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Multiclass

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 12:23 pm
by Xandax
This is what I've found so far on how to multiclass:
NWN uses the 3rd edition D&D rules, in which multiclassing is handled a tad differently. All character classes are available as options to multiclass.

Every time you level up, you have the option of adding a new level in either your base class, or a new class. Thus, a 3rd level warrior who levels up can add 1 more level of warrior, or suddenly decide to add a level of rogue. The resulting character is still a 4th level character, whether or not it winds up being a 4th level warrior or a 3rd warrior / 1 rogue.

All classes are open to you as multiclassing options. However, some classes have restrictions that if you every stray from them, you can never go back again and add more levels. Paladins and Monks, as examples, aren't very forgiving classes when it comes to multiclassing out of them.

Finally, each race has a 'preferred' class. With multiclass characters, you get an experience penalty if your two (or 3) classes are more than one level apart. Thus, a 12th Warrior / 1st Rogue / 3rd wizard gets an xp penalty, whereas a 6th warrior/ 7th rogue does not.

The 'preferred' class for your race doesn't factor into this. Thus, for elves (preferred class wizard) they can be a 12th warrior / 5th wizard with no xp penalty.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 12:41 pm
by Weasel
But can you start off as a muilt-class character?

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 12:43 pm
by Xandax
Originally posted by Weasel:
<STRONG>But can you start off as a muilt-class character?</STRONG>
Ehh - Weasel, I was just so proud that I could present some info, and then you come along and ask questions I can't answer :D :D

I don't know for sure, but I would suspect you could, yes :)

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 12:47 pm
by Garrett
No. Think of multiclass like dualclass. The only difference is that you can level up your original class any time you want. Also the amount of exp you need to level isn't dependent on what class you are. A 4 level thief/1 level mage needs the same amount of xp to level as a 5 level paladin.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 12:58 pm
by Xandax
You're right, I just didn't think it over good enough.

When you start out you level 1.
That means you can only have one class

For a character to start out as a ClassX/ClassY it would requier him to be level 2 (ClassX = 1 level, so does ClassY)

When he then levels up to level 2 he can then either add a class (again class = 1 level) or increase the level of his base class.

Thanx for pointing it out Garret :)

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 1:09 pm
by Garrett
Don't mention it. I'm sitting here reading the 3e player's handbook anyway.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 1:12 pm
by Xandax
Originally posted by Garrett:
<STRONG>Don't mention it. I'm sitting here reading the 3e player's handbook anyway.</STRONG>
Copy it and mail it to me - asap :D :D

Was thinking of getting it myself, but I need to see how much money I have left at the end of next month to see if I can afford such luxeries :D

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 1:50 pm
by Weasel
To be sure I got this straight...

I start as a Thief(Rogue)...at level up...I have to choose to add a level to my thief(Rogue) or add a class?

The reason I'm asking is if we start at level one...we will not have any (muilt/Dual) classes at the beginning...right?


@Xandax... :D :D I'm a Weasel.

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 2:38 pm
by Xyx
Originally posted by Xandax:
<STRONG>Was thinking of getting it myself, but I need to see how much money I have left at the end of next month to see if I can afford such luxeries :D </STRONG>
Go get it! :D It is definitely worth the money. Prices of the three main books (Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide and Monstrous Manual) are intentionally kept very low. You get big, beautifully illustrated books for a relatively low price.

However...

The add-on books contain only about one-third of what the main books do, yet are almost the same price! Apparently, that is where Wizards of the Coast plans to make their profits... :mad:

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 6:04 pm
by Garrett
Xandax, how much do you want me to copy for you? Just the stuff on multiclass?

[ 08-22-2001: Message edited by: Garrett ]

Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2001 10:14 pm
by average joe
seems like it would be hard to achieve higher levels....or would it be the same for the most part?

Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2001 5:48 pm
by Garrett
Here's a sample.

When a single-class character gains a level, he or she may choose to increase the level of his or her current class or pick up a new class at 1st level.

The character gains all the 1st level base atttack bonuses, class skills, weapon proficiency, armor proficiency, spells, and other class features of the new class, as well as a hit die of the appropiate type. In addition the character gets the new class's per level skill points.

Theres more but my hands are tired so I will post it later.

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2001 5:44 pm
by Johnny
Yes, DnD 3ed has a unified experience table, and XP rewards are based on the challenge rating of the monster compared to the level of your character (so if you managed to beat a monstie that was a lot stronger than you, you get a lot of XP, and a 20th-lvl wizard gets no XP at all for killing a goblin).

This mechanism is also how the prestige classes work (3ed equivalent of kits). When you achieve certain requisites in other classes, you can add to yourself a level of a prestige class. So if Ted is an 8th-lvl rogue and achieves the requisites for becoming an assassin (in the rulebook, 8 ranks in Hide and Move Silently), when he next levels up he can add a level of assassin to him. So he becomes an 8th-lvl rogue/1st-lvl assassin (and is thus a 9th lvl character).

For your interest, Drizzt is a 10th-lvl fighter/1st-lvl barbarian/5th-level ranger, making him cumulatively a 16th level character.

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2001 7:43 pm
by Meerlight
Originally posted by Johnny:
<STRONG>For your interest, Drizzt is a 10th-lvl fighter/1st-lvl barbarian/5th-level ranger, making him cumulatively a 16th level character.</STRONG>
No wonder it took him so long to get to level 16. All those XP penalties for being to far apart in levels in non-favored classes. :D ;)

Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2001 10:53 pm
by Xandax
Originally posted by Meerlight:
<STRONG>No wonder it took him so long to get to level 16. All those XP penalties for being to far apart in levels in non-favored classes. :D ;) </STRONG>
Well maybe, due to his heroci nature, he has all as prefered multiclass.
(Don't know how it is with drown either :) )

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:42 am
by Johnny
According to the Forgotten Realms rulebook, favored classes for the drow are wizard for male and cleric for female (most females are matriarchs of Lolth). Funny, eh? I wonder how Elminster did the same, as he's got levels in nearly every class.

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:50 am
by Xandax
Is Elminister human? - because then it wouldn't be a problem :)

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 7:46 am
by Johnny
Humans have all class as favoured, but only ONE of his classes can be ignored when calculated XP rewards. So if a human is a 16th-lvl fighter/10th-lvl wizard/2nd lvl rogue, he suffers XP penalties. (For the record, Elminster is a 1st-lvl fighter/2nd-lvl rogue/3rd-lvl cleric/20th-lvl wizard/5th-lvl archmage/4th-lvl epic, making him a 35th-lvl character; additional bonuses as a Chosen of Mystra raises his Challenge Rating to 45).

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 8:59 am
by Meerlight
heh, My party from ToB could wipe the floor with Elminster. Pretty screwy if you think about how long the protagonist has been doing this adventure stuff. :D

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 9:14 am
by Xandax
Originally posted by Meerlight:
<STRONG>heh, My party from ToB could wipe the floor with Elminster. Pretty screwy if you think about how long the protagonist has been doing this adventure stuff. :D </STRONG>
There is a big difference between lvl.'s in 2.ed and in 3.ed :)