Why multi-class?

[Metallicus]

Is there something not good about playing a straight class for 12 levels or am I missing something? It seems like everyone is posting about their multi-class builds.

[Kolopaper]

No, it will be fine playing without multiclass. It's just that a lot of people already have plenty of DnD experience, so they would like to multiclass. Nothing to worry about if you don't want.

[Bisexual Offender]

Multiclassing allows for options usually unavailable to pure classes or hard to get otherwise. In general it`s DnD, play what you like and don`t worry about balance or power too much.

[Yojo0o]

Multiclassing is often a trap. People are in love with what they gain from their second/third class, but don't put enough weight into considering the opportunity cost.

Respeccing will make it a lot better, though.

[[Heretic]Rivga]

Originally posted by Metallicus:

Is there something not good about playing a straight class for 12 levels or am I missing something? It seems like everyone is posting about their multi-class builds.

Straight class is likely to be a more powerful build, but a Multi-class can produce very specific builds. They usually focus in on one aspect of a Class and enhance it.
Warlock/Paladin - produces spell slots at high levels to use on Smites, that refresh on a short rest, but lose out on later Paladin talents and abilities for this power.

With Multi classing compare what you lose to what you gain, and if that seems like a good swop then great Multi class.

Someone was talking about a Sword bard (9)/Warlock (3) build.
So they'd gain the use of Cha for hit rolls and Damage, meaning you use Cha stat for casting and fighting (amazing!). You get another few goodies with Warlock 3, refresh a few spells on short rest etc.

BUT you lose:
1. the single best ability a bard has (in my view) Magical Secrets (level 10),
2. you get fewer 5th level spell slots and ZERO access to lvl 6 spells,
3. Lose a Feat/ASI (so you only get 2)
4. Your Bard dice is ONLY D8 not D10.

it is a hefty loss for an amazing ability, is it worth it? Honestly for me JUST about - but equally if someone said "you are stupid" I'd understand their view point.

[Choosing WHeel]

Going for 12 in one class works fine and it's often better than multiclassing, but there are some cool combos, like Barbarogue

The important thing to remember is that the game is balanced around the player characters reaching milestones at certain levels. See, for example, the Extra Attack every single martial character gets at level 5. Enemy health pools are oriented around the fact that every fighter and Paladin doubles their damage output at that point in the game.
If you're trying to frankenstein together a melee centric multiclass, you're gonna want to get that extra attack at the same time as everyone else so you don't fall behind.
These are the things you have to worry about when multiclassing.

[Foolswalkin]

For me, I like juggling the tradeoffs, and I like finding undercosted ways to shore up class weaknesses or magnify strengths. The big two I've argued for a lot on these forums, Gloomstalker 5+/Assassin 3+ and Vengeance Paladin 2/Bard 10, really exemplify these qualities- the former's first turn synergies each magnify each other, while the latter makes a small sacrifice in Bard levels (a class that excels at just about everything except damage) to gain a competence in damage dealing greater than single classed version of either parent class. It's *because* multiclassing is usually bad that locating examples where it is not is interesting to me.

(I'm also kinda fond of Hunter/War Priest, because I think non-Beastmaster ranger levels after 5 are overpriced and I'm happy to trade them away for cleric levels.)

[trippsyc]

It is a give and take system with multi-class. You give up something in exchange for something else, sometimes its better sometimes it makes you weaker. For my personal opinion I would try playing pure classes first, if first time, and later runs or respecs trying out multi-class. At a level 12 range I general don't find it very appealing outside a few classes. Play what you feel most comfortable with and find enjoyment in.

[Vaein]

depends, I like going battle wiz, 2 levels of fighter, rest in wiz to wear heavier armor and dont die from a sneeze. seems like in bg3 at 2 levels you get an extra action per tern per long rest, but yeah i will be locked from level 6 spells

[jk2l]

rule of thumb, if you are not familiar with DND stay pure class. as single class progression normally unlock something that is so much better than multi class

for building multiclass, you are looking at trade off. so you need to understand what you are losing vs what you gain.

e.g. paladin get lot of stuff like aura (lvl 6, 7), improved divine smite (lvl 11)

but paladin multi class with like Sorcerer, allow you to divine smite with 5th level spellslots for very high damage that normally not accessible until lvl17 paladin, which practically allow you nuke a single target very quickly. of course you will lost your oath and improved divine smite as trade off.

another thing gain doing this multi class is to access Shield spell that add on top of heavy armor normally reach an AC that is outside the reach of lot of monster. so made you near invisible in tier 1 and tier 2 play

[Foolswalkin]

Fourth level spells are the maximum efficient Smites, it's 1d8 + (1d8*spell slot) with a max of 5d8. Still tho - paladins won't reach this at all in game (at least, not without counting improved smite's freebie among your d8s) while a fullcaster with 2 levels of Paladin gets it at CL 8 (which is the same level a Swordadin picks up Extra Attack).

[Rampant Luck]

As others have said, going 12 levels in a class is fine. It's balanced and you won't fall into any traps that multiclassing can create.

However, a lot of classes are front-loaded. Meaning a lot of their features in the first 6 or so levels are great, and not so much after that.

I just find it fun to theorize a build and see if it works. Like Moon Druid with Smite and Rage Maybe it's good, maybe a bit too gimmiky.

[Malterras]

Tempest Cleric 2/ Storm Sorcerer 10 also has some pretty great synergies. Full weapon and armor proficiencies and a channel divinity that gives max damage on any thunder or lightning spell (don't forget to grab create water, enemies that are wet take even more damage from lightning!) You're literally Thor. Stat it for sorcerer since you wont be needing the WIS based side of the cleric for much. It will probably be really good with all that lightning charge gear in early access if it's still in the full release.

[jk2l]

Originally posted by Foolswalkin:

Fourth level spells are the maximum efficient Smites, it's 1d8 + (1d8*spell slot) with a max of 5d8. Still tho - paladins won't reach this at all in game (at least, not without counting improved smite's freebie among your d8s) while a fullcaster with 2 levels of Paladin gets it at CL 8 (which is the same level a Swordadin picks up Extra Attack).

oh right, so lvl13 instead of lvl17. never played high level paladin so didn't read that deep before

[Metallicus]

So my favorite two classes so far are Oath of Ancients Paladin and Beastmaster Ranger. Is 12 levels in those classes good or so I start losing out if I stick with the ?

[micdy]

For my first run i do not plan to multiclass at all, while learning the game .
But for second run i might experiment a bit more