Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 xirr2000 Sep 02, 2014 8:32:49	Do you get ability score increases only at specific class levels, or for the overall level of your character (all your character levels put together?).     I seem to recall that when determining things like this DND used to take into account your overall level of your character.  Has this chagned with 5e, so that you dont actually get an ability score increase (or feat i guess) until you hit lvl 4 in a specific class?  So if I had a multiclass Fighter 3/Wizard 3, I would not have any ability score increases or feats?
#2 Kalani Sep 02, 2014 9:02:17	This is causing some confusion for players who are familiar with 3.X and 4E. Yes it has changed.   Feats and ability score increases are granted at specific class levels. This varies from class to class, with all classes gaining their first ABI/feat at 4th class level.   That is correct. A fighter 3/Wizard 3 has zero ABIs/Feats. At 4th level in either class, s/he will gain their first feat/ABI. If they keep their levels equal, they will gain their 2nd feat/ABI upon reaching 4th level in the other class as well (at levels 7 and 8 respectively).   Class Level determines the following: Hit Dice Ability Score Improvements / Feats Class abilities   Character level is important for some calculations. Two common and important examples are: Proficiency bonus Cantrip scaling Some characters also have a Spellcasting Level. This is only important in the case of multiclass Spellcasters (as single-class spellcasters have a SL equal to their class level). Multiclass Spellcasters combine their levels in all spellcasting classes to determine their Spellcasting Level. The SL is used to determine one thing, and one thing only:  Spell Slots It has no effect on spells known, spells prepared, or the highest level spell that the spellcaster can cast. All it determines is the number (and level) of the characters spell slots. In most cases, this results in spell slots which are higher than the highest level spell the character can cast. These spell slots are intended for use with spells which scale with spell slot (eg. Fireball), but can be used to cast any spell of equal or lower level (including those which do not scale with spell slot).
#3 Yunru Sep 02, 2014 8:59:29	I'm not sure if it does vary (although I'd have to check). From what I've seen/remember every class gets an ability bump/feat every 4 class levels, with the fighter getting additional ones inbetween.   But to answer your question: Ability Score increases are class features, as shown by their presence on class feature lists and their lack of presence elsewhere. Therefore they go by class level, the same as any other class feature.
#4 Kalani Sep 02, 2014 9:13:53	I keep forgetting that they standardized it in the final product.... In the playtest materials, different classes gained ABIs at different levels with no standardized pattern. The final product standardized the list, with all classes gaining them at the same rate, with the exception of the fighter, which gained additional ABIs/feats.
#5 FarBeyondC Sep 02, 2014 10:36:01	Kalani wrote: