So I’m starting a new campaign as a Firbolg twilight cleric. We are starting at lvl 5 and I’m thinking of going for 2 levels in circle of stars druid (making me a cleric 3/druid 2). I think the two subclasses mesh together in a thematic sense, and I’ve never played a multiclass character before. I’m just worried that I’ll be severely weaker by the hindrance of my spell progression. Stars Druid will be nice for the extra cantrips and starry form feature. My DM has also said that I will still be able to use metal armor. My party consists of an ancestral guardians barbarian and a thief rogue if that helps.
So I’m starting a new campaign as a Firbolg twilight cleric. We are starting at lvl 5 and I’m thinking of going for 2 levels in circle of stars druid (making me a cleric 3/druid 2). I think the two subclasses mesh together in a thematic sense, and I’ve never played a multiclass character before. I’m just worried that I’ll be severely weaker by the hindrance of my spell progression. Stars Druid will be nice for the extra cantrips and starry form feature. My DM has also said that I will still be able to use metal armor. My party consists of an ancestral guardians barbarian and a thief rogue if that helps.
The lack of spell progression isn't a big deal - many builds, including my current primary one, even rely on a 1-level dip into cleric, because clerics are so front-loaded. Your DM letting you wear metal armor is also a huge buff and not to be taken lightly. Honestly the bigger deal is going without an ASI for a level, but you should be completely fine.
The only thing that generally makes me not want to play a multiclass druid is the practical necessity of being a tortle, as most DMs won't let you gain access to non-metal medium or heavy armor. Being allowed to just wear the armor you're proficient in really opens up a swathe of possibilities.
Your DM allowing you to wear metal armor is a huge deal and actually makes this multiclass viable since twilight gets heavy armor proficiency. Not being able to wear armor is usually the main reason many clerics don't usually dip into druid.
But a few things to consider, at least with regard to multiclass break points. 5th level is a very big deal for all classes, ie martials get extra attack and spell casters get 3rd level spells, both of which are a big jump in power. Since you'll be starting at 5th level I would highly recommend that you stay monoclass until 5th and then dip at 6th or whenever it feels right. The reason for this is that spells like Spirit Guardians, Aura of Vitality, Leomunds Tiny Hut, Dispel Magic, Revivify, Sending, and Spirit Shroud, as a few examples, are really good. You will notice the power difference when fireball, counter spell, spirit guardians, etc...start getting thrown around.
The real question is what you mean by weaker. You'll be able to do things a straight cleric can't do. But then you won't be as good at cleric things as a straight cleric would be. I don't know if you'll be severely weaker (or weaker at all), but there will be a loss, or a trade, I suppose. You won't have level 3 spells to cast. You'll have the slots, but not the spells, so you can do some upcasting and make use of the slots. But a regular mass healing words is going to (often) be better than an upcast healing word. And more than just healing, you're going to be the only caster in the party, so you're the one with access to things like dispel magic. Things like create food and water or remove curse would be campaign dependent. You don't get access to revivify, which, again, may never come up, or may not come up for a few more levels and by then you've got it.
Balancing that out, of course, are all the toys you get from the druid class, and they're pretty cool. And you're right, there is a pretty interesting thematic link that could make for some fun rp. A big consideration is what you're hoping to get out of it in the end, and how high level the campaign will go. If it's just because it's cool idea, then that's not as much of an issue. But if there's some specific gimmick you want to pull off, you'll need to consider when that comes online, and if the campaign will go on long enough for you to be able to do it.
I don't know if that really helped. I hope I didn't just lay out things you'd already considered.
I think the main issue for the Cleric side is that you will delay your access to spells like Revivify and Greater Restoration which are always handy to have; this is because when you multicass as two full caster classes, while your spell slot progression is the same as for a single class, the spells you can choose from are limited by your level in each class. So for example, with Cleric 3 and Druid 2 you'll have access to 2nd level Cleric spells, but only 1st level Druid spells, but you'll have a 3rd level spell slot.
This means you won't get some of the really high level spells (if you'd even make it that far anyway, many campaigns don't) but you will have access to a much larger number of lower level spells, as each class gets its own picks, and you can still upcast using the higher level slots if you want to; lower level spells with good damage dice (d8's or better) still scale up well enough to compete with some high level spells for damage.
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I've always felt that the Cleric Class (and at level 1, subclasses) are the best 1 or 2 level Dip for multiclassing with most builds. Being a primary Cleric on the other hand, tends to be less beneficial for the most part... but it's still useful.
For other primary casters (excluding Warlock), you still get the spell slots when multi-classing even if you don't get those higher level spells. Nothing wrong with this, as that noone will ever tell you upcasting AID isn't benificial, but you might get delayed in getting the really juicy level 3 spells that you want for a level or two. Usually, this isn't a big deal with a 1 or 2 level dip. Anything more than this though can become frustrating though if your focus is primarily casting.
