Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Patron1972 Apr 30, 2015 7:59:18	Many classes get the "Extra Attack" ability, most of them at either 5th or 6th (also the Warlock's Thirsting Blade). If someone takes a class long enough to gain the ability and then multiclasses into another with it, at that level they gain nothing.   Does that seem fair?   Obviously, I don't think the Extra attacks should stack. The PH explicitly states they do not and it would unbalance the classes and make it easier to get multiple attacks by jumping around every 5 levels than if you just went straight Fighter.   Still, shouldn't you get *something* at that level?   What kind of homebrew ideas does anyone have that make sense? I'll just put out 4 ideas (A, B, C, D) to get things started...   A) Nothing. RAW. ^ Not my bag but I know plenty of people probably think this way and I'd like to entertain/hear your thinking on why this is for the best.   B) You can take one Maneuver from the Battle Master list which uses either a bonus action or a reaction. You have no superiority die associated with this, instead use your Proficiency bonus. If you have Superiority die, you may add that die to your bonus (which would use the die). ^ Here I'm looking at feats and giving something comprable or along those lines. Meaning, I see the Parry BM maneuver as being more or less on par with the Defensive Duelist Feat. Generally I think feats are greater than class abilities, for many levels, but at 5th level most of the classes get a "Big" ability or jump, which Extra Attack is, so I think a feat-like ability in trade is reasonably fair.   C) You gain the "Extra Bonus Attack" ability, which is: Beginning at Xth level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you make an attack with your Bonus action on your turn. ^ This one, I think, might be a little Game-breaking and overly powered. On one hand, you're getting an extra attack but it's a watered-down Bonus attack. For dual-wielders that means it's a light finesse weapon that isn't using your ability modifier to add to the damage OR you have invested in your character (up to one feat and a fighting style) to make it a normal attack. On the other hand, this means at level 16 a player could have 5 Attacks if they took Fighter-11 and then if they took 5 levels in barbarian, ranger or paladin, that they now could be dual-wielding and getting 5 attacks per round (otherwise they would have 4). That's is the same number a dual-wielding Fighter w/out the ability would get 4 levels earlier, which is kind of BS. There is also room for abuse with great weapon mastery, potentially.   D) You can take some kind of combat-like ability. In my campaign, my friend is playing a Paladin multi-classing with the Favored Soul Sorcerer Origin. Our DM is letting him at 6th take a watered down version of War Caster when they hit 6th in Favored Soul (which gives them an extra attack, one he already has as he's already taken 5th in Paladin). I think he's getting the bonus to Concentration checks and the ability to cast w/out Somatic components but not the last thing War Caster gives. ^ I'm okay with this.
#2 mellored Apr 30, 2015 8:14:56	I just bump all the features down a level.   So a monk 5/ fighter 5 would be like a monk 5 / fighter 6 or monk 6/fighter 5. *(without the extra HP, ki, or spell slots).   i.e. they either the fighter's ability score increase, or the monks ki-empowered strike and monastic tradition feature.
#3 Xeviat-DM Apr 30, 2015 20:34:31	I'd actually have no problem with Extra Attacks stacking. Lets look at different scenarios:   The fighter gets the most extra attacks. They get them at level 5, 11, and 20. The other martial classes get extra attacks at level 5, but don't seem to get others.   So a 5/5 would have 2 attacks a level before the straight fighter. A 5/5/5 would have 3 attacks while the fighter only has 2 still. A 5/5/5/5 would have 4 attacks and the fighter would only have 3 attacks, but they'd also miss out on a lot.   Now, I know a multiclass spellcaster doesn't learn higher level spells, so the comparable thing to do would be to not get more attacks, but they do get higher level spell slots and they can still improve their lower level spells. These improved lower level spells aren't as efficient as higher level spells, but they're still better.   But, at a glance, I don't think those extra attacks are going to break the bank.
(Reply to #3) Patron1972	Xeviat-DM wrote:
#5 qsoe May 03, 2015 5:49:58	I do not see this as a problem. If you are building a melee or ranged warrior, there is basically no incentive to go above level 4 with your second class. The best features of most classes are accessible at level 3, but I would go for level 4 because of the ASI. Ranger 3: Horde Breaker (or Colossus Slayer, if your DM just loves Solos) Paladin 3: Vow of Enmity Fighter 3: Maneuvers (or Improved Critical if you want simple) Barbarian 3: Frenzy or Totem Spirit So go for whatever levels you want from your main class, and get Extra Attack there, and 4 levels of the other one. If you do not want to go further in your main one, take a third class. It could be a bit MAD, but Fighter is always available, and a solid choice. If you do not have a 13 in either Dex or Str, you should not play with weapons anyway.