Single Classed, Multiclassed, or Just a Mess?

[irdeggman]

I think that there is a common misconception going on throughout the boards, not just in this poll.

The misconception is made by including prestige classes into the discussion of multiclassing.

Prestige classes are different than core classes. They are more powerful (thank goodness that WotC dropped the false premise they were about the same as presented in 3.0).

Prestige classes represent a focus that the character has as he progresses.

The RAW (based on errata/Sage advice for 3.5) specifically have no exp penalty associated with levels of prestige classes.

IMO a character should never be allowed to have more than 1 prestige class. This is only an opinion and not part of the RAW. This is based on my belief that a prestige class represents a focus and the result of career dedication made by the character.

But back to the prestige class not the same as a core class concept here.

Several people have pointed out that their initial character concept can't be captured by a single core class. IMO this is most likely best represented by using an appropriate prestige class and shouldn't be included as saying that the character is multiclassed but rather has acieved the end result of his focus.

 

[Chimera]

Depends. I'd say that easy multi-classing is just another toy to be played with, just like we've gone through the "One Billion Feats" creation phase and the "One Bazillion PrC classes" creation phase. All just new toys that have to be experimented with, which is half the fun.

Don't get to play as much as I'd like, so I haven't had a chance to try everything out myself. Under 3x, I've played;

Fighter 1 to 4th level (before group 1 broke up)
Cleric 1 to Cleric 4 / Fighter 1 (before left group 2)
Monk 1 / Wizard 1 to Monk 4 / Wizard 3 (before group 3 broke up)

and now,

Rogue 1, intending to take a couple of Fighter levels along the way.

I used to be really irritated by the idea of someone making their character a Barbarian 1 / Bard 2 / Cleric 3 / Fighter 1 / Ranger 1 / Rogue 3 or some such nonsense, but not any longer. Hey, do what you like. If it works for you, it works. If it doesn't, try another character.