The Weird Penalty of Core Classes

[The_Gneech]

So I'm working on this wacky multiclass blend to build my Legolas clone, and I come upon a strange problem.

Right now, at 10th level, he's "Rogue 3 / Ranger 4 / Thief-Acrobat 3", and pretty much exactly what I want him to be at this point. Probably "Scout 5 / Thief-Acrobat 3 / Order of the Bow Initiate 2" would be a closer model of Legolas as he is in the films, but the character as I conceived him is definitely more of the woodsy ranger type -- in particular I wanted the animal companion.

So at 11th and 12th he'll take levels in OBI and all will be well; but then at 13th, I run into a quandry. You see, I don't want any more Rogue levels; he's not a burglar, he's a ranger with a knack for acrobatics. But he is an elf and therefore his favored class is Wizard. So now I'm stuck with a Hobson's Choice:

a) Take levels in Rogue that I don't want, or
b) Take a 20% experience penalty from 13th on so I can continue forward with Ranger.

I could move forward all I wanted with OBI and ThfAcr (or even no more at all) without difficulty, because they're prestige classes. But Rogue, as a core class, now imposes a peculiar hidden penalty of being "stuck with it" from here forward. But of all the classes I'm dipping into, it's the one I want to continue with least!

So what to do? Build the character I want and get a sock in the XP for it, or take levels in Rogue that I don't want, so I can "get past them" and get back to the Ranger levels I do?

EDIT: Note, this is a newly-created character to be integrated into an existing 10th-level campaign, so he can be changed or altered as necessary to fit the concept.

-The Gneech

 

[delericho]

1) See if you can talk your DM into ignoring the favoured class rules.

2) See if there's a PrC you can take that fits the character well, and take that.

If #1 and #2 fail, you'll have to make that tough choice. However, Rogue isn't that bad - just try to think of it as a label for an element of the character, rather than a description of what he does. (Besides, rogue doesn't necessarily mean 'burglar'. It could just mean 'scoundrel')

 

[DanMcS]

The experience penalty rule exists to discourage exactly the min-maxing class dipping you're trying. This rule is working as designed, no problem here. Suck it up.

 

[The_Gneech]

Rogue's not bad at all ... it's just not what I want for this character.

I notice that Wood Elves have ranger as their favored class, but they also have +2 Str / -2 Int. (Elves as strong as half-orcs? Weird!) I could make him a wood elf, perhaps, and reassign his stats a bit.

Re: talking the DM into waiving the favored class rules, this particular DM is very flexible about that kind of thing so I probably could -- but I would rather find a "within the RAW" solution if I can. It could just be that I could work up a background for the character that would make ranger his personal favored class (since he's never going to take levels in Wizard anyway).

-The Gneech

 

[Aaron L]

Id just take the penalty.

 

[The_Gneech]

The experience penalty rule exists to discourage exactly the min-maxing class dipping you're trying. This rule is working as designed, no problem here. Suck it up.

Pfui. Building a character to concept is not "min-maxing."

-The Gneech

 

[DevoutlyApathetic]

The experience penalty rule exists to discourage exactly the min-maxing class dipping you're trying. This rule is working as designed, no problem here. Suck it up.

Did you actually read the post? He doesn't want to take Rogue 4, a full bab, +1 ref, 8 skill point and Uncanny dodge level because he wants his 13th level character to move in a more rangery direction. It's nowhere near class dipping for mechanical advantage. He's trying to avoid taking a penalty for avoiding taking the best level for him.

Ranger 5 gives him....a level away from Manyshot? A feat that doesn't see a whole lot of use at 15th level and one he may already have for around 9 levels.

While the multiclass xp penalty was trying to discourage uneven multiclassing it doesn't do it's job at all. It, combined with the +2 save at 1st, entices characters to take a1/b1/c1/d1/e1/Random Prestige class X.

I'd suggest the OP talk with his DM and explain what you want and point out at least one more level of rogue is almost better in every way than ranger.

 

[Xath]

If your character is built that much around a specific concept, talk to your DM. You've been angling to go this way for a long while now; perhaps your character's favored focus could change.

 

[Aaron L]

Didnt you know? Making a character interesting mechanically at all, and especially with multiclassing, is min-maxing! Fitting a concept is just an excuse us dirty min-maxers use for our nasty powergaming.

 

[The_Gneech]

If your character is built that much around a specific concept, talk to your DM. You've been angling to go this way for a long while now; perhaps your character's favored focus could change.

Actually, this is a new character (sorry, the original post didn't make that clear). But yeah, getting a pass from the DM or just taking the penalty may be the only real solution.

-The Gneech