Until recently I had never used DND beyond or digital methods of making a character.   In the players handbook all of the classes state “When you reach 4th level and again at 8th level 12 level etc. “ you get an ability score increase/feat. I had assumed this was like the proficiency bonus which is also listed on the  character class tables yet is based on character level not class level. However on D&D Beyond it is clear that only when you reach 4th level in your class do you qualify for this bonus.   This means multi class characters are unable to take full advantage of this bonus if their class levels are not divisible by 4.   For example if you choose to be a 4th level and a 16th level you get 5 increases.  However if you choose to be 3rd level and 17th level or a 5th level and 15th level you only get 4 increases. This makes no sense because it is not balancing the game it’s simply a mathematics problem.  It is true that a multi class character has additional options that a pure class does not but because of the multi class the upper echelon of abilities in any given class are reserved only for the pure class character.  Why then should a character that chooses to level by 4s benefit more than any other multi class character?

 I understand that a DM can obviously override this however that does not help when making a character on this site.   Should the rule be changed so that it’s no longer a mathematics problem? 

 Thanks in advance for your feedback 

As I stated  my understanding of the rule was that it was character level not class level because it doesn’t say when you achieve fourth level as a blank but rather just “when you achieve 4th level and again...”.   Therefore it can be interpreted as character level not class level. 

 It doesn’t discourage you from multi classing because you might miss out on a ASI/feat it only discourages you from picking levels not divisible by 4.

 You bring up a good point I’m not suggesting we alter the rogue or fighter class but rather find a way in which all players benefit from the system.  I didn’t  literally mean that it was a mathematics problem just that if you choose to make a multi class character that is divisible by 2 or 4 you benefit more than if you don’t.  If you want to play a pure class go ahead but don’t penalize people for being creative and building characters that they enjoy. 

You gain other benefits by multiclassing though. At 4th level you get an ASI, at 5th level you get a different power bump, and 6th level you get a sub-class feature, etc.. It's part of the balance to get ASI’s with your class level instead of your character level. 

  You can do things that a pure class character can not  by multi classing.   However pure class characters receive higher level abilities that  a multi class character can never achieve therefore offsetting the benefits.   A 4th level sorcerer and a 16th level warlock  have the same character level as a 20th level warlock but you would not say that the multi class warlock is more powerful than the 20th level because he can cast sorcerer spells.   The 20th level warlock has access to ninth level spells that the 16th level does not as well as other abilities not granted the 16th level by his fourth level sorcerer multi class.  

 I’m not arguing for multi class over pure class but rather a system that doesn’t penalize somebody who wants to be a 5th level sorcerer and a 15th level warlock.   If you make your multi class character level divisible by 4 or in some cases 2 if you are a fighter/rogue you will benefit from more ASIs.  Why?   Don’t say that it’s the abilities that are granted at different levels because all classes have different schedules.

Whenever I have seen it discussed (not just here, but also elsewhere), it has always been understood that ASIs are based on class level, not character level.  

THe multiclassing rules themselves specify that you gain a classes features when you reach that level in that class; ASI is listed as a class feature.  The other class features (e.g. action surge for fighter) also just say “when you reach x level” and not “x level in this class,” but I don’t hear you arguing that those should be based on character level.

All right, suppose you play a rogue 3/fighter 5 under your rules. 

1. At 1st level, you get the usual 1st-level rogue stuff: proficiencies, Expertise, 1d6 Sneak Attack, etc. 
2. At 2nd level, you get Cunning Action. 
3. At 3rd level, you get another die of Sneak Attack and a subclass. 
4. At 4th level, you don't get anything from your next rogue level that you wouldn't get from any other class, so you decide to multiclass into fighter, getting martial weapons, medium armor, shields, a Fighting Style, one use of Second Wind, and an ASI. 
5. At 5th level, you won't get anything from another rogue level, so you take another level of fighter, getting one use of Action Surge, and your proficiency bonus increases. 
6. At 6th level, you still won't get anything from a fourth level of rogue, so you take a third level of fighter, getting a subclass. 
7. At 7th level, you have no reason to take another level of fighter, but you do anyway--maybe your stats aren't good enough for any other class--getting a d10 Hit Die, 6 + Con HP, and +1 to your Second Wind healing, all of which you also got at fighter 2 and 3 and will also get at fighter 5. 
8. At 8th level, you take a fifth level of fighter, getting Extra Attack and an ASI. 

