D&D 5E Ummm... Multiclass Rules?

[the Jester]

So I thought we'd have real multiclassing rules several packets back. The current one includes some spellcasting feats, but I don't think those are the real multiclassing rules. I saw them referenced, but didn't come across any in my first skim-through.

Have I missed any chatter about them, or are we still just kind of waiting?

 

[GX.Sigma]

Quoth Mearls on Twitter: "Next packet!"

 

[Li Shenron]

Well, as long as they keep changing single classes, it must be hard to work on multiclassing...

I don't so much mean changing specific class abilities, but for instance in this last packet they have changed at least (1) at what level you start getting subclass benefits (related to the concept of apprentice tier), (2) how many ability score improvements / feats each class gets and when, and (3) removed dead levels. No doubt that if they had these changes in mind, it would have been at least a partially wasted effort to work on multiclassing only to have to change it later.

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

I imagine it is going to look a whole lot like 3.0 multiclassing with all the same problems. If you want a splash of another class, you would probably be better off picking up one of the feats that picks up on the themes of the class you want to evoke if you are playing at higher levels or are planning a long term campaign.

 

[Stalker0]

I imagine it is going to look a whole lot like 3.0 multiclassing with all the same problems.

I think that will come the time when they need good playtesting the most. The huge amount of combinations that a 3.0 style multiclass can bring is hard to balance, so they will need people to try every combination in the book.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

I think that will come the time when they need good playtesting the most. The huge amount of combinations that a 3.0 style multiclass can bring is hard to balance, so they will need people to try every combination in the book.

Yet, they've promised to make it 3.0 style multiclassing. They even stated it in their Classes panel at GenCon last year. They said they didn't want to give out full details, but it'll be 3.0 style in that each level you go up you can choose a different class.

I'm not a fan of this style of multiclassing myself since it always causes problems. Although after stating it so emphatically last year, they'll have a difficult time going against that now.

 

[the Jester]

Yet, they've promised to make it 3.0 style multiclassing. They even stated it in their Classes panel at GenCon last year. They said they didn't want to give out full details, but it'll be 3.0 style in that each level you go up you can choose a different class.

I'm not a fan of this style of multiclassing myself since it always causes problems. Although after stating it so emphatically last year, they'll have a difficult time going against that now.

See, I really like 3e style multiclassing, though I agree that it often (perhaps usually) resulted in either problematic combinations or serious deficiencies (e.g. caster level).

If they can fix the issues with it, then I'm totally down with using 3e multiclassing as the basis for 5e multiclassing. It also looks like we'll have feats that "splash in" class abilities, based on the spellcasting feats in the new packet, similar to how 4e multiclassing with feats worked.

 

[Warbringer]

Quoth Mearls on Twitter: "Next packet!"

"Nevermore.Nevermore"

 

[Stalker0]

I'm not a fan of this style of multiclassing myself since it always causes problems.

I hear you, though i will admit that for me 3e's multiclassing was much more fun than 4e's system. It was actually the thing that made me feel that 3e was a more well rounded game than 4e. 3e never had archetypes missing because i could multiclass my way to get there.

That said, i am curious what they come up with. I am hoping for 3e style as a base, but perhaps with some restrictions to prevent some of the most blatant abuses.

 

[Li Shenron]

Also, I think the 3e multiclassing can mean two things:

1) taking individual levels of your classes

2) unlimited number of classes

Personally I think the 1st one is what they have in mind. The 2nd one is also probably coming, but max number of classes per PC could be an optional (dialable) rule, and it could help a lot against broken combinations.