Best Houserule for multiclassing and multiattack?

[FrogReaver]

5e has done a great job of avoiding dead levels (a level where you gain no ability) for all classes. That said, if you multiclass 2 classes that get multiattack then you will have a dead level at level 5 in the second class. I want to avoid those combinations having a dead level. What is the best solution?

 

[Mistwell]

5e has done a great job of avoiding dead levels (a level where you gain no ability) for all classes. That said, if you multiclass 2 classes that get multiattack then you will have a dead level at level 5 in the second class. I want to avoid those combinations having a dead level. What is the best solution?

Maybe give them the starting proficiencies from their second class that they missed out on when they first multiclassed?

 

[Horwath]

I think a feat is a good filler for that level.

 

[Blue]

Fighting Style choice is thematic.

 

[Blue]

I think a feat is a good filler for that level.

I have an "uncommon case" concern - one that isn't guaranteed but is likely to come up frequently.

Since we're limiting this to classes that give extra attack, every case I've seen where you are multiclassing two calsses that both have extra attack, one of them is Fighter. Fighter has some great abilities at low levels. 2nd level for Action Surge is there. 3rd for a archetype is really common. Once there, 4th for an ASI/feat. But now we get another feat at 5th (repalcing the second extra attack), and a THIRD ASI/feat at 6th where fighter would normally get it.

That just seems like a lot of ASI/feats in a short period.

Now, to do that you're may be 0 to 0.75 (0-3 levels) behind in ASIs already depending on what level you went up to in the non-fighter class. So maybe it's not a big deal in practice.

Just wanted to get more eyes on it to see if it's a problem or not.

 

[Horwath]

I have an "uncommon case" concern - one that isn't guaranteed but is likely to come up frequently.

Since we're limiting this to classes that give extra attack, every case I've seen where you are multiclassing two calsses that both have extra attack, one of them is Fighter. Fighter has some great abilities at low levels. 2nd level for Action Surge is there. 3rd for a archetype is really common. Once there, 4th for an ASI/feat. But now we get another feat at 5th (repalcing the second extra attack), and a THIRD ASI/feat at 6th where fighter would normally get it.

That just seems like a lot of ASI/feats in a short period.

Now, to do that you're may be 0 to 0.75 (0-3 levels) behind in ASIs already depending on what level you went up to in the non-fighter class. So maybe it's not a big deal in practice.

Just wanted to get more eyes on it to see if it's a problem or not.

You need to look at reverse for that.

Would you spend an ASI for having 2 attacks instead of 1?

Yes you would. without any questions.

Would you spend an ASI for having 3 attacks instead of 2?

Yes. Again without questions.


So, extra attack is more powerfull than ASI.

 

[Mistwell]

I think a feat is too powerful. It's not related to multi-classing really either. It's the gap that's the issue, not the missing attack. If you focus on the missing attack, you've shifted to "let's reward multiclassing these classes". Putting something there makes sense, but not tying that something to the power level of an extra attack. Which is why I proposed getting what you missed out on for multi-classing when you first multi-classed, so it's tied to multiclassing itself, and not the extra attack.

So for example, if your second class is fighter under RAW you get:

Armor: Light Armor, Medium Armor, shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
Tools: none
Skills: none

But the Fighter at first level gets these proficiency:

Armor: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, shields
Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
Tools: none
Skills: Choose two skills from Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, and Survival

So at the "empty" multiclassing level you'd get Heavy Armor proficiency and two skills from that list.

You could also add back in the missing saving throw proficiencies. Normally a first level fighter gets Strength, Constitution saving throw proficiency so you could add those in at that level as well, if you feel the armor and skills is not enough (though I think adding BOTH saves is probably excessive if your first class had no overlaps with those).

 

[FrogReaver]

How would people feel about +1 damage?

 

[Warmaster Horus]

I don't think a dead level is all that bad for what you're probably getting via MCing. But of the advise given, I like the choosing a Fighting Style option.

 

[BluejayJunior]

I'd go with Mistwell's suggestion of proficiencies. I don't think you should get something comparable to Extra Attack. That's one of the downsides that goes with multiclassing that should be taken into account when choosing to multiclass. Same as the way spell slots interact when multiclassing half and full casters.