It would be bad game design to do it that way. 

Wow you really went way outside the lines here.  Never ever did I suggest that class specific abilities be character level driven.   I did however suggest that something that all characters get ASIs not be arbitrarily denied to people who choose to have their levels end in an odd number.   If I’m in eighth level blank and a 12 level blank I get five ASI’s but if I am ninth level blank and an 11th level blank I only get four.  

Thank you for pointing out that they are listed as class features. I had overlooked that designation on the character class tables. However that is the point of my question. Why is something that everyone gets at the same levels, with the exception of the rogue or fighter who get one additional at a different level than everybody else, arbitrarily denied to players who make multi class characters who’s levels are not divisible by four. A sixth level blank and a fourteenth level blank get 4 ASIs but an eighth level blank and a 12 level blank get 5.

 At no point however was I arguing that class specific abilities should be anything other than acquired at class specific levels.

 Why is everybody trying to make this about something that it is not.  Everyone gets ASIs fighters and rogues get an extra one.   Why should making your multi class character levels end in a number divisible by four mean that you get an extra ASI over somebody whose character levels do not end in a number divisible by 4.  An 8th level blank and a 12 level blank will get five ASI’s but a 6th level blank and a 14th level blank will only get four.   That is just one example I’m sure that the next thing I’ll be reading about is somebody taking me to task about the statement divisible by four.   So before that happens let me point out that the number of ASIs you get seems to be  completely arbitrary to whether or not you pick a level divisible by four or in the case of a rogue or fighter an even or an odd level.   If you choose to be a 10th level rogue and a 10th level fighter you’ll get 6 ASI’s, if you choose to be a 12 level rogue and an 8th level fighter you’ll get 7 ASI’s  however if you choose to be a 11th level fighter and an 9th level rogue you will only get 5. WHY is the question they’re available to everyone so why should it matter if your level is even or odd ?  

Every character class has a different schedule for when they receive class features and I’m not suggesting that we change how character classes receive their features I am however questioning how characters receive ASI’s.  Everybody gets them why should some people get fewer ASI’s because they designed the character the way they liked it. 

Quote from gmhdnd68 >>

Why is something that everyone gets at the same levels, with the exception of the rogue or fighter who get one additional at a different level than everybody else

I believe you've basically answered your own question here.

They made the exception because Fighters and Rogues buck the trend. If every class got ASI's at the same time I'm sure it would have been made a general rule not a class rule but since they do get them at different times they were made a class feature.

Also - few classes ever get another ability at the same time as an ASI and those that do usually only have that happen once (like Monks and Slow Fall at 4). However - if you made ASI's independent of level you could (like Matthias said) get multiple abilities and an ASI at the same time by multiclassing.

 You bring up points that have no bearing on the question. The question isn’t whether ASIs are giving out at different times thus they  are a class feature.  The question is why are they class level rather than  character level?

 Everybody gets them at 4, 8, 12, 16 and 19  with the rogue and fighter receiving an extra one in the middle. Under the current class level determination, people are arbitrarily rewarded or penalized based simply on whether or not they choose an even or odd numbered level.   If ASIs were based on your character level everyone would get 5 of them( 4,8,12,16,19) regardless of their class levels. Fighters and rogues  would simply receive two at 8th level. This is just a suggestion mind you somebody else might have a better idea for how to deal with it. This means that any character regardless of class would receive a minimum of five ASIs and a maximum of six. Nobody could manipulate the rogue fighter combination for 7 or be penalized to 4 for choosing to be a 10th level blank and 10th level blank. 

