A character may add new classes as he or she progresses in levels, thereby becoming a multiclass character. The class abilities from all of a character’s classes combine to determine a multiclass character’s overall abilities.
Class and level features
As a general rule, the abilities of a multiclass character are the sum of the abilities provided by each of the character’s classes.
Level
“Character level” is a character’s total number of levels. It is used to determine when feats and ability score increases are gained, as per Table Experience and Level-Dependent Benefits.
“Class level” is the character’s level in a particular class. For a hero whose levels are all in the same class, character level and class level are the same.
Hit Points
A hero gains hit points from each class as his or her class level increases, adding the new hit points to the previous total. For example, Brandon began as a Smart hero and attained 4th level, then added levels of Strong at his next two level advancements. As a 4th-level Smart/2nd-level Strong hero, his total hit points are ld6 + ld6 + ld6 + ld6 + ld8 + ld8. His Constitution modifier of +1 applies to each hit point die roll, and he received maximum hit points at 1st level (6 + 1 = 7 hp).
Base Attack Bonus
Add the base attack bonuses for each class to get the hero’s base attack bonus. A resulting value of +6 or higher provides the hero with multiple attacks. For instance, a 6th-level Dedicated/2nd-level Strong hero has a base attack of +6 (+4 for the Dedicated levels and +2 for the Strong). A base attack bonus of +6 allows a second attack with a bonus of +1, even though neither the +4 from the Dedicated levels nor the +2 from the Strong levels normally allows an additional attack.
| Base Attack Bonus | Additional Attacks at |
|---|---|
| +6 | +1 |
| +7 | +2 |
| +8 | +3 |
| +9 | +4 |
| +10 | +5 |
| +11 | +6/+1 |
| +12 | +7/+2 |
| +13 | +8/+3 |
| +14 | +9/+4 |
| +15 | +10/+5 |
| +16 | +11/+6/+1 |
| +17 | +12/+7/+2 |
| +18 | +13/+8/+3 |
| +19 | +14/+9/+4 |
| +20 | +15/+10/+5 |
To use multiple attacks in the same round, you must use a full attack, which is a full-round action.
Saving Throws
Add the base save bonuses for each class together. A3rd-level Tough/3rd-level Fast hero gets +3 on Fortitude saving throws (+2 for the Tough levels and +1 for the Fast levels), +3 on Reflex saving throws (+1 and +2), and +2 on Will saving throws (+1 and 4).
Defense Bonus
Add the Defense bonuses for each class together. A 4th-level Strong/2nd-level Smart hero has a Defense bonus of +3 plus +1, for a total of +4. If the same hero then picked up a level of Tough, she would add +1 to increase her Defense bonus to +5.
Reputation Bonus
Add Reputation bonuses together. So, a 4th-level Strong/2nd-level Smart hero has a +1 Reputation bonus (+0 for the Strong levels and +1 for the Smart levels).
Skills
A multiclass hero uses his character level to determine the maximum ranks he can have in a skill. If a skill is a class skill for any of a multiclass hero’s classes, then use character level to determine a skill’s maximum rank. (The maximum rank for a class skill is 3 + character level.)
When a multiclass hero gains a level in a class, he spends that levels skill points as a member of that class. Only that class’s class skills may be purchased as class skills. All other skills, including skills for another class the hero has levels in, are considered cross-class skills when ranks in those skills are purchased at this level.
Class Features
The character gets all class features (talents, bonus feats, or other special abilities) of all classes for the levels he possesses.
Feats
A multiclass character receives a new feat every three character levels, regardless of individual class level (see Experience and Level-Dependent Benefits). Taking one level in a new class does not entitle a character to receive the two feats that a beginning 1st-level character gets. For example, a 1st-level Strong hero who gains 1,000 XP and then takes one level of Smart becomes a 2nd-level character, and at that level he does not get a new feat. When he attains his next new level and increases his character level to 3rd, then he receives a new feat just as all 3rd-level characters do.
Ability Increases
A multiclass character increases one ability score by +1 every four character levels, regardless of individual class level (see Experience and Level-Dependent Benefits).
Adding a Second Class
When a character with one class gains a level, he or she may choose to increase the level of his or her current class or pick up a new class at 1st level. This could be a basic class or, if the character qualifies for it, an advanced class. (See advanced classes for more information.)
The character gains the 1st-level base attack bonus, base save bonuses, class skills, other class features of the new class, hit points of the appropriate die type, and the new class’s number of skill points gained at each additional level (not that number x 4, as is the case for a 1st-level character).
Picking up a new class is not exactly the same as starting a character in that class. Some of the benefits for a 1st-level hero represent the advantage of training while the character was young and fresh, with lots of time to practice. When picking up a new class. a hero doesn’t receive maximum hit points but should roll the new Hit Die.
Advancing a Level
Each time a multiclass character attains a new level. he either increases one of his current class levels by one or picks up a new class at 1st level.
When a multiclass character increases one of his class levels by one, he gets all the standard benefits that characters receive for attaining the new level in that class: more hit points, possible bonuses on attack rolls. Defense, and saving throws (depending on the class and the new level), a new class feature (as defined by the class), and new skill points.
Skill points are spent according to the class that the multiclass character just advanced in (see Skill Points per Level). Skills purchased from Skills are purchased at the cost appropriate for that class.
How Multiclassing Works
Brandon Cross, a 4th-level Smart hero, decides he wants to expand his repertoire by improving some of his physical attributes. When Cross accumulates 10,000 XP, he becomes a 5th-level character. Instead of becoming a 5th-level Smart hero, however, he decides to become a 4th-level Smart/1st-level Strong hero. (How exactly he picked up this new area of focus isn’t critical to the campaign, though the player and Gamemaster are encouraged to create an in-game reason and opportunity for the hero to do so.)
Now, instead of gaining the benefits of a new level of Smart, he gains the benefits of becoming a 1st-level Strong hero. He gets hit points from a 1st-level Strong hero’s Hit Die (1d8 plus his Constitution modifier), a 1st-level
Strong hero’s +1 base attack bonus, a 1st-level Strong hero’s +1 Fortitude save bonus, and the Strong hero’s skill points (3 + his Intelligence modifier). When purchasing skills for this new level, Brandon uses the Strong hero’s class skills to determine whether a skill point buys 1 rank or ½ rank. if he wants to add ranks to one of the Smart hero’s class skills, that skill is considered a cross-class skill for him at this level.
The benefits described above are added to the scores Brandon already had as a Smart hero. His Defense gets a +1 bonus. His Reflex save bonus, Will save bonus. and Reputation bonus do not increase because these numbers are +0 for a 1st-level Strong hero. He doesn’t gain any of the benefits a 5th-level Smart hero gains. He could spend some of his new skill points to improve his Smart skills, but since they would be treated as cross-class skills for this purpose, these skill points would each buy only ½ rank.
Upon accumulating 15,000 XP, Brandon becomes a 6th-level hero. He decides he’d like to continue along the Strong path, so he increases his Strong level once more instead of increasing his Smart level or picking up a level in a third class. Again he gains the Strong hero’s benefits for attaining a new level rather than the Smart hero’s. At this point, Brandon is a 6th-level hero: a 4th-level Smart/2nd-level Strong hero.
At each new level he attains, Brandon must decide whether to increase his Smart level or his Strong level. Of course, if he wants to have even more diverse abilities, he could acquire a third class, either a basic class or (if he qualifies) an advanced class. In general, a character can have levels in as many different classes as there are classes.