D&D 5E Taking a different path rather than different class?

[Matatabi]

So lets say I have a 6th lvl Shadow Monk and Im about to hit lvl 7. I wanna try something different but dont want to multiclass.
Could I instead take another path and treat it like a different class? Basically would be 6th lvl Shadow Monk/1st lvl Tranquil Monk.


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[Ed Laprade]

Not by RAW.

 

[Oofta]

No, you cannot. Page 163 of the PHB is pretty explicit "you have the option of gaining a level in a new class"

Unless, of course you discuss it with your DM and he's OK with it.

 

[Lanliss]

As others have said, not doable by RAW.

A more constructive discussion, how to make it happen.

1) You wouldn't be able to do "Tranquil monk 1", because Tranquil monk starts at 3rd. You might be able to talk your DM into allowing this sort of thing, since you are already trained in the previous abilities you would technically (in world) qualify to learn the teaching of Tranquility.

This is something that would happen quite easily under the form of class building I am working on. there are a couple of abilities that have questionable costs, but for the most part players can just buy the abilities that they meet the level requirements for. For example, as a level 6 monk going to level 7, you would have 7 points. You can spend 3 of them on the Tranquil monk level 3 ability, and have 4 left over to spend on a different level 4 ability from a given class (unless it has some sort of requirment like the Wizard's 2nd level spell slots at 4th. You would need 1st level slots to be capable of getting those.) Otherwise, you can save the points, and be able to buy 12 points worth of abilities next level, but none hat are for a higher level than you are.

Disclaimer: This is bare bones, and only the most basic description of the idea. What is or isn't allowed under these rules is 100% up to DM fiat, and is not at all hardcoded anywhere in any way. The Open hand monk being permitted to buy the Shadow monk ability to shadow step does not necessarily imply that the Assassin could do the same. Also, this is entirely a test-mechanic, and is yet to be properly tested for issues.

 

[cbwjm]

While it isn't a core ability to level up in different subclasses for the same class, one way you may be able to work this in your games is to allow the character to level up and then when levelling, say they are working towards X subclass instead. For the Shadow Monk/Tranquil Monk I would work it like the following:

The new subclass has to be chosen when taking the 1st level towards it.
Both subclass levels stack for effects based on main class (Shadow Monk 3/Tranquil Monk 2 would gain extra attack).
Combined levels must be enough that they gain the subclass abilities had they been multiclassing into a new class. E.g., a Shadow monk 6 who started towards tranquil monk would have to be level 9 (SM 6/TM 3) before gaining the base tranquil monk subclass abilities that a regular monk would gain at level 3.

Naturally, this will lead to some single classed characters switching to a different subclass due to the levels at which they top out. Both Druids and Wizards, for instance, gain their last subclass ability at level 14 and would be able to gain the level 2 and level 6 abilities of another subclass. I think it would be quite interesting and fun although I have no idea what it would do to game balance.

 

[Storyteller Hero]

My solution for the inability to take features from a different archetype of the same class was to make feats that (incrementally) grant features from other archetypes of the same class.

I designed a feat for each class archetype, and added them to a section of my multiclass feats book on DMsGuild.

http://www.dmsguild.com/product/202906/Multiclass-Feats-5th-Edition?filters=45469

 

[Fanaelialae]

I use the following feat. I think I based the feat on one I read about somewhere, but no idea at this point where or by whom.

Prodigy
You are a master of two paths and your ability to think outside the box and innate affinity to your class has allowed you to learn to blend training from more than one subclass of your class. You gain the following benefits:

- You gain proficiency in one additional skill or tool of your choice from your class list.
- Choose a second subclass from a class you already have levels in and that has more than one subclass. Doing so grants you the following benefits:

When you gain a new feature from your subclass after taking this feat, you may choose which of your subclasses to gain features from. (You do not gain the benefits of both). You are considered to be of that subclass until the next level at which your subclass grants a feature (this pertains to abilities the subclass grants in between feature levels).

For example, a Druid could become both a Land and a Moon druid. At 2nd level, you could choose to gain either the Circle of the Land features (Bonus Cantrip and Natural Recovery) or the Circle of the Moon Features (Combat Wild Shape and the 2nd level benefits of Circle Forms). If you choose Land druid, you also gain Circle Spells at levels 3rd and 5th. At 6th level, you can again choose between Land (Land’s Stride) and Moon (Primal Strike and the 6th level benefits of Circle Forms). If you choose Land at 6th level, you will also gain the 7th and 9th level Circle Spells. At 10th level you can choose between Nature’s Ward and Elemental Wild Shape, and at 14th level you may choose between Nature’s Sanctuary and Thousand Forms.

As another example, a Fighter could choose to be both a Champion and Eldritch Knight. At 3rd level assume you choose Champion, gaining Improved Critical. At 7th level, you choose Eldritch Knight, gaining War Magic and Spellcasting. However, your spellcasting starts as per a 3rd level Eldritch Knight, because you were not an Eldritch Knight from levels 3-6, and therefore did not gain the benefits thereof. At 9th level, you will have the equivalent casting of a 5th level Eldritch Knight. Continuing on, at 10th level you take Champion, gaining Additional Fighting Style. Once again, because you are not an Eldritch Knight during this period, your Spellcasting will not improve from levels 10 to 14. At 15th level, you once again switch to Eldritch Knight, gaining Arcane Charge and improving your Spellcasting to the equivalent of a 6th level Eldritch Knight. At level 17, your Spellcasting will have improved to the equivalent of a level 8th level Eldritch Knight (allowing you to choose one spell from any school of magic, per your Spellcasting feature). If you choose Eldritch Knight at level 18, you gain Improved War Magic, and by 20th level you will be the equivalent of 11th level Eldritch Knight in Spellcasting ability. If you instead choose Champion at 18th level, you gain Survivor and your Spellcasting capabilities will remain the equivalent of an 8th level Eldritch Knight.