Multiclass Spellcasters

Returning to the Mystic Theurge, I have an alternative (partial) solution to the problem of multiclass spell-casters. The basic issue is that when a character multi-classes, all of his non-magical abilities stack, while the various magical abilities are tracked seperately. What this means, in practical terms, is that you can construct a character out of any combination of Fighter, Barbarian and Rogue (and add up to 3 levels each of Paladin and Ranger), and have a character who is about equal to any other combination of these same classes. However, combining Wizard and Sorcerer, for instance, requires you to track both lots of spells seperately, and cast them seperately. Better just to follow the Wizard path exclusively.

To this end, I suggest allowing multi-class characters with two or more divine spellcasting classes to stack those classes together for the purpose of gaining spells, and characters with two or more arcane spellcasting classes to do the same.

My system would work as follows: When the character selects the first level of a new spell-casting class of the same type as an existing class, he has a one-time only choice whether to continue casting spells as his previous class, start casting spells as his new class, or to track both classes seperately.

Taking the cases in reverse order, then, if he elects to track both classes seperately, the character operates exactly as he does now. In general, this is an inefficient way to proceed, but it is also the only means by which a character can gain access to two or more spell lists.

If the character elects to cast spells exclusively as the new class, you should total up his caster level from all classes of the type (see the table below) to determine an eventual caster level. Then, use this caster level to index into the spells per day table of the chosen class. In all respects, the character casts spells as though he had only a single class at the level indicated. *

If the character elects to cast spells exclusively as his old class, you should total up his caster level from all classes of the type (see the table below) to determine an eventual caster level. Then, use this caster level to index into the spells per day table of the chosen class. In all respects, the character casts spells as though he had only a single class at the level indicated. *

Example 1: Bob is a 5th level Wizard. He takes a level of Bard, and elects to continue casting as a Wizard. According to the table, his 5 Wizard levels give a caster level of 5, while the 1 level of Bard gives a level of 0.75, for a total of 5.75. This is rounded down to 5. Bob now casts spells as a 5th level Wizard in all respects. When Bob reaches 7th (character) level, he gains another level of Bard, becoming Wizard 5/Bard 2. This adds another 0.75 to his caster level, bringing it to 6.5, which rounds down to 6. Bob now casts spells as a 6th level Wizard.

Example 2: Jeff is a 3rd level Druid. He takes a level of Cleric, and elects to cast spells as a Cleric. According to the table, both Clerics and Druids have a caster level of 1, which gives him a total caster level of 4. Jeff now casts spells as a 4th level Cleric. He loses all Druidic spell ability. *

Example 3: Richard is a 2nd level Wizard. He takes a level of Cleric. However, Wizard and Cleric are different types of caster, and so do not combine. Richard has no choice but to track each class seperately.

The caster levels of the classes are as follows:

Class	Arcane Caster Adjustment	Divine Caster Adjustment	Psionic Adjustment
Barbarian	0	0	0
Bard	0.75 (Edit: Change to 0.6)	0	0
Cleric *	0	1	0
Druid	0	1	0
Fighter	0	0	0
Monk	0	0	0
Paladin	0	0.5 (Edit: 0.33)	0
Psion	0	0	1
Psychic Warrior	0	0	0.75 (Edit: 0.8)
Ranger	0	0.5 (Edit: 0.33)	0
Rogue	0	0	0
Sorcerer	1	0	0
Wizard	1	0	0

* Since no true rule would be complete without an exception, here it is: A Cleric's domain spells are not counted with the rest of his spell-casting ability. A character will gain domain spells as indicated by his Cleric level, ignoring levels in all other classes.

Spontaneous Casting: A character has the ability to cast spontaneously if and only if he is casting as a class that can cast spontaneously. In the examples above, Bob has no ability to cast spontaneously (Wizard), Jeff can cast cure spells spontaneously (Cleric), and Richard can cast cure spells spontaneously with his Cleric spells.

Spells Known: A character who changes spell-casting class will change his list of spells known. As far as it is possible, such a character should keep as great an overlap between his old and new lists of spells known. So, a Wizard who becomes a Sorcerer may lose access to a lot of spells. Those he does have the ability to cast should be selected from the list of Wizard spells he knew before the change. A Sorcerer who becomes a Wizard loses no spells - all his existing spells are added to his spellbook.

Metamagic Feats: A character who changes casting class retains all his metamagic feats. This may leave him with useless feats (Quicken Spell). He gains no compensation for this deficit.

What This Rule Doesn't Cover

This rule is entirely untested. I have no idea how it would work in actual play. I suspect, however, that it won't break the classes too badly.

This rule also fails to address the crossover between Arcane and Divine magic, which was precisely the problem faced by the Mystic Theurge. Off the top of my head, I might allow such characters to combine levels in these classes (and to select spells from both spell-lists), but have them calculate their eventual caster level at 0.8 of the total normally generated. Spells taken from the Wizard list are subject to arcane spell failure, while spells from the Cleric list are not, and so on. I have even less confident in this ruling than the one above, though.

This rule fails to address any cross-over between Magic and Psionics. Oh, dear.

This rule doesn't allow for a Fighter/Wizard multi-class to be effective. I might counter this by giving the Ranger and Paladin a 0.5 Arcane Spell Adjustment (Edit: 0.33). As the game stands, there should be feats that reduce the spell failure chances (actually, there are already, but Wizards didn't publish them).

The Monk suffers from a similar problem. I haven't faced that one yet, either.

Comments?