Skill points for multi-class characters?

[Zub]

How many skill points should this character have:
Elf Rogue 1/ Cleric 1 with an Int of 10.


Elf Cleric 1 / Rogue 1 with an Int of 10.


Did you come up with the same number for both characters?


I always used to assume that character 1 would get 40 skill points but char 2 would get 16. After thinking about this I scoured the PHB and SRD to find out if it was supposed to work that way. I've come to the conlcusion that when selecting a core class, when you are level 1 of that class, you get the starting amount of skillpoints (4X the normal amount). Nowhere does it mention that this only works for character level 1. In fact in the SRD, character level advancement isn't covered at all, skill points are soley a function of class level.

 

[mikebr99]

How many skill points should this character have:
Elf Rogue 1/ Cleric 1 with an Int of 10.


Elf Cleric 1 / Rogue 1 with an Int of 10.


Did you come up with the same number for both characters?


I always used to assume that character 1 would get 40 skill points but char 2 would get 16. After thinking about this I scoured the PHB and SRD to find out if it was supposed to work that way. I've come to the conlcusion that when selecting a core class, when you are level 1 of that class, you get the starting amount of skillpoints (4X the normal amount). Nowhere does it mention that this only works for character level 1. In fact in the SRD, character level advancement isn't covered at all, skill points are soley a function of class level.

Whatever class is chosen first gets the benefits of x4 skill points at 1st level... every other class chosen after that does not get x4 skill points.

So, you were right with #1 getting 40 and #2 getting 16.

 

[Henrix]

How many skill points should this character have:

I always used to assume that character 1 would get 40 skill points but char 2 would get 16.

And that is correct.

Nowhere does it mention that this only works for character level 1.

Yes it does, PHB p. 56, Adding a second class, there is a listing of things you only get when you take your very first character level.
Among them is "Quadruple the per-level skill points."

 

[Aluvial]

Ok, I have a question.


How many ranks can you put towards a skill if you are multiclassed?

Is it based on your class level, or your total level?

Example: If a 3rd level Fighter levels up and then takes a Wizard level (up to 4th) can he then put 7 skill points in Concentration (assuming he had anough to spend) or is it only 4 ranks?

Aluvial

 

[mikebr99]

Skills: The character retains and can access skills from all his or her classes. For purposes of calculating maximum ranks, a skill is a class skill if at least one of the character’s classes has it as a class skill. The maximum rank for a class skill is 3 + the character level. For a 7th-level rogue/4th-level wizard (an 11th-level character), a rogue skill or wizard skill has a maximum rank of 14. For a cross-class skill, maximum rank is half the maximum for a class skill.
If a skill is unavailable to a class (that is, if it’s an exclusive skill that a multiclass character’s other class doesn’t have access to), then levels in that class don’t increase the multiclass character’s maximum ranks. For instance, the 7th-level rogue/4th-level wizard would have a maximum rank of 10 in Use Magic Device, an exclusive class skill for rogues. The extra four levels in the wizard class do not increase the character’s maximum rank with Use Magic Device. Likewise, the same character could have a maximum of 7 ranks in Scry, an exclusive skill for wizards.

 

[Xaynar]

How many skill points should this character have:
Elf Rogue 1/ Cleric 1 with an Int of 10.


Elf Cleric 1 / Rogue 1 with an Int of 10.


Did you come up with the same number for both characters?


I always used to assume that character 1 would get 40 skill points but char 2 would get 16. After thinking about this I scoured the PHB and SRD to find out if it was supposed to work that way. I've come to the conlcusion that when selecting a core class, when you are level 1 of that class, you get the starting amount of skillpoints (4X the normal amount). Nowhere does it mention that this only works for character level 1. In fact in the SRD, character level advancement isn't covered at all, skill points are soley a function of class level.

Ok...maybe I just can't add today or something but shouldn't this be:

Elf Rogue 1/ Cleric 1 with an Int of 10.
(8+0)x4=32 {Rogue}
+
(2+0) = 2 {Cleric}
--------------
34 Skill points at first level

Since it states on pg. 56 of PHB that you DON'T receive Quadruple the per level skill points, wouldn't this be the correct way to do it? Please correct me if I missed something!

 

[Pax]

How many skill points should this character have:
Elf Rogue 1/ Cleric 1 with an Int of 10.


Elf Cleric 1 / Rogue 1 with an Int of 10.


Did you come up with the same number for both characters?


I always used to assume that character 1 would get 40 skill points but char 2 would get 16. After thinking about this I scoured the PHB and SRD to find out if it was supposed to work that way. I've come to the conlcusion that when selecting a core class, when you are level 1 of that class, you get the starting amount of skillpoints (4X the normal amount). Nowhere does it mention that this only works for character level 1. In fact in the SRD, character level advancement isn't covered at all, skill points are soley a function of class level.

Your old assumption is correct. Whichever class you take "first", as a first-level character, is where you get your 1st level Skill Points from. After that, even if it is your first CLASS level, it is no longer your fitrst CHARACTER level -- so you do not get quadrupled skill points.

The quadruple skill points is a bonus for CHARACTER level one, not CLASS level one.

And this IS specified in the PHb, on page 56, in the rules for "Adding a Second Class" (emphasis in bold is mine):

[...]
Picking up a new class is not exactly the same as startign a character in that class. Some of the benefits for a 1st-level character represent the benefits of training while young and fresh, with lots of time to practise. When picking up a new class, a character does not receive the following starting bonusses given to characters who begin their careers in that class:

- Maximum hit points from the first Hit Die
- Quadruple the per-level skill points
- Starting equipment
- Starting gold
- An animal companion (druid only)

So there you have it. You do not get 4x skill points for your first CLASS level in a given class, only for your first CHARACTER level.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

How many skill points should this character have:
Elf Rogue 1/ Cleric 1 with an Int of 10.

34.

Elf Cleric 1 / Rogue 1 with an Int of 10.

16.

Did you come up with the same number for both characters?

No.

I always used to assume that character 1 would get 40 skill points but char 2 would get 16.

Character 1 gets 34 skill points.