Boon as long as you meet the prerequisite. You do NOT get it just because you turn 19th level though.

For example: Your 6th level Warlock/5th level Paladin/7th level Rogue gets a Rogue level you can pick an Epic Boon Feat, General Feat, Origin Feat or Fighting Style Feat for the 8th level Rogue feature. If the same character takes a level in Paladin or Warlock instead he gets no feat at 19th level.

 

[Hatmatter]

The Epic Boons are just feats with a level 19 requirement. You can get them through any class ability that gives you an ASI or Epic Boon as long as you meet the prerequisite. You do NOT get it just because you turn 19th level though.

For example: Your 6th level Warlock/5th level Paladin/7th level Rogue gets a Rogue level you can pick an Epic Boon Feat, General Feat, Origin Feat or Fighting Style Feat for the 8th level Rogue feature. If the same character takes a level in Paladin or Warlock instead he gets no feat at 19th level.

Thanks, ECMO3.

Do you have some page numbers and quotations you can offer to help us understand this interpretation? If you read the thread, you will see that we have all been weighing different ways of understanding what is written. You might be right with your interpretation, but it would be nice to know what causes you to so interpret it.