Single Classed, Multiclassed, or Just a Mess?

[The_Gneech]

Since the advent of 3.x, I have yet to run a single-classed character, and for the most part, the rest of my group is very similar. So we've got crippled clerics, wimpy wizards, and fighters who have great saving throws but can't hit the broad side of a barn ... but everybody's well-rounded! Amazingly enough, we also seem to manage to kick butt, which seems to be contrary to the popular conception of multiclassing.

So how about you? Have you ever played a single class from 1-20 or beyond? Or are base classes just a stepping stone to your chosen PrC? Or something in between?

-The Gneech

 

[fredramsey]

I don't play as much as I DM, but I normally stick to one class; the lure of the higher skills for a Rogue, higher BAB and feats for a fighter, etc., is just too strong.

I find my players mostly play single class as well. They depend on each other as a team, each bringing their unique character skills to the tasks at hand, rather than trying to "be all that they can be" by themselves.

 

[Crothian]

So far we have had very few people multi class, most stay with the single class. We don;'t use the classes to define the characters though. The characters themsleves are the definition and the classes just add to that some.

 

[takyris]

Almost always multiclassing. I usually go for fractional BAB and combine good saves to avoid the Monk1/Cleric1/Druid1/Wizard1/Sorcerer1/Bard1 with the Base Will save of +12 and the BAB of +0.

20th level straight abilities are wonderful, but I'm almost always happy to sacrifice them for the flexibility and breadth of a good multiclass character.

(That said, I don't mind Unearthed Arcana's rules about multiclassing and partial spellcaster level progression, so a Fighter4/Wizard6 has a 6th level wizard's spell slots, but is considered level 8 (6 + 1/2(2)) for purposes of spell effects and overcoming SR and such.)

I'd consider going a straight 20 in bard, since bard is so flexible to begin with, or possibly cleric, since the domains give clerics some flexiblity and there are some possible variants that make it fun (oh, for the chance to lose heavy and medium armor and gain skill points...).

 

[derelictjay]

Though I voted I'll stick with a single class sometimes, and multiclass other times, most of the time I multiclass. My current character, I plan to keep a ranger his entire existance, though he did lose a level thanks to death.

 

[Terwox]

Depends on the players -- players who like unique and weird system concepts tend to multiclass or take PrCs, players who don't need weird numbers to have a unique character tend to less.
As for myself, I've only played a sorceror, a druid, and a diviner/fighter/eldritch knight.
Nearly all my NPCs tend towards being single classed.

Multiclassing has a bad rap for how "weak" it makes you -- it's really not so bad. Unless you do something ugly like multiclass casting with casting and don't take mystic theurge. (wizard10/sorceror10... yikes. fighter12/rogue8... great!)

 

[Stormborn]

I chose other mainly because no one in my group has really EVER mulit-classed or even taken a PrC. OK, I take that back, i think someone started agame with 1 level of Rogue and the rest sorcerer one time. I have never played a multiclass character nor one with a PrC but we have a new campaign about to start (to give me a break from running for a while) and I have already planned my advancement from Paladin to Dragon Slayer.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

Whether I choose to multi-class or not is based upon the character concept I have.

Pure rogue works good. But sometimes I want a little more oomph in his combat abilities, so a couple levels of fighter may be in order.

I rarely multi-class a caster class unless the caster class is secondary or to get a prestige class I want.
I like the idea of a rogue who is also a specialist transmuter wizard that uses his wizard spells to augment his thieving abilities (Cat's Grace, Fly, Gaseous Form, Invisibility, Mage Hand, Grease). And then I would also have the arcane trickster option if I wanted to go that route.

 

[Zoatebix]

I've actually done a lot of single-classing lately - though, I admit, they've been variant core classes from Arcana Unearthed or the Diamond Throne website. I'm considering doing all rogue or all cleric for my next character, though.

I have an older, epic character that is multiclassed to all heck, and I've been having a lot of fun with the racial paragon classes with a Paladin recently, too.

 

[Ahnehnois]

The bizarre nature of D&D classes means no option is always right. Some core classes have plenty to offer at all levels (druid and rogue: prime examples). Some don't (Fighter). Some concepts require prestige classes to focus in something (assassin, any of the multiclassing prestige classes like Theurge). Some don't (paladin is a prestige class already).

Thus, I've played a rogue single-class, and a wizard/fatespinner. I've played 2 characters with the druid class. One was a druid all the way. The other was a shifter.

Again, sometimes multiclass, sometimes don't. Both are good.