Why does the paladin multiclassing rule exist?

[Pagan priest]

For what it's worth, the Forgotten Realms setting allows paladins of certain orders to lift the multi-class restriction with a few classes.

For example, a paladin of the Order of Super Sized Fries can freely multiclass as cleric and fighter, while a the Order #28 with a Large Pork Fried Rice can freely multiclass as wizard.

IMO, it's a nice way to get around an annoying rule and also make paladins of different holy orders a little bit different. You can always tailor the specifics according to the portfolios of the deity in question.

If you want to solve the problem with minimum chance to the system, just give a bonus feat to every monk and paladin, allowing them to choose one class that they can freely multiclass with.

One of the reasons that I had heard given for the rule was that paladins and monks have to be focused and dedicated to continue advancing in their chosen class. But of course, a wizard needs even more dedication to learn the arcane arts, and what Gods are going to accept a cleric or druid slacker who isn't totally dedicated to service, and a bard that is not totally dedicated is just a useless dillatante...

Oh, and as far as the paladin/rogue combo... special forces commando, because sometimes the forces of good and order are best helped when the bad guys don't know your coming.

 

[hong]

Oh, and as far as the paladin/rogue combo... special forces commando, because sometimes the forces of good and order are best helped when the bad guys don't know your coming.

On that note, did anyone else see the April 1 prestige class on the WotC site?

The avenger

 

[glass]

It is the remnant of a sacred cow.

A sacred steak?


glass.

 

[Klaus]

Pure flavor. It came about purely because the 3E playtesters felt those classes should be more restrictive and "special." There's no mechanical basis to it.

As usual, the Mouse got it.

Oh, and P-Kitty, you'd better be sorting out those documents right now!

 

[Piratecat]

No promises for doing this in the short run; my plate is pretty full right now, and nothing is in electronic format. But I'll keep it in mind as a fun project!

 

[werk]

One of these days I'll have to dig out all my playtest documents and highlight some of the things that changed during the playtesting process.

They added a lot of art.

I gave my blue and yellow books to a friend when I left 3.0, but I couldn't really tell you most the differences between 3.0 beta and 3.5x that I play now...with regard to rules. I do know there was a lot of concern with it 'feeling' like D&D and trying not to change the core concepts or flavor too much. In the process, a lot of exploits and problems were definitely overlooked, just because we didn't really think that way yet, and some things that are pretty useless were left in. By now, a lot of that has been thrown to the side, and a more technical or strategic form of play has evolved along with a lot more freedom to think outside the D&D box(set).

Of course, very few of the suggestions that any of us idiots made were actually implemented, and I thought that published 3.0 was very similar to the test materials.

 

[Piratecat]

Of course, very few of the suggestions that any of us idiots made were actually implemented, and I thought that published 3.0 was very similar to the test materials.

We found that surprisingly many of our suggestions were implemented. I'm sure that varies from group to group, though; you probably found different things than we did.

 

[werk]

We found that surprisingly many of our suggestions were implemented. I'm sure that varies from group to group, though; you probably found different things than we did.

I feel pretty confident in saying that yours were probably better than ours

Also, I think we were only involved in the last rounds of testing. The materials we were given were almost the same as published but with placeholders for the art.

A lot of our suggestions basically came about in 3.5, which is probably why I greatly prefer it to 3.0.

 

[hong]

I feel pretty confident in saying that yours were probably better than ours

Also, I think we were only involved in the last rounds of testing. The materials we were given were almost the same as published but with placeholders for the art.

A lot of our suggestions basically came about in 3.5, which is probably why I greatly prefer it to 3.0.

Ah! So the Pokemount is YOUR fault, is it?

 

[werk]

Ah! So the Pokemount is YOUR fault, is it?

No, but we definitely complained about pets/companions.