I was tinkering with the idea of a Bard instead multiclassing doing a multicollege sort of thing. It would work similar to the standard multiclass system instead say a Bard of Valor 6 decided to change out for a Bard of Lore. This would eventually lead to him maxing out as a Valor 6/Lore 14 Bard as an example.
I dont know if such an idea has been posited before as I am new to the forums and havent played DnD since 3e but Im quite curious to hear your thoughts and opinions on the idea.
By the 5e rules that's not possible and isn't supported by D&DB. But there's honestly nothing stopping you from making a single homebrew subclass which has the abilities of Valor 6 and Lore 14 in whichever order you wish to take them. Just don't publish it.
That said since Bards only get a 3rd 6th and 14th subclass ability. Multi-subclassing to get two 3rd's two 6th's and one 14th may be a bit OP for a bard.
I dont know if such an idea has been posited before as I am new to the forums and havent played DnD since 3e but Im quite curious to hear your thoughts and opinions on the idea.
Such an idea has been posted before. A few times in fact. Basically, the rules don't allow it, the class design doesn't allow it, and game balancing doesn't allow it.
The closest/best version of this idea I've ever seen is requiring the character to take feats that grant the features of a different subclass. Each feat grants 1 level worth of features, they must be taken in order, and you have to be a higher class level than when they would be granted. So as a bard you would get the level 3 features at level 4, the level 6 featires at level 8, and the level 14 features at level 16, and it would cost you 3/5 ASIs. That is still pretty hard on game balance (because class features are usually better than most feats), but at least it fits within class and rules design.
I wanted to do this, too, so I started writing up rules for going beyond 20th level. Several years later, I'm still working on the fiddly bits, but I can post what I have.
After 20th level, you can continue to level up more-or-less normally.
Your proficiency bonus continues to increase by 1 every four levels.
After you've reached 20th level in a class, you can go through that class again, choosing a new subclass. If your old subclass still has features you don't have (if you're a Hunter ranger or a Totem Warrior barbarian, for example), you can go through that subclass again, choosing new features each time. You have to finish each subclass before you can pick another one (that is, if you're a Lore bard 20/Valor bard 6 and take a level in bard, it has to be in Valor bard). This counts as multiclassing, but doesn't have the prerequisites.
Once per 20 levels after the first 20, when you multiclass into a class (it can be a class you already have, as described above), you can get that class' starting proficiencies--minus two skills and any saving throws that class grants--instead of its multiclassing proficiencies. (You still only get 1st-level HP once.)
If you would get a skill you already have, you can instead get expertise in that skill or learn another skill or tool of your choice. If you would get expertise in a skill you already have, you instead get expertise in one skill or tool of your choice that you're proficient with. In either case, you can learn a language instead. You cannot choose a skill you already have proficiency or expertise in, as appropriate, if you could instead choose one you don't.
If you would get a saving throw you already have, you instead get one saving throw you don't have, not necessarily of your choice, as follows (if you already have all of them, you get a skill of your choice instead): Wis -> Int or Cha -> Str -> Dex or Con Dex or Con -> Str -> Dex or Con -> Int or Cha -> Wis Str -> Dex or Con -> Int or Cha -> Wis Int or Cha -> Int or Cha -> Wis -> Str -> Dex or Con
If you would gain a feature you already have, it stacks (if it can, like Extra Attack, anything with limited uses, or anything else with a numerical value). If it can't stack (like Evasion, Uncanny Dodge, or Divine Health), you get a feat of your choice instead. If it automatically scales with level, like the monk's Martial Arts and Ki and the sorcerer's Font of Magic (but not the fighter's Second Wind), you get nothing, but it continues to scale.
All of a paladin's auras increase in radius by 10 feet at each 7th level and 20 feet at each 18th level, including ones you haven't gotten yet.
A monk's Martial Arts die follows the progression 1d10 -> 1d12 -> 2d6 -> 2d8 -> 2d10, increasing at each 1st, 5th, 11th, and 17th level.
The second time you get Stillness of Mind, it improves to end all effects that meet the criteria. Thereafter, you get a feat instead.
Diamond Soul just gives you a single feat each time you get it after the first.
Spellcasting works approximately as expected based on these rules and the rules for multiclass spellcasters: a 30th-level druid has the spell slots of a 20th-level full caster plus those of a 10th-level full caster; a 40th-level paladin has the spell slots of a 20th-level full caster or twice the spell slots of a 20th-level half caster; a bard 22/sorcerer 8/warlock 30 has the spell slots of a 20th-level full caster, a 10th-level full caster, a 20th-level warlock, and a 10th-level warlock; and an Eldritch Knight 20/Arcane Trickster 20/wizard 10 has the spell slots of a 20th-level full caster plus the spell slots of a 4th-level full caster, the spell slots of a 17th-level full caster plus the spell slots of a 7th-level full caster, the spell slots of a 14th-level full caster plus the spell slots of a 10th-level full caster, or the spell slots of a 10th-level full caster plus twice the spell slots of a 20th-level 1/3 caster.
I'm still trying to figure out what to do about Unarmored Defense and Primal Champion.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
I was tinkering with the idea of a Bard instead multiclassing doing a multicollege sort of thing. It would work similar to the standard multiclass system instead say a Bard of Valor 6 decided to change out for a Bard of Lore. This would eventually lead to him maxing out as a Valor 6/Lore 14 Bard as an example.
I dont know if such an idea has been posited before as I am new to the forums and havent played DnD since 3e but Im quite curious to hear your thoughts and opinions on the idea.
By the 5e rules that's not possible and isn't supported by D&DB. But there's honestly nothing stopping you from making a single homebrew subclass which has the abilities of Valor 6 and Lore 14 in whichever order you wish to take them. Just don't publish it.
That said since Bards only get a 3rd 6th and 14th subclass ability. Multi-subclassing to get two 3rd's two 6th's and one 14th may be a bit OP for a bard.
Mega Yahtzee Thread:
Highest 41: brocker2001 (#11,285).
Yahtzee of 2's: Emmber (#36,161).
Lowest 9: JoeltheWalrus (#312), Emmber (#12,505) and Dertinus (#20,953).
Such an idea has been posted before. A few times in fact. Basically, the rules don't allow it, the class design doesn't allow it, and game balancing doesn't allow it.
The closest/best version of this idea I've ever seen is requiring the character to take feats that grant the features of a different subclass. Each feat grants 1 level worth of features, they must be taken in order, and you have to be a higher class level than when they would be granted. So as a bard you would get the level 3 features at level 4, the level 6 featires at level 8, and the level 14 features at level 16, and it would cost you 3/5 ASIs. That is still pretty hard on game balance (because class features are usually better than most feats), but at least it fits within class and rules design.
Thats some terrific input guys, thanks!
I wanted to do this, too, so I started writing up rules for going beyond 20th level. Several years later, I'm still working on the fiddly bits, but I can post what I have.
You cannot choose a skill you already have proficiency or expertise in, as appropriate, if you could instead choose one you don't.
Wis -> Int or Cha -> Str -> Dex or Con
Dex or Con -> Str -> Dex or Con -> Int or Cha -> Wis
Str -> Dex or Con -> Int or Cha -> Wis
Int or Cha -> Int or Cha -> Wis -> Str -> Dex or Con
I'm still trying to figure out what to do about Unarmored Defense and Primal Champion.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)