Multiclassing: Saves and BAB

Okay, having just made a case for simplifying multiclassing, here's a way to make it more complicated again. This one traps the problems with the Fighter/Ranger multiclass, and a few others, where adding a single level of each of two classes with a good save in common gains the character a huge bonus in that save. It also leaves the character weak in other saves, which can be seen as a bad thing.

The adoption of this rule needs to be carefully considered by the DM, as it can drastically change some of the character design decisions: the first level of a new class is no longer quite so desirable, and characters can end up rather different than in the core books. Proceed with caution.

Behind the curtain, each class is rated with a BAB at "good", "medium" or "poor", and three saves each rated either "good" or "poor". So, Fighters have good BAB and Fort save, but poor Ref and Will. Monks have medium BAB and three good saves.

• Good BAB classes give a +1 bonus per level. This can be seen on the Fighter, Barbarian, Ranger and Paladin advancement tables.
• Medium BAB classes give a +3/4 bonus per level, rounded down. This applies to Bards, Clerics, Druids and Monks.
• Poor BAB classes gave a +1/2 bonus per level, again rounded down. This applies to Sorcerers and Wizards.

• Good saves get a bonus of +1/2 per level, but also gain an additional +2 at 1st level.
• Poor saves get a bonus of +1/3 per level.

So, the house rule I'd propose is that multiclass characters add up how many levels they have each of good, medium and poor BAB, and good and poor saves, and calculate the bonuses accordingly.

Example: A Wizard 1/Sorcerer 1 has 2 poor BAB levels, 2 good Will levels, and 2 poor Fort and Ref levels. The appropriate BAB, then, is (+1/2 +1/2 = ) +1, while the Will save is (+2 + 2* 1/2 = ) +3, and the Fort and Ref saves are (+1/3 * 2 = ) +0. This contrasts with the current arrangement of +0 BAB, +4 Will, and +0 Fort and Ref.

Example 2: A Fighter 6/Cleric 4/Rogue 2 has 6 good and 6 medium BAB levels (bonus +1 * 6 +3/4 * 6 = +10), 10 good and 2 poor Fort levels (+2 +1/2 *10 +1/3 *2 = +7), 2 good and 10 poor Ref levels (+2 +1/2 *2 +1/3 *10 = +6), 4 good and 8 poor Will levels (+2 +1/2 *4 +1/3 *8 = +6). The current arrangement is +10 BAB (+6+3+1), +9 Fort (+5+4+0), +6 Ref (+2+1+3), +6 (+2+4+0).

The net result of this house rule appears to be that characters are a bit better balanced (one save cannot run away from the others to the same extent as before), but about the same overall power level. However, for the most part, characters will end up looking almost exactly the same.

Conclusion: Only do this if the current arrangement bothers you (particularly things like Fighter/Ranger/Barbarian/Paladin combinations). Otherwise, it's too much effort to bother with.