Simple fix for multi-classed spellcasters?

[drnuncheon]

Unless the xp system really does mean that adventurers go out into the wilderness for a few days and learn more in that time than others learn in a lifetime, they know that the ftr5/wiz5 was in apprenticeship along with them, and still struggles with spells that they long ago mastered.

The ftr10/wiz10 has been at it for twice as long as they, and still has only managed to master what they have? What kind of a wizard is he?

Again, you're making some pretty big assumptions here that aren't always true.

The biggest flaw I can see is: People don't advance in levels at the same rate, except in the artificially constructed confines of a single 'adventuring party' (and sometimes not even then).

You can't tell from a character's level whether they've been a wizard ten times as long as you or only half as long. You might have spent 15 years getting to be a 10th level wizard, and that Ftr5/Wiz5 has only spent 4. The Ftr10/Wiz10 may have been in apprenticeship with you and just gained levels more quickly than you did. Maybe he thinks you're the slacker.

J

 

[Essence]

Chacal seems to have a better handle on what you mean than do I, because I haven't the faintest idea what the Geomancer PrC is.

Geomancer is a class that allows you to mix the spellcasting parameters of your Wizard and Cleric spells.

But really, the problem exists for even a Cleric 10/Wizard 10, or for that matter a Wizard 10/Sorcerer 10. You become a 15th caster level Wizard and 15th caster level Sorcerer.

That's bad.

If it weren't for that one fact, I'd adopt the rule in my game in a heartbeat; I love the concept, but it's just a bit cheesy for someone multiclassing between casting classes.

 

[Chacal]

15th level is not that poweful if you're limited to level 5 spells,
It's really not like casting 8th level spells (that can be maximized 5th level spells, just for the sake of comparing)

I don't think it's overly powerful for a 20th level PC, but that's only IMO.


Chacal

 

[Mike Sullivan]

Geomancer is a class that allows you to mix the spellcasting parameters of your Wizard and Cleric spells.

But really, the problem exists for even a Cleric 10/Wizard 10, or for that matter a Wizard 10/Sorcerer 10. You become a 15th caster level Wizard and 15th caster level Sorcerer.

That's bad.

If it weren't for that one fact, I'd adopt the rule in my game in a heartbeat; I love the concept, but it's just a bit cheesy for someone multiclassing between casting classes.

I don't see it as a big problem. I mean, it's not like you're casting spells at a 15th level Cleric and a 15th level Wizard. You're casting spells as a 10th level Cleric and a 10th level Wizard (and we all agree that that's fundamentally a bad build for a 20th level character, right?)... With a caster level of 15 in each.

That doesn't seem so bad to me.

 

[Chacal]

How about this :
Your Caster Level for a spellcasting class is equal to
- your class level in this class (+ the PrCs that makes it progress)
plus
- half the remaining levels ( maximum =your class level)

There might be a problem with PrC that offer less than half progression in spellcaster level (or in caster level, BTW).
A slightly more complicated version could be :
Count all the levels participating in raising your CL (for a Wiz 6/Fig4/Spellsword6) that would be 6+0+3=9
this is your class-based CasterLevel.
Count all remaining levels, divide by 2. (In the example it would be (0+4+3)/2=3
call this your nonclass-based caster level.

Your effective caster level is MIN(classbasedCL+nonclassbasedCL,classbasedCL*2).

Chacal
P.S that might require a little boost for the non-spellcasters, or not.

 

[jodyjohnson]

We made it a feat

We added a feat for our campaign to make catching up in spellcaster level an option.

The feat had a prerequisite of Iron Will and doubled caster level for a specific class (limited to character level max) - Power of Character.

Works best for Paladins, Rangers and even-split multiclass combos. Minor effect for dabblers on both ends (casters dabbling in non-caster classes and non-casters dabbling in caster classes). For even split casters (Sorc/Cleric, etc) it would require 3 feats in the chain (Iron Will, Power of Character once for each class).

 

[mikebr99]

Hallowed Might

Hi All.

Monte has come up with a pretty good option for all you divine/arcane multi-classed characters in his book Hallowed Might.

Now don't quote me on this... but I think you need to be able to cast 3rd level spells in each before starting the PrC (who's name escapes me...). As you proceed with the PrC, your Caster level is based on character level, and you start on a new spell list which starts at 4th level, which has some elements of both divine and arcane spells within.

The actual spell list is the way to keep tabs on the power level of this PrC...


Mike

 

[Saeviomagy]

Doesn't sound like much of a solution to me - it just means that for one particular form of spellcasting multiclass, you can have one particular person's vision for it, which may or may not line up with what you wanted in the first place.

 

[Firzair]

Hi everybody,
initialy I thought it's a great idea to raise the caster level of multiclassed characters a little (going the 1/2 off-levels route).
But how do I rectify the 8th level fighter gaining one level as cleric casting Cure light wounds like 5th level cleric? Is he so good a cleric with his high experience? I can see it rising with experience (say every 2 off-levels the character gains after his first spell caster level.
What do you thin?

Greetings
Firzair

 

[Frostmarrow]

I dont see a problem with basing caster level on character level straight off. If the problem is that characters will take one level of sorcerer to add to their 8 levels of fighter in order to shoot 5 magic missiles in a round, I don't see it. As someone pointed out - the character is probably a better longbow shot anyway.

In fact I find it pretty neat and a good way of building Luke Skywalker or any other supernatural hero.

Characters are limited to doing one thing per round. (Not even Haste will allow you to cast two spells anymore.) I think that is enough.

Besides, the Save DC is still too low for it to matter much in a big showdown anyway. If you want to banish those pit fiends and dragons no level one spell will do. You need a top notch wizard or cleric to do such.

Lastly, people complain about rogues getting one level of ranger or fighters getting a single level of barbarian. If you could pick a level of druid or wizard for your fighter I don't think people would complain so much about the previous builds. It will add flair - I like it!

Ps. Needless to say I don't have a rampant problem with munckins in my group. Ds.