Building a character: +1 level of existing class - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Building a character: +1 level of existing class

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
exit
Sep 05, 2008 11:39:10 I'm building a multiclass character. My starting class was sorcerer but then I went on to take a the prestige class Dragonheart Mage. Dragonheart Mage gives me +1 level of existing spellcasting class at 2nd level. Right now I'm a 5th level Sorcerer/2nd level Dragonheart Mage and can cast spells as a 6th level sorcerer.

I want to know if it's worth taking another level in Sorcerer. Do I become a 7th level sorcerer and all the class benefits (including spells) of that level? Or am I still a 6th level sorcerer that can cast spells as a 7th level sorcerer? Or am I just a 6th level sorcerer who gets no new spells but catches up on the other class benefits?
#2
Zherog
Sep 05, 2008 12:15:02 If you would take another level of sorcerer, you would get the class features of the 6th level of the sorcerer class (+1 BAB, +1 Fort, +1 Ref, +1 Will; 2+Int skill points), but you would cast spells (including spells known) as a 7th level sorcerer.
#3
drmorganes
Sep 05, 2008 12:54:02 And since sorcerers have no other class features beyond their familiar, it's generally accepted as "best practice" to prestige class out of sorcerer forever, as soon as possible, preferably into a PrC granting full casting progression. That is "+1 to existing class" at every level.
#4
wyld_mutation
Sep 05, 2008 13:06:33 Hmmm... I always did some funky juggling involving

Sorceror, Fighter, Warshaper and Master Tranmogrifist.

The end result was about 3 levls behind but could go Uber Hydra on anything that ****** him off.

Anywauy... Just keep upping your PrC. I have a question though... Is your favored class Sorceror?
#5
Zherog
Sep 05, 2008 14:20:43 It doesn't matter. Prestige Classes do not impose a multiclassing XP penalty.

In the previous version of the D&D game, having levels in a prestige class never caused you to pay the experience penalty for being a multiclass character without uneven class levels. (The prestige class levels didn’t count when checking to see if you had a penalty.) The section on prestige classes in the new DMG no longer mentions that you don’t suffer an experience penalty for having levels in a prestige class. Is this a change or an error?

It’s an error. Having levels in a prestige class won’t give you an experience penalty.

#6
wyld_mutation
Sep 05, 2008 14:44:24 Wasn't saying at part of PrCing... Eventually you'll have to trake another class... And that class is going to either be base or a PrC... If it's base you'll need to have one of your classes to be a favored...

Then agian... one level Sorceror and 19 levels of prestige class won't hurt you.
#7
Zherog
Sep 05, 2008 14:47:45 Just making sure. It comes up more often than you might expect.

From an optimization POV, the Good Doctor has it correct -- you want as few levels of sorcerer as possible. Any prestige class that increases spellcasting is going to be a better choice, mechanically, because you'll get class features to go along with your spellcasting.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 exit Sep 05, 2008 11:39:10	I'm building a multiclass character. My starting class was sorcerer but then I went on to take a the prestige class Dragonheart Mage. Dragonheart Mage gives me +1 level of existing spellcasting class at 2nd level. Right now I'm a 5th level Sorcerer/2nd level Dragonheart Mage and can cast spells as a 6th level sorcerer. I want to know if it's worth taking another level in Sorcerer. Do I become a 7th level sorcerer and all the class benefits (including spells) of that level? Or am I still a 6th level sorcerer that can cast spells as a 7th level sorcerer? Or am I just a 6th level sorcerer who gets no new spells but catches up on the other class benefits?
#2 Zherog Sep 05, 2008 12:15:02	If you would take another level of sorcerer, you would get the class features of the 6th level of the sorcerer class (+1 BAB, +1 Fort, +1 Ref, +1 Will; 2+Int skill points), but you would cast spells (including spells known) as a 7th level sorcerer.
#3 drmorganes Sep 05, 2008 12:54:02	And since sorcerers have no other class features beyond their familiar, it's generally accepted as "best practice" to prestige class out of sorcerer forever, as soon as possible, preferably into a PrC granting full casting progression. That is "+1 to existing class" at every level.
#4 wyld_mutation Sep 05, 2008 13:06:33	Hmmm... I always did some funky juggling involving Sorceror, Fighter, Warshaper and Master Tranmogrifist. The end result was about 3 levls behind but could go Uber Hydra on anything that ****** him off. Anywauy... Just keep upping your PrC. I have a question though... Is your favored class Sorceror?
#5 Zherog Sep 05, 2008 14:20:43	It doesn't matter. Prestige Classes do not impose a multiclassing XP penalty. In the previous version of the D&D game, having levels in a prestige class never caused you to pay the experience penalty for being a multiclass character without uneven class levels. (The prestige class levels didn’t count when checking to see if you had a penalty.) The section on prestige classes in the new DMG no longer mentions that you don’t suffer an experience penalty for having levels in a prestige class. Is this a change or an error? It’s an error. Having levels in a prestige class won’t give you an experience penalty.
#6 wyld_mutation Sep 05, 2008 14:44:24	Wasn't saying at part of PrCing... Eventually you'll have to trake another class... And that class is going to either be base or a PrC... If it's base you'll need to have one of your classes to be a favored... Then agian... one level Sorceror and 19 levels of prestige class won't hurt you.
#7 Zherog Sep 05, 2008 14:47:45	Just making sure. It comes up more often than you might expect. From an optimization POV, the Good Doctor has it correct -- you want as few levels of sorcerer as possible. Any prestige class that increases spellcasting is going to be a better choice, mechanically, because you'll get class features to go along with your spellcasting.