Multiclassing and BaB

[Nubzcrymore]

Ok so i wanted a clarification on how your bab works when you multiclass. For purpose of example what would the BaB of 8Barb/2Fighter, two classes that both have full BaB.

[concerro]

Nubzcrymore wrote:

Ok so i wanted a clarification on how your bab works when you multiclass. For purpose of example what would the BaB of 8Barb/2Fighter, two classes that both have full BaB.

Just add them together. The same as the other classes. You would get +10/+5 for this particular combo

[Nubzcrymore]

concerro wrote:

Nubzcrymore wrote:

Ok so i wanted a clarification on how your bab works when you multiclass. For purpose of example what would the BaB of 8Barb/2Fighter, two classes that both have full BaB.

Just add them together. The same as the other classes. You would get +10/+5 for this particular combo

Thank You very much

[SirUrza]

Yeap, if the BAB of the class your taking increases, so does your characters.

Take the sorcerer for example. From level 2 and 3 have the same BAB, so when leveling from 2 to 3, your BAB multiclassed wouldn't change, but when you take your 4th level of sorcerer it would increase.

Anytime your BAB hits +6, you get an extra attack regardless of the class level.

Your saves work the same way btw.

[james maissen]

Nubzcrymore wrote:

Ok so i wanted a clarification on how your bab works when you multiclass. For purpose of example what would the BaB of 8Barb/2Fighter, two classes that both have full BaB.

Sadly they did not alter this from 3.5 so that a Cleric1/Rogue1 will have a 0BAB while a cleric2 or rogue2 each have 1BAB.

-James

[Scipion del Ferro]

james maissen wrote:

Sadly they did not alter this from 3.5 so that a Cleric1/Rogue1 will have a 0BAB while a cleric2 or rogue2 each have 1BAB.

-James

It's just one of the things you have to forfeit when you deal with multi-classing.

The same thing applies in reverse for saves. If you take two classes that give you +2 Will at first level you get +4 Will at second level.

[Arazyr]

There was a variant rule in Unearthed Arcana about "Fractional Bonuses" that helped that situation. Basically, you calculate each class' BAB from the formula (in this example, level * 3/4 for Cleric and Rogue), add them together, THEN drop fractions. You can do that with save bonuses as well.

[azhrei_fje]

I've had players argue they wanted to use the UA variant you mentioned. I don't allow it. One of the penalties for stacking a bunch of different class abilities (saves, access to spell lists, and so on) is the decreased BAB. If you're going to multiclass, just suck it up and move on.

[james maissen]

azhrei_fje wrote:

I've had players argue they wanted to use the UA variant you mentioned. I don't allow it. One of the penalties for stacking a bunch of different class abilities (saves, access to spell lists, and so on) is the decreased BAB. If you're going to multiclass, just suck it up and move on.

Its not a penalty though, just making a very uneven playing field.

I can make PCs that have base saves better than Monks with a medium or better BAB.

But it does restrict what you can effectively multiclass as well as skew out to hell saves.

I posit that for a given level a PCs base saves should be between good and poor, and that their BAB should be between a wizard poor and a fighter full.

But the current/old rules don't model this. And yes back in early 2001 an easy solution (basically adding fractions) was designed. I just found it sad that Pathfinder couldn't adopt this.

-James

[AlanM]

I like the UA variant for both saves and BAB, though I do modify it slightly:
for saves I do not give that +2 for the good saves at level 1, rather I just simply go by the increments so if you go level 1 wizard/level 1 cleric, they have a +2 (+2 5/6) Fort save, a +0 (+2/3) Reflex save, and a +3 (+3) Will save and +1 (+1 1/4) BAB

Personally, I find that diminished class abilities is enough of a moderating factor that I don't feel the need to punish my players with a weak BAB and saves. Plus, it serves to eliminate one of the largest deterrents for trying to enter a prestige class, either a low BAB or saves.