Multiclass or not Multiclass

Uvatha · Post by **Uvatha** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:05 pm

I have a ranger lvl 8 and I'm going to get the 9th level

I wonder if multiclass or not, and if multiclass wich is the better for a ranger.
Any advices are welcome :=)

Teibidh · Post by **Teibidh** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:15 pm

Multiclassing with any class presents perks and drawbacks.

You will gain abilities that your class doesn't already possess, even if you multiclass to something similiar. A multiclass ranger/fighter, for example, you could gain weapon specialization. Ranger/cleric would gain the ability to turn undead, and whatever other silly stuff clerics have in 3rd edition (I haven't played one yet). Ranger/rouge would get ahold of the sneak attack thing.

As far as it goes in game though, consider this: Does your ranger really have a reason to multiclass? Is there something that he/she, in character, has seen others doing or knows of others doing that he himself decided would be something he absolutely must learn how to do? Did he have a crisis of faith in himself or his chosen diety, or some other circumstance that would lead him to more or less religion than he has? Did he discover some powerful magical artifact that, in the process of learning how to use, would teach him the rudiments of magic required to be a mage or sorcerer? Has he been sitting in the bar telling stories and decided he's good enough at it to take up the harp of the bard? If nothing like this has happened then you might wanna consider that multiclassing could be considered metagaming.

The drawbacks to multiclassing are pretty straight forward. If the class you choose, or the class you currently possess, is not the preferred class of your race, then there will be a 20% experience point penalty until it is brought within 1 level of your ranger class. There are restrictions on many classes in terms of armor (and weapon) usage, and even rangers have issues wearing heavier armors because of the interferance with some of their abilities.

Honestly, I can't really see the need to multiclass a ranger simply because they're pretty well diversified from the get go. In 2nd Edition AD&D I would use a fighter/thief instead of a ranger because I wanted the stealth capability of a thief and the fighting ability of the ranger and I didn't want to 'waste' experience on abilities that I couldn't use. Multiclassing was handled completely differently in PnP though, and given the option now, I'd choose the ranger simply because there is a finite advancement cap. Anyway, just my two cents. Given where you are now, consider whether you really stand to gain anything IC or OOC by picking up a new class and all the quirks that would entail. If the advantage isn't the opportunity for broader roleplaying experiences or more than one or two minor abilities, I'd not do it personally.

Post by **Nighthawk4** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:16 pm

In general, I have never been keen on Multi-classing.

However, in Avlis, it depends on what your character is doing.

As people have said elsewhere, it is not good to choose a class just because it gives you extra feats, if there is no sensible IC reason for you to take that class.

For Ranger, I suppose you could go with Druid, maybe you could explain Cleric, or even Rogue, depending upon your character's alignment.

If you are going for Arcane Archer, you need at least one level of Arcane spellcaster - i.e. Bard, Sorceror or Wizard. I think Bard probably makes most IC sense.

The important point is to make up your character first and then choose the class - not decide that a class will make my character more powerful and then make up a reason for that class.

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:24 pm

There are a lot more considerations at stake here.

OOC consideration----what race is your character? It is very possible you could suffer an xp penalty for multi-classing.

IC considerations----Judging from your character's background, what class skills would you add to bring him more in line with your overall vision for him? What IC events have shaped his life and possibly steered him in a particular class direction? Does multi-classing really make sense for your character?

ex: if you've been sneaking around a lot, maybe your character decides to focus on those skills more and better round out their utilities. ie. rogue

ex: if you've been doing a lot of hard-core fighting, perhaps your character decides to focus on those fighting skills at the expense of their ranger skills: ie fighter

ex: Your ranger feels a special bond to nature and although he feels an affinity for sneaking/fighting, he feels it would be too great a sacrifice not to pursue his interest in nature. IE..he stays a ranger.

Of course, you probably want to develop the IC side of things a lot more than in my Examples, but its at least doable.

I'd probably get my 9th and 10th level in ranger, you get impv dual-wield at 9, and a new favored enemy at 10.

Cath · Post by **Cath** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:40 pm

Nighthawk4 wrote: I think Bard probably makes most IC sense.

Have to disagree here.
To me the bard is the class that is the hardest to explain multiclassing to. (along with the sorcerer and that's the bard's way of casting magic as well)
Either you have the talent or you don't and it's usually not discovered late in life.
I'm not saying it couldn't be but it is not an obvious choice to me.
Unless you have played your character as storyteller or musician all the way.
Faith can be found along the way as you can learn how to sneak or wield a sword or use magic. But bardic talent? You should be born with it.

Just my view.

Teibidh · Post by **Teibidh** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:42 pm

/agree with Cath

Btw, nice kitty cat.

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:44 pm

Cath wrote:
Nighthawk4 wrote: I think Bard probably makes most IC sense.
Have to disagree here.
To me the bard is the class that is the hardest to explain multiclassing to. (along with the sorcerer and that's the bard's way of casting magic as well)
Either you have the talent or you don't and it's usually not discovered late in life.
I'm not saying it couldn't be but it is not an obvious choice to me.
Unless you have played your character as storyteller or musician all the way.
Faith can be found along the way as you can learn how to sneak or wield a sword.or use magic. But bardic talent? You should be born with it.

Just my view.

It could lie dormant and then all of a sudden spontaneously come to the fore. In this case, the person is born with it, it has only recently started manifesting itself.

Cath · Post by **Cath** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:45 pm

Yes, that would account for the exceptions, as I said it's not impossible.
But it would not be common...

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:47 pm

Cath wrote:Yes, that would account for the exceptions, as I said it's not impossible.
But it would not be common...

in principle, I agree with you. It shouldn't be common, but the old talk on the boards is that you can create an IC excuse for anything you want to do practically. The trick is to have an IC excuse for IC sake rather than an IC excuse for OOC sake.

Cath · Post by **Cath** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:50 pm

Vergilius wrote:
Cath wrote:Yes, that would account for the exceptions, as I said it's not impossible.
But it would not be common...
in principle, I agree with you. It shouldn't be common, but the old talk on the boards is that you can create an IC excuse for anything you want to do practically. The trick is to have an IC excuse for IC sake rather than an IC excuse for OOC sake.

Yes I think we agree 100 % here.
I was just reacting to the comment that the bard would make the most IC sense when I feel it is the other way around.
In no way impossible, in fact I'd love to see more bards.

Post by **Nighthawk4** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 5:54 pm

Good point Cath. I hadn't thought of that.

Post by **Lycanthropy** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 8:13 pm

Pureclass Fighters all the way! Fighter-doken!

-Lyc.

Post by **Alexandru Stanicu** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:10 pm

Ignore all this and do what your character would do.

If your character has been doing things that dont fit ranger and do fit another class the ntake a level or so in that class.

Dont Min/Max, just play.

-Alex

Vergilius · Post by **Vergilius** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:23 pm

Alexandru Stanicu wrote:Ignore all this and do what your character would do.

If your character has been doing things that dont fit ranger and do fit another class the ntake a level or so in that class.

Dont Min/Max, just play.

-Alex

This is a nice summary of the major points made so far.

Post by **Alexandru Stanicu** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:30 pm

really? and I didnt even read them!

-Alex

choraldances · Post by **choraldances** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 10:02 pm

Alexandru Stanicu wrote:really? and I didnt even read them!

-Alex

Go play Alex

Post by **Alexandru Stanicu** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 11:26 pm

Go play Alex

Wish that I could... Alas I have too much work to do on systems.

My charaters were removed by the 90day clean up script as well...

-Alex