I am not  trying to change the character classes or their abilities or even how ASIs work.  I’m suggesting a fairer more equitable system in which everyone receives the same thing they get now.  Without having to limit your imagination when you create your character if you want a 6th level monk 14th level bard you should be able to make that and not be penalized an ASI. The one argument I keep waiting for that a few of you of hinted at is that it’s a balance of power yet it’s not because everyone gets 5 unless you choose a level not divisible by four.   I’ve yet to see anyone demonstrate  how a 9th level blank and a 11th level blank are unbalanced and over powered so they only get 4 ASIs compared to a 8th level blank and a 12th level blank that get 5 ASIs.

If this was a PVP video game and the 8th level fighter 12th level rogue was out there with its seven ASIs. Every monk, cleric, bard, wizard, sorcerer, paladin and ranger would be crying how unfair it is and want it nerfed. 

 Yes you have different abilities playing a multi class character than you do a pure class character however everybody gets ASIs.  An 18 level character Has access to more powerful abilities than a 5/13  Multi class character yet they both have 4 ASI‘s.  You’re not altering the balance of power by granting what characters already receive.  The question remains why if I want to make a 6/14 multi class character am I penalized an ASI  but I’m not penalized if I make 8/12 Multi class. This doesn’t go into the manipulation that can happen if you make a multi class with a fighter or a rogue.

Because the levels you get ASIs are generally levels where you don't get something else from your class.  If you got ASIs regardless, there's no incentive to pick up that level instead of one in a different class.

 I’m beginning to wonder if anybody understands the question?  Simply put why make ASIs class level dependent which arbitrarily penalizes some level combinations when making them character level dependent would ensure equitable distribution.  Everyone would still receive an ASI at  4,8,12,16 and 19  character level. The fighter or rogue class/multi class would receive two at eight.  Thus every character would be eligible to receive five or six if they were a fighter or rogue class.   Anybody who says that it’s a balance of power issue, I ask how when everybody is receiving the same thing that they get now. We’re just ensuring that peoples creativity and choice isn’t penalized. 

 Somebody wrote the following, I’m going to trying to answer each part.

“If granting ASI were moved to overall character level, then level 4 of each class would offer very little, which would also affect multiclassing significantly that those levels would now be considered pretty much worthless. Whilst the rules may look to some to be penalizing a multiclass fighter 3 / rogue 3, if ASI were moved to character level, then the rules would be considered to penalize fighter 4 / rogue 2 instead.”

1)“If granting ASI were moved to overall character level, then level 4 of each class would offer very little, which would also affect multiclassing significantly that those levels would now be considered pretty much worthless.”  Not True single class characters would receive amazingly enough an ASI.   Multi class character would possibly not receive anything  however this isn’t any different than a blank spot that may already exist in the character classes. In those cases you choose to take a level because of what becomes available next. With a few exceptions however most classes offer something at every level even if it’s just additional spells or spell slots. 

2)”Whilst the rules may look to some to be penalizing a multiclass fighter 3 / rogue 3, if ASI were moved to character level, then the rules would be considered to penalize fighter 4 / rogue 2 instead.”   Not sure what point you’re trying to make here? Under the current system the fighter 4\2 rogue would have one ASI  and the 3/3 would have none.   Under my proposed system they would both have 1 so there is no disadvantage there to the 4/2. If you’re trying to state that the 3/3 has more abilities than the 4/2 I would point out that how you choose to level is up to the individual.

 Every class has blank spots in their class schedule with the exception of maybe fighter and rogue. If you wish to continue to a higher level you have to take a level that doesn’t have a feature and with very few exceptions does taking a level not give you anything. For example A fifth level sorcerer receives spells and spell slots while not receiving a class ability.

The point they are making is that for most classes when they get an ASI - they only get an ASI and nothing else.

So - multiclassing at level 4 to get the level 1 abilities of a new class is FAR superior to taking the 4th level of your own class because with your system they would get the ASI anyway. If they took their own class they would get absolutely nothing except the ASI.

So it becomes a choice of ASI ... or ... ASI + extra multiclass abilities. There's absolutely no contest. Everyone would multiclass.

