Any XP Penalty here? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Any XP Penalty here? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
arrisnyte
01-23-04, 11:06 AM I don't know if this was the right forum to post this, if not please move it, but I came upon an interesting quandary.

A friend of mine is DMing his first game (With some help by a veteran, me) and he's starting us at Level 0 (Apprentice level). Now, my character is a Human (Crane Clan) Samurai (well, not yet). That changes Human's Favored class from "Any" to "Samurai".

The only reason I mentioned that is because it could influence the answer to my question, which is this: PrCs don't have any XP penalty for multiclassing, but what about the NPC classes, like Adept or Expert. I can't find any rules stating one way or the other. The reason I ask is because instead of taking two 0 level classes (As per the rules for apprentice level) I was going to take 0 level in Samurai and 0 level in Expert, to better flesh out the diplomatic side of my character. Is this doable, or will NPC classes count against me for XP penalties later on?
Gothic_Demon
01-23-04, 11:14 AM The expert class probably does count towards multiclassing, but your samurai class won't, so unless you plan on taking 3 core classes (samurai, expert, and say rogue) you won't see the penalty.
That said, aren't there options in the OA for a diplomat class?
arrisnyte
01-23-04, 11:20 AM Well there's Racial Adjustments by clan, so that Taking Crane Clan (Which I did) both changes my favored class from Any to Samurai, as well as ensures that regardless of class, Diplomacy is ALWAYS a class skill. I kinda wanted Expert to add some skill (no pun intended) to Bluff, Sense Motive, Gather Info, Innuendo (Yeah, he's running 3.0) as well as add a few skills that Samurai wouldn't typically have, like Move Silent and Tumble. I don't think I'll be taking 3 classes, but I may. Since Samurai is a favored class, as long as I keep the third class and Expert at same levels, I should be fine.
ksbsnowowl
01-23-04, 11:36 AM To reiterate Gothic Demon, yes, NPC classes do count towards xp penalties.

Truthfully, I'd take the second class in rogue instead of expert. Rogue gives you more skill points (experts get 6 + int IIRC) and they have every skill you just mentioned as a class skill. And you'll get a few perks (sneak attack, trap finding) Remember, rogue doesn't neccessarily mean thief. It could just as easily represent an investigator with skill points put into social and searching skills.
arrisnyte
01-23-04, 11:57 AM I honestly thought about that, if only to add Sneak Attack damage to Iajutsu Strikes, but in personal interest, I decided not to. Sorta "Keep my character idea pure" sort of thing. Not to mention that since my character's concept is built from 0th level up, rogue may very well come later on, but probably not now, as he was (or will be, I've yet to do my 1-on-1 session to get to 1st) "Called to Arms". I figured he was maybe a craftsman or artisan before he was called to his emporers service. Not that many Samurai, in Rokugan anyway, also had levels of rogue. Too dishonerable.

Of course everything I just said has no bearing, since the campaign is FR (Witha heavy backstory involving the Cult of the Dragon, no less) and I'm from Kara-tur.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
arrisnyte 01-23-04, 11:06 AM	I don't know if this was the right forum to post this, if not please move it, but I came upon an interesting quandary. A friend of mine is DMing his first game (With some help by a veteran, me) and he's starting us at Level 0 (Apprentice level). Now, my character is a Human (Crane Clan) Samurai (well, not yet). That changes Human's Favored class from "Any" to "Samurai". The only reason I mentioned that is because it could influence the answer to my question, which is this: PrCs don't have any XP penalty for multiclassing, but what about the NPC classes, like Adept or Expert. I can't find any rules stating one way or the other. The reason I ask is because instead of taking two 0 level classes (As per the rules for apprentice level) I was going to take 0 level in Samurai and 0 level in Expert, to better flesh out the diplomatic side of my character. Is this doable, or will NPC classes count against me for XP penalties later on?
Gothic_Demon 01-23-04, 11:14 AM	The expert class probably does count towards multiclassing, but your samurai class won't, so unless you plan on taking 3 core classes (samurai, expert, and say rogue) you won't see the penalty. That said, aren't there options in the OA for a diplomat class?
arrisnyte 01-23-04, 11:20 AM	Well there's Racial Adjustments by clan, so that Taking Crane Clan (Which I did) both changes my favored class from Any to Samurai, as well as ensures that regardless of class, Diplomacy is ALWAYS a class skill. I kinda wanted Expert to add some skill (no pun intended) to Bluff, Sense Motive, Gather Info, Innuendo (Yeah, he's running 3.0) as well as add a few skills that Samurai wouldn't typically have, like Move Silent and Tumble. I don't think I'll be taking 3 classes, but I may. Since Samurai is a favored class, as long as I keep the third class and Expert at same levels, I should be fine.
ksbsnowowl 01-23-04, 11:36 AM	To reiterate Gothic Demon, yes, NPC classes do count towards xp penalties. Truthfully, I'd take the second class in rogue instead of expert. Rogue gives you more skill points (experts get 6 + int IIRC) and they have every skill you just mentioned as a class skill. And you'll get a few perks (sneak attack, trap finding) Remember, rogue doesn't neccessarily mean thief. It could just as easily represent an investigator with skill points put into social and searching skills.
arrisnyte 01-23-04, 11:57 AM	I honestly thought about that, if only to add Sneak Attack damage to Iajutsu Strikes, but in personal interest, I decided not to. Sorta "Keep my character idea pure" sort of thing. Not to mention that since my character's concept is built from 0th level up, rogue may very well come later on, but probably not now, as he was (or will be, I've yet to do my 1-on-1 session to get to 1st) "Called to Arms". I figured he was maybe a craftsman or artisan before he was called to his emporers service. Not that many Samurai, in Rokugan anyway, also had levels of rogue. Too dishonerable. Of course everything I just said has no bearing, since the campaign is FR (Witha heavy backstory involving the Cult of the Dragon, no less) and I'm from Kara-tur.