Some of the non-caster builds that focus on the Cleric can work as well, but its usually a manner of flavor text IMO. If it works with your RP story though, there's no reason not to do it.
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So I’m starting a new campaign as a Firbolg twilight cleric. We are starting at lvl 5 and I’m thinking of going for 2 levels in circle of stars druid (making me a cleric 3/druid 2). I think the two subclasses mesh together in a thematic sense, and I’ve never played a multiclass character before. I’m just worried that I’ll be severely weaker by the hindrance of my spell progression. Stars Druid will be nice for the extra cantrips and starry form feature. My DM has also said that I will still be able to use metal armor. My party consists of an ancestral guardians barbarian and a thief rogue if that helps.
What am I supposed to do with a signature?
Egg
The lack of spell progression isn't a big deal - many builds, including my current primary one, even rely on a 1-level dip into cleric, because clerics are so front-loaded. Your DM letting you wear metal armor is also a huge buff and not to be taken lightly. Honestly the bigger deal is going without an ASI for a level, but you should be completely fine.
The only thing that generally makes me not want to play a multiclass druid is the practical necessity of being a tortle, as most DMs won't let you gain access to non-metal medium or heavy armor. Being allowed to just wear the armor you're proficient in really opens up a swathe of possibilities.
Your DM allowing you to wear metal armor is a huge deal and actually makes this multiclass viable since twilight gets heavy armor proficiency. Not being able to wear armor is usually the main reason many clerics don't usually dip into druid.
But a few things to consider, at least with regard to multiclass break points. 5th level is a very big deal for all classes, ie martials get extra attack and spell casters get 3rd level spells, both of which are a big jump in power. Since you'll be starting at 5th level I would highly recommend that you stay monoclass until 5th and then dip at 6th or whenever it feels right. The reason for this is that spells like Spirit Guardians, Aura of Vitality, Leomunds Tiny Hut, Dispel Magic, Revivify, Sending, and Spirit Shroud, as a few examples, are really good. You will notice the power difference when fireball, counter spell, spirit guardians, etc...start getting thrown around.
The real question is what you mean by weaker. You'll be able to do things a straight cleric can't do. But then you won't be as good at cleric things as a straight cleric would be. I don't know if you'll be severely weaker (or weaker at all), but there will be a loss, or a trade, I suppose. You won't have level 3 spells to cast. You'll have the slots, but not the spells, so you can do some upcasting and make use of the slots. But a regular mass healing words is going to (often) be better than an upcast healing word. And more than just healing, you're going to be the only caster in the party, so you're the one with access to things like dispel magic. Things like create food and water or remove curse would be campaign dependent. You don't get access to revivify, which, again, may never come up, or may not come up for a few more levels and by then you've got it.
Balancing that out, of course, are all the toys you get from the druid class, and they're pretty cool. And you're right, there is a pretty interesting thematic link that could make for some fun rp. A big consideration is what you're hoping to get out of it in the end, and how high level the campaign will go. If it's just because it's cool idea, then that's not as much of an issue. But if there's some specific gimmick you want to pull off, you'll need to consider when that comes online, and if the campaign will go on long enough for you to be able to do it.
I don't know if that really helped. I hope I didn't just lay out things you'd already considered.
I think the main issue for the Cleric side is that you will delay your access to spells like Revivify and Greater Restoration which are always handy to have; this is because when you multicass as two full caster classes, while your spell slot progression is the same as for a single class, the spells you can choose from are limited by your level in each class. So for example, with Cleric 3 and Druid 2 you'll have access to 2nd level Cleric spells, but only 1st level Druid spells, but you'll have a 3rd level spell slot.
This means you won't get some of the really high level spells (if you'd even make it that far anyway, many campaigns don't) but you will have access to a much larger number of lower level spells, as each class gets its own picks, and you can still upcast using the higher level slots if you want to; lower level spells with good damage dice (d8's or better) still scale up well enough to compete with some high level spells for damage.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
I've always felt that the Cleric Class (and at level 1, subclasses) are the best 1 or 2 level Dip for multiclassing with most builds. Being a primary Cleric on the other hand, tends to be less beneficial for the most part... but it's still useful.
For other primary casters (excluding Warlock), you still get the spell slots when multi-classing even if you don't get those higher level spells. Nothing wrong with this, as that noone will ever tell you upcasting AID isn't benificial, but you might get delayed in getting the really juicy level 3 spells that you want for a level or two. Usually, this isn't a big deal with a 1 or 2 level dip. Anything more than this though can become frustrating though if your focus is primarily casting.
Some of the non-caster builds that focus on the Cleric can work as well, but its usually a manner of flavor text IMO. If it works with your RP story though, there's no reason not to do it.