Anyway before the Hybrid rules came out there was some talk of giving those rules the name of Dual Class rules and so characters using those rules would be dual class characters. If there's a place where they explain why they chose to go with the name Hybrid over Dual class I can't find it.
Either way I like the rules a lot but I would prefer it if they had gone with Dual class. For me having a D&D game that has Dual and Multiclass rules would be evocative and harken back to the original D&D game, while the name Hybrid is relatively meaningless for me.
I know this is a small change but I'm curious if anyone knows why they went with Hybrid over Dual and what the community feels the name should be?
Thank you.
That's probably why they dropped Dual in favor of Hybrid.
Hybrid class implies a mixing of 2 classes, having trains from both, but not having the full abilities of either.
Simply put, Hybrid described the concept they are going for considerably better.
In 5E, you'll be able to gattai your classes.
In 5th edition, class picks you.
what it was called in only one edition (and no others before or since) is hardly what you'd call a precedent.
It been along time since ive looked at 2E. Didn't you get the full benefits of the levels you had in both classes when you Dual classed back in the day? Hybrid classes are different since you get a mixture of features instead of adding the benefits of the levels.
Close, but it was a little more complicated - unlike multi-classing where you advance in all classes simultaneously, a dual classer picks one class and sticks with it til level X. Then they chose a second class, wherein they would not gain new hitdice and could not use their first classes' abilities without forfeiting ALL experience that session, until they hit level X + 1. Then they could use both classes abilities.
Of course, if they were higher than level 9 or 10, they'd still no longer gain hitdice, just 1 - 3 hit points a level.
Unlike multi-classed characters who are of non- or semi-human race, the character with two classes must be human. To attain the second class, the character must switch his or her profession at some point. Thereafter no progression in the original class is possible.
In order to switch from one class to another, the character must have an ability score of 15 or more in the principal attribute(s) ability of the original class and a 17 or 18 in the principal attribute(s) of the class changed to. Note that nearly any combination of classes is thus possible, i.e. cleric 8 fighter, cleric & paladin, cleric & ranger, etc. Alignment will preclude some combinations.
Only humans can be dual-classed characters. To be dual-classed, the character must have scores of 15 or more in the prime requisites of his first class and scores of 17 or more in the prime requisites of any classes he switches to. The character selects one to begin his adventuring life. He can advance in this class as many levels as he desires before switching to another class; there is no cut-off point beyond which a character cannot switch. However, he must attain at least 2nd level in his current class before changing to another class. There is no limit to the number of classes a character can acquire, as long as he has the ability scores and wants to make the change. (Certain character classes have alignment restrictions that the character must meet, however.) Any time after reaching 2nd level, a human character can enter a new character class, provided he has scores of 17 or better in the prime requisites of the new class. After switching to a new class, the character no longer earns experience points in his previous character class and he can no longer advance in level in that class. Nor can he switch back to his first class at a later date, hoping to resume his advancement where he left off. Once he leaves a class he has finished his studies in it. Instead, he starts over in a new class, at 1st level with 0 experience points, but he does retain his previous Hit Dice and hit points. He gains the abilities, and must abide by all of the restrictions, of the new class. He does not gain or lose any points on his ability scores (for example, an 18 Strength wizard who changes to fighter does not gain the percentile Strength bonus, likewise a fighter changing to a wizard would not lose it). The character uses the combat and saving throw tables appropriate to his new class and level.
In 3.x the gestalt class was introduced in Unearthed Arcana
To make a 1st-level gestalt character, choose two standard D&D classes. (You can also choose any of the variant classes in this book, though you can’t combine two versions of the same class.)
Build your character according to the following guidelines.
Hit Dice: Choose the larger Hit Die. A monk/sorcerer would use d8 as her Hit Die and have 8 hit points (plus Constitution modifier) at 1st level, for example.
Base Attack Bonus: Choose the better progression from the two classes.
Base Saving Throw Bonuses: For each save bonus, choose the better progression from the two classes. For example, a 1st-level gestalt fighter/wizard would have base saving throw bonuses of Fortitude +2, Reflex +0, Will +2—taking the good Fortitude save from the fighter class and the good Will save from the wizard class.
Class Skills: Take the number of skill points gained per level from whichever class grants more skill points, and consider any skill on either class list as a class skill for the gestalt character.
For example, a gestalt barbarian/bard would gain skill points per level equal to 6 + Int modifier (and have four times this amount at 1st level), and can purchase skills from both the barbarian and bard lists as class skills.
Class Features: A gestalt character gains the class features of both classes. A 1st-level gestalt rogue/cleric, for example, gets sneak attack +1d6, trap finding, 1st-level cleric spells, and the ability to turn or rebuke undead. Class- and ability-based restrictions (such as arcane spell failure chance and a druid’s prohibition on wearing metal armor) apply normally to a gestalt character, no matter what the other class is.
A gestalt character follows a similar procedure when he attains 2nd and subsequent levels. Each time he gains a new level, he chooses two classes, takes the best aspects of each, and applies them to his characteristics. A few caveats apply, however.
• Class features that two classes share (such as uncanny dodge) accrue at the rate of the faster class.
• Gestalt characters with more than one spellcasting class keep track of their spells per day separately.
• A gestalt character can’t combine two prestige classes at any level, although it’s okay to combine a prestige class and a regular class.
Prestige classes that are essentially class combinations—such as the arcane trickster, mystic theurge, and eldritch knight—should be prohibited if you’re using gestalt classes, because they unduly complicate the game balance of what’s already a high-powered variant. Because it’s possible for gestalt characters to qualify for prestige classes earlier than normal, the DM is entirely justified in toughening the prerequisites of a prestige class so it’s available only after 5th level, even for gestalt characters.
Hybrid classes are a logical 4E progression from these roots.
Bel
But I hadn't considered that the reason they named it Hybrid is to avoid confusion with Multiclassing rules. They are right. Dual class implies two classes. If you are a Dual class and then you mutliclass you're not really Dual classing anymore, you're Tri-classing (or something). That explains it. I have to admit the nostalgic part of me would have preferred if they could use the Dual classing name but I understand the reason behind the change now. Thank you.