Multiclassing Sucks

[Jack Niggleson]

Requiring four levels in one class to get the normal number of feats makes most multiclassing combos pointless. Five levels of fighter for an extra attack? Nah. Three levels of rogue for the assassin's guaranteed first strike crit? Nah. Why even give you the option when every interesting combo is negated by the loss of 2-4 attribute points? Especially since your attribute point selection is so limited at character creation.

Is this actually how it works in 5th edition d&d (I haven't played since 3rd) or is this just some dumb balance thing Larian threw in to suck the fun out of multiclassing?

[Jack Powerslap]

10 Paladin, 2 Fighter, add the Great Weapon Master Feat, you get up to 5 attacks in 1 turn. Ezpz.

[Owoolu]

After completing the Jack-of-all-trades achievement I can say that there are some classes that a worth dumping a single level into and some that weren't. For every class like tempest domain cleric that allows you to do retaliation damage when you get hit at the cost of a reaction and storm sorcerer that lets you fly away after casting a spell, there is a class like thief that just gives you the sneak attack option, or bard that doesn't give you any instrument proficiency when multi-classing into it.

[Gloomseeker]

Tempestuous Magic is worth a one level dip IMO (especially for a Bard).

[Jack Niggleson]

Originally posted by Morgian:

WotC specifically removed feats from the character level and moved them into the class tables. In 3.5 it was a feat every 2nd character level (or every level for fighters and rogues).

That's such a weird design choice. I guess it wouldn't really matter that much in tabletop, since your character choices are going to be more roleplay based, but in a video game, why not just let you throw your levels into whatever without drawbacks? Would allow for a lot more build creativity.

[Marik]

DnD 5e is one of the weakest tabletop rpg systems available when it comes to mechanics and character building. This is just something you'll have to accept

[Jack Niggleson]

Originally posted by Kris:

DnD 5e is one of the weakest tabletop rpg systems available when it comes to mechanics and character building. This is just something you'll have to accept

FWIW, I actually like it so far other than this. It seems a lot more accessible than 3rd and doesn't have the absurd power creep at mid-high level. In scope it feels a lot more like AD&D.

[Allisonlj]

Eh.... Love or hate the specific concept as starting as the little guy... but not being some god-like hero out the gate is VERY Baldur's Gate, and the limitations of levels and multiclassing is pulled right from the 5th ed.

People really fail to understand that this a TRUE role-playing game, at least as much as you can really define ROLE-PLAYING... Think of it like this-- Would a lifelong wizard drop everything to go be a barbarian? Maybe... I could see it if they got hit in the head and lost all their int with the brain damage... but you wouldn't expect them to remain interested in reading dusty scrolls for wizardy things when they are busy flexing their barbarian muscles. Or in reverse... a person whos been a simple barbarian for the last 4 years (levels) may struggle to understand some key wizarding concepts that only those who dedicated their whole lives (or previous levels) could hope to achieve.

Just my .03; ignore it as you like.

[TheBonfire]

The +1 from ASI isn't even needed. You get great gear and you can complete the game without issue at 16 for your main stat. In many cases the feats are better: Elemental, War Caster, Tavern Brawler, ...

[Lord_WC]

Originally posted by Seswatha:

Originally posted by Morgian:

WotC specifically removed feats from the character level and moved them into the class tables. In 3.5 it was a feat every 2nd character level (or every level for fighters and rogues).

Well, the optimal 3.5 martial builds looked like 10 different classes taken for 1-3 levels each.

Yeah, no.
First of all feats were one every 3 levels, fighters got a bonus feat from a narrower list every two levels and rogues got 1 bonus feat every 3 levels after 10.

Optimal martial builds actually were about a main class splashing 1-2 other classes to cover your weaknesses. If something encourages multiple low level classes it's 5E with its low hanging fruits.

But it's nice to see you having strong opinions based on completely flawed knowledge:)

[LordAnubis]

Originally posted by TheBonfire:

The +1 from ASI isn't even needed. You get great gear and you can complete the game without issue at 16 for your main stat. In many cases the feats are better: Elemental, War Caster, Tavern Brawler, ...

Agreed with one caveat, a spell caster is going to have a much better time with a maxed out main ability than a martial. Reason being it's easy to get advantage on melee attacks and increase damage from class abilities, items, etc; but enemies saving against your spells because you kept your spellcasting ability at 16 is going to feel terrible later in the game, and with limited spell slots, it hurts way more than just missing with a melee attack.

[Kalypso]

Originally posted by Rena Ichigawa:

Multiclassing has always been like that in 5e. Feats are locked to specific level classes. Same with class bonuses, and the likes. Just be glad that unlike 5e, a rouge can get the assassin subclass without being required to be 100% evil, and killing someone with the pure sole purpose of unlocking the class as a option.

How does a color become an assassin

[MeldinX2]

You don't need every ASI you can get usually. Multiclassing can be great. I for example have level 3 bear heart Barbarian and i multiclassed 9 levels into Way of the open hand Monk with tavern brawler trait. And it's insane how good it is. Raging will make me take half damage from normal damage. And i can it 3 times with my fists and flurry of blows while moving very far. And if someone cast haste on me it will just be insane.

[SpaceRamen]

There are in fact even more strict and stringent restrictions in 5e around multiclassing because there, as it is here in BG3 if you really dive into it and understand it inside and out, it is extremely easy to break and make you into an unstoppable god.

[Granatapfel]

People who complain about this don't seem to understand that a level in a class usually gives you the equivalent (or more) of what a feat could get you.

For example 1 lvl Warlock gives you spells, 2 short rest spell slots, Eldritch blast cantrip and a patron. Much more than the similar talent "Magic initiate (Warlock)".

Another level of Warlock gives you 2 invocations, for example Darkvision (even in magical darkness) and your CHA mod to Eldritch blast damage.

A 3rd level gives you Pact of the blade, with which you can use your CHA for attack and damage rolls with any weapon and more spells.

And so on...

Not getting a feat in addition to everything you get from the second class is just balancing.

[FisTan]

You have to know the classes and mechanics well before attempting multiclassing. Here, i can give you some tips.

During Act 1 auntie ethel through certain events can give you +1 stat to any you want. Which will turn your 17 roll into 18 for free. You can then get +2 to your primary stat at lvl 4 and get it to 20, 4 levels earlier than everyone else.

Now that we put that aside, here's some good ones.
Paladin 2 (oathbreaker) + Pact of the Blade Warlock 5 + Paladin 5 (total Oathbreaker 7 / Warlock 5)
this combo will give you access to 2 lvl 3 spell slots you can use for smiting PER short rest on top of paladin spell slots, also, unlike pure paladins, you are going to get 3rd attack at lvl 12 since deepened pact bonus of "Pact of the Blade", stacks with extra attack for some reason. Pick Zariel Tiefling if you want to do powergame even more.

Druid 5 / Wizard 1 / Druid 6
Simple combo, good thing about wizards is that so long as you have 1 level of them, you can copy any spell to your spell book and cast it using other caster level's spell slots like druids or clerics. Meaning offensively weak druids can get access to things like fireball or disintegrate.

Paladin 2 / Wizard 1 / Tempest Cleric 9
Another good one, 1 level of wizard will allow you to get Lightning Bolt and Chain Lightning, and Channel Divinity will allow you to do max damage with them. 80 Damage AoE is nuts. You dont miss much by skipping lvl 6 priest spells. In turn, you are both very deadly caster, AND have plate armor AND can smite like no tomorrow.