Quote from gmhdnd68 >>

 I’m beginning to wonder if anybody understands the question?  Simply put why make ASIs class level dependent which arbitrarily penalizes some level combinations when making them character level dependent would ensure equitable distribution.  Everyone would still receive an ASI at  4,8,12,16 and 19  character level. The fighter or rogue class/multi class would receive two at eight.  Thus every character would be eligible to receive five or six if they were a fighter or rogue class.   Anybody who says that it’s a balance of power issue, I ask how when everybody is receiving the same thing that they get now. We’re just ensuring that peoples creativity and choice isn’t penalized.

 Creativity and choice isn't penalized by having people choose between an ASI and class features of another class.  If everyone gets an ASI, some people are getting an ASI and some are getting an ASI and more class features.

ASIs are class features.  They're the bulk of what your class gives you at those levels.  (The same thing, with a few exceptions, applies to new levels of spells.)  If you based them on character level instead of class level, you would have to give every class features of equivalent value at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th levels, which would make all characters increase in power at those levels (relative to the power they would otherwise have at those levels), which would require a detailed overhaul of the encounter-balancing system, including CR. 

Let's compare some standard-rules builds for a 20th-level cleric/sorcerer with an approximately even split. 

• Cleric 12/sorcerer 8 has 5 ASIs, 6th-level cleric spells, 4th-level sorcerer spells, 8 sorcery points, and 12% chance of Divine Intervention. 
• Cleric 11/sorcerer 9 loses an ASI, gains access to 5th-level sorcerer spells, gains a sorcery point, and reduces its Divine Intervention chance to 11%. 
• Cleric 10/sorcerer 10 loses access to 6th-level cleric spells, gains a metamagic option, gains a sorcerer cantrip, gains a sorcery point, and reduces its Divine Intervention chance to 10%. 
• Cleric 9/sorcerer 11 loses Divine Intervention, gains access to 6th-level sorcerer spells, loses a cleric cantrip, and gains a sorcery point. 
• Cleric 8/sorcerer 12 gains an ASI, loses access to 5th-level cleric spells, and gains a sorcery point. 

By the way, fighters get extra ASIs at 6th and 14th, not 10th. 

Your still in left field.  You don’t replace it with anything. If you’re  a 4th level Standard template cut out (single class) you get your ASI at 4th level and again at 8,12,16,19 like normal. If you’re  a Multi class that is not leveling one class first, a 2/2 for example you would get it now(4th level) but you don’t get one at 2/4. Then look what happens you synchronize again at 4/4 with the 8th level single class. Very similar to how it works now, if you choose to level 2 classes at once you catch up with single class characters at 8.  Unless you’re doing something odd Like 3/3/3.  

It doesn’t change anything for single class.  Every character class schedule except fighter and rogue has blank spots so, you have a blank spot  if you’re a multi class.  You still receive an ASI and none of your character abilities have changed at all. The only differences would be for multi class.

 Your five examples are what I’m talking about.  All 20th level and very evenly matched yet two received a 5th ASI at 19th level 3 didn’t. You want us to think this is some kind of game balance but it isn’t because it only affects some combinations of multi class.  If it was a balance it would effect all Multi class the same.  You certainly wouldn’t have some get 4 and others 5 and if you Multi class with a rogue or fighter 6 or 7 as a fighter/rogue.  That’s not balance that’s randomness. If you look at the 11th cleric/9th sorcerer how can you compare getting one 5th level spell with loosing the ability to increase a stat by 2 as balanced. That additional spell wouldn’t  make the combination overpowered if they got a 5th ASI. 

 The ASIs are not balancing anything because  everyone gets them. Everyone gets them at 4,8,12,16,and 19 with the rogue and fighter getting an extra one thrown in.  They’re not class specific because everybody gets the same thing and as long as you meet the prerequisite everyone can have the same feat. As long as you choose the right combination you get as many or more than anybody else.

Lastly this is a cooperative imaginative game so why not encourage people to make the character that they want with the abilities and feats that makes it special. Rather than encouraging choosing a combination that gets them the most.