My only House-Rule [Archive] - Wizards Community

My only House-Rule [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
babysamurai
08-18-06, 08:27 AM ...Which I normally loathe.

Monks and Paladins may multi-class freely.

Does that seem reasonable?
Mind Rogue
08-18-06, 10:27 AM I've used it before, but haven't really actually gotten to see the effect (most monks and paladins still tend to mono-class). There is some people who believe that the multiclassing rule is largely a carry-over from second edition and that somebody strongly believed that paladins shouldn't be able to multiclass, rather than for actual balance reasons.

Alternatively, you can steal the Monastic Training and Knight Training feats from Eberron, which allow for free multiclassing as a monk and paladin respectfully (and even between the two). Also, Complete Adventurer has a number of feats that allow for multiclassing between each of them and some other class and a few extra bonuses.
babysamurai
08-18-06, 10:50 AM There is some people who believe that the multiclassing rule is largely a carry-over from second edition and that somebody strongly believed that paladins shouldn't be able to multiclass, rather than for actual balance reasons.

You’re right. Even the original designers of 3rd edition said they only put in the monk/paladin multi-classing restriction to appease a few whiney play-testers.
Keoki
08-18-06, 11:19 AM I can understand why monks can't multiclass, since they need to upkeep their remarkable physical and mental discipline. Maybe there should be a rule allowing a character to replace monk levels with those of another class. But paladins not multiclassing always seemed silly to me - if they can't multiclass because of their devotion to their deity, does that mean clerics are less devoted, yet get more powers? I don't get it.
Tenzhi
08-18-06, 12:59 PM Seems reasonable - and to be a fairly common houserule as well.
The_Levitator
08-19-06, 12:46 PM I used to have the same houserule, but I have a player who loves to play monks and just asked me to make them a little more self-sufficient as single class characters. I found that a popular houserule on EnWorld is to give monks a fighter's BAB. That satisfied my player and it hasn't thrown our universe off its axis. I've only ever had 1 player play a paladin since upgrading to 3.5. To make him happy, I used the spontaneous divine caster variant used for clerics and druids and allow him to cast spontaneously. Considering that he preferred his sword to his prayers this didn't throw the universe out of kilter either.

I think it's a fine houserule with the classes as they are. :D

If a player can make a cool story around it or work it into their background, it could make for a more interesting character. An example could be a monk who has trained in a monastery his whole life, virtually cut off from the outside world. In his first travels to a bustling city, he is mesmorized by the beautiful sound of a bard playing a lute and singing, telling tales and teaching through music. The monk falls in love with the idea of delivering messages through song and seeks out a bard to teach him how. Or that same monk ges caught up in a kingdom wide forced draft for an upcoming war, so he trains as a fighter to become one of the military.

I personally love multiclassing, as long as you can make a story out of it and its not abused (like quad or quint-classing just for mathematical reasons). Opening up the multiclassing to paladins and monks gives your player more options.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
babysamurai 08-18-06, 08:27 AM	...Which I normally loathe. Monks and Paladins may multi-class freely. Does that seem reasonable?
Mind Rogue 08-18-06, 10:27 AM	I've used it before, but haven't really actually gotten to see the effect (most monks and paladins still tend to mono-class). There is some people who believe that the multiclassing rule is largely a carry-over from second edition and that somebody strongly believed that paladins shouldn't be able to multiclass, rather than for actual balance reasons. Alternatively, you can steal the Monastic Training and Knight Training feats from Eberron, which allow for free multiclassing as a monk and paladin respectfully (and even between the two). Also, Complete Adventurer has a number of feats that allow for multiclassing between each of them and some other class and a few extra bonuses.
babysamurai 08-18-06, 10:50 AM	There is some people who believe that the multiclassing rule is largely a carry-over from second edition and that somebody strongly believed that paladins shouldn't be able to multiclass, rather than for actual balance reasons. You’re right. Even the original designers of 3rd edition said they only put in the monk/paladin multi-classing restriction to appease a few whiney play-testers.
Keoki 08-18-06, 11:19 AM	I can understand why monks can't multiclass, since they need to upkeep their remarkable physical and mental discipline. Maybe there should be a rule allowing a character to replace monk levels with those of another class. But paladins not multiclassing always seemed silly to me - if they can't multiclass because of their devotion to their deity, does that mean clerics are less devoted, yet get more powers? I don't get it.
Tenzhi 08-18-06, 12:59 PM	Seems reasonable - and to be a fairly common houserule as well.
The_Levitator 08-19-06, 12:46 PM	I used to have the same houserule, but I have a player who loves to play monks and just asked me to make them a little more self-sufficient as single class characters. I found that a popular houserule on EnWorld is to give monks a fighter's BAB. That satisfied my player and it hasn't thrown our universe off its axis. I've only ever had 1 player play a paladin since upgrading to 3.5. To make him happy, I used the spontaneous divine caster variant used for clerics and druids and allow him to cast spontaneously. Considering that he preferred his sword to his prayers this didn't throw the universe out of kilter either. I think it's a fine houserule with the classes as they are. :D If a player can make a cool story around it or work it into their background, it could make for a more interesting character. An example could be a monk who has trained in a monastery his whole life, virtually cut off from the outside world. In his first travels to a bustling city, he is mesmorized by the beautiful sound of a bard playing a lute and singing, telling tales and teaching through music. The monk falls in love with the idea of delivering messages through song and seeks out a bard to teach him how. Or that same monk ges caught up in a kingdom wide forced draft for an upcoming war, so he trains as a fighter to become one of the military. I personally love multiclassing, as long as you can make a story out of it and its not abused (like quad or quint-classing just for mathematical reasons). Opening up the multiclassing to paladins and monks gives your player more options.