The Most Simple And Best Rule Improvement Of All Time!!!!!

[Khaalis]

Personally I like the balance gained from the system as is. It helps promote Single Classing (which in my opinion needs more incentives still as I am an avid Multiclasser), and it provides a necessary balance point for Multiclassing.

You SHOULD have to ask yourself, do I really want this trade-off to multiclass? The same goes for the XP ruling (though I extend the level difference by +1).

In your 1st example of a 4th level Fighter/Barbarian/Ranger/Paladin:
* First off this isnt even possible without an Alignment change and the loss of either Barbarian or Paladin Class abilities.
* Second off, Ok, so they have +8 to Fortitude. So What? Its the cost they chose for spreading themselves too thin and weak. Why weak? Because they also have a "+0" to Reflex AND Will! Any caster worth their salt knows better than to hurl a Fortitude dependant spell at a "Warrior" type Anyway so this 4th level dude is FUBAR against any Reflex or Will dependant saves.

I think the stystem is balanced fine "as-is" with the BAB/Saves for multiclassing. Its one of the best mechanics in the class system. And that says alot as I a master of housre rules and system re-writes.

 

[Hollywood]

Personally I like the balance gained from the system as is. It helps promote Single Classing (which in my opinion needs more incentives still as I am an avid Multiclasser), and it provides a necessary balance point for Multiclassing.

I've left it as is even though I am an avid multi-classer [not to mention zero-ruler], simply because I find the classes as written way too restrictive in terms of matching character concepts. Not to mention, I've also not seen a lot of 3+ class characters with all the same levels either.

 

[SylverFlame]

So let's look at this. Everyone one's brought in the balance issues of this and everything else.

Well, look at it this way, the character is 8th level with no class abilities above 2nd level. No matter what it's saves and BAB is the character is, if anything, underbalanced compared with its party members who likely have no more than two core classes and maybe a prestige class. The saves and bab do not balance against the class abilities they would have if they focused on even two of their classes. Therefore, I can't foresee me HRing the progression system of where it stands. If a character is going to sacrifice abilities so they can hit anything and survive any poison, then that's the players choice to make.

 

[tleilaxu]

i don't understand the negative responses. this is the best rule improvement of ALL TIME!

 

[Clay_More]

I mean, who wouldn't want a single level in monk to get +2 to all saves or a single level paladin to add your cha. bonus. I have actually encountered this problem once, one of my players (a sorcerer by accident) took a single level of monk to begin with, for no apparent reason.

 

[Fenes 2]

If I thought it was a problem I would use fractional advances, round down - f.e. BAB of a cleric1/druid1/rogue1 would be 2/3+2/3+2/3=2 etc. BAB of a wizard1/Sorcerer1/rogue1 would be 1/2+1/2+2/3=1. Same for saves.

 

[Kweezil]

I've been using a similar fractional advancement system for BAB and saves in my own games, based on rules found on this board a while back, because of the problems that multiclassing otherwise presents. As the current rules stand, multiclassed characters will have lower BAB and higher, or more extreme, saves than a single-class character of equal level, and this tends, IMHO, to muck up the balance of encounters.

It adds a little more calculation for me as DM, but the payoff works, again IMHO.

Summary
Base attack bonus
Barbarian, Fighter, Monk (house-rule), Ranger, Paladin +1 per level
Bard, Cleric, Druid, Psychic Warrior, Rogue +3/4 per level
Psion, Sorcerer, Wizard +1/2 per level

Saving throws
Good save (Ftr Fort, Rog Reflex, Wiz Will [Oooh, alliteration, never noticed that before])
+1/2 per level +2 if character has any levels in a class that grants Good save of that type. Does not stack.
Poor save (Ftr Will, Rog Fort, Clr Ref) +1/3 per level

All fractions are effectively rounded down.

 

[SpikeyFreak]

Used it in the only campaign I DMed for any length of time. I liked it.

--Methmatical Spikey

 

[Krug]

I like the idea. If you have PrCs, the saves go loony as well since they provide a +2 at first level.

 

[tleilaxu]

why would the saves go loony in my system?