From: foxx@foxxjac.Berkeley.EDU (Andrew "AJ" Foxx)
Subject: Re: ADND2: Help with Dual-Class
Reply-To: foxx@foxxjac.b17a.ingr.com
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 14:19:40 GMT

In article <1992Apr4.205331.27142@nevada.edu>,
wildcard@nevada.edu ( WildCard !!) writes:
|> 
|> My problem:
|> 	There is a character who wishes to be dual-classed.
|> 	He has all the requirements met, but I don't understand
|> 	something.
|> 	[deleted: a bunch flaws in the system.]
|> My request:
|> 	Could I get your input on this. I'm not a AD&D2
|> 	Guru yet (Too many games, too little time).  Am I missing
|> 	something?  I'd appreciate *any* info from "offical
|> 	sources" to house rules.
|> 
|> Thanx in advance!
|> 
|>                                    - WildCard !!
|> +-----------------------     wildcard@redrock.nevada.edu  --------------------+
|> 

Well, the posts so far have illustrated that YES, dual-class is
as messed up as you thought.  Everyone deals with it with his own
flair.  Here's my particular twist since you did leave yourself
open to house rules bombardment.  Part of this philosophy
appeared in another thread already for those who think this looks
faintly familiar.

I treat multi- and dual-class the same (using only class
requirements, not double-class requiredments for stats),
altering xp applied to "simulate" the quality and quantity of
work a character spends with each classes' skills and abilities.
 Most of this is not usually in-game.  How often does a fighter
character explicitly say, "I'm spending the evening
shadow-fencing," or a thief say "I practice climbing on my
bedroom wall?"  They sometimes say this, but its mostly assumed.
 So I divide xp among the characters classes and penalize those
classes that the character considers less important.

This way there is a difference between a fighter who becomes a
thief and a fighter who picks up thievery.  With this method,
*no* knowledge is lost or suppressed.  Instead of the original
class being "turned off" then "turned on" when the new class
passes the old in level, the character gradually changes as xp
is given.

The method is somewhat like this:

 First, have the player say which class is his primary and which 
 is secondary, tertiary,...  Have the character spend time to get 
 started with his new skills.  Don't give new proficiency slots 
 unless more time is spent to learn those too.
 
 Second, when xp is given, divide it among the characters classes.
 The primary class receives its share in full.  The secondary
 receives its with a -20% penalty.  The tertiary receives its with
 a -40% penalty...  Note that a four class multi/double is
 possible, but a five one is not.  If a player whines that all
 his classes are equal, just add up the penalties and apply
 evenly; -10% to both of two, -20% to all of three,...

There is still much that the DM can play with.  How long training
is.  If all skills and profiencies can be learned at the time and
place the character is at. Et cetera.

Also consider how the classes will interact.  For example, I
allow a fighter-thief to use specialization on backstabs (side
note: instead of doubling damage, I have a thief roll double dice
and add one set of plusses).  I also modify hit points if this is
actually a change to a new primary class.  As this new class
progresses, the character loses/gains half the difference in HD.
So a fighter that becomes a mage loses 3 (d10 to d4 -> diff of 6)
hit points as each mage level is gained.  A mage becoming a
priest would gain 2 (d4 to d8 -> diff of 4) hit points at each
level.

With this method you could also let a character "drop" a class, 
but since the character can't develop selective amnesia, the 
class would still siphon off some xp (I say half that it gets 
normally) and gets penalized for being secondary,...  A
fighter will always gain more xp in fighter even if he isn't
currently practicing, because he knows what he is looking for.

Finally, it's your game, it's your rules.  If it's fair,
reasonable, and semi-consistent, any player's problem with it is
just that, his problem, not yours.
-- 
   ] Andrew "AJ" Foxx           ] Software Analyst - Mapping Sciences Division
   ] foxx@foxxjac.b17a.ingr.com ] Intergraph Corporation
   ] voice (205) 730-1921       ] M/S IW17A4  Huntsville AL U.S.A.  35894-0001