Hello everyone,
this will be a long post because I want to share an idea for an alternative multiclass system.
This multiclass system tries to keep PF2s spirit of never reducing the class feature advancement of your primary class but still allow multiclassing. This system doen't need specificly tailored multiclass archetypes and tries to make a generic approach instead.
There are multiclass feats that give you the class features of classes and let you take their Class Feats, albeit at a lower level.
This system differentiates between generic class features and class specific features.
Structure
Generic features are the ancestry, skill and general feats, skill increases and ability score increases every class gets at the same levels. Those are not changed by this system, will be gained on a character level basis and are seperate from ones class. If this system talks about class features, only really class specific features are meant.
All levels of a class at which you gain class specific class features will be called Core Levels here. Normally that are all odd levels, with some even levels for high level spell casters. Core Levels are the hardcoded parts of a class and are gained in a linear manner ordered by level (as it is now).
If the first level of a class also lets you choose a level 1 class feat, this class feat slot is part of the class features at first level and can always only hold a level 1 class feat regardless when you get those class features.
Class Feats stay the same as now. Your maximum effective class level for choosing Class Feats for a class will be the number of levels at which you gained a Core Level or a Class Feat or Multiclass Feat for that class times 2 (up to your character level). If you only have a single class this number will always be at least your level so don't worry about it, it only has a meaning for secondary classes.
Changes
Each class gets an associated skill that fits the class. Examples of those skills can be found in the current Multiclass Archetype Dedication feats (e.g. Relion for Cleric). Use your judgement here, I won't include a list.
The rogues skill feat at each odd level counts as a class feature of that Core Level and not as a generic feature.
The monks Incredible Movement changes its advancement from "every 3 monk levels" to "every 3 character levels up to your effective monk level". It also only counts as a class feature at Core Level 3.
Notes: Every feature advancing in a way that makes it advance at even levels should be handled like the monks Incredible Movement. I probably forgot some other problematic features. Those will have to be added here.
At first level you select a class and get all features of Core Level 1 as normal with PF2. This is then your primary class. You automatically gain the features of that classes Core Levels when you reach a respective character level. At every other level you can select a class feat. All as normal.
A change is that the amount of HP gained per per level is based on the class of which you gain a Core Level if it's your primary class or for which you take a Class Feat or Multiclass Feat.
This means other Archetype Feats must either give HP equal to the average of all your classes or provide their own HP per level. In the second case, use your judgement: 10 HP per level for a combat focussed archetype, 8 or 6 HP for other types.
Multiclass Feats are feats that you can take instead of Class Feats (like archetypes). Multiclass Feats gain the class name of the class you take them for as a trait. They always count as one feat of that class for determining the effective level for class feats.
There are 6 multiclass feats of which only the first 3 are really needed. The 2 other dedications are there to make starting a second class at higher levels more rewarding instantly. The last feat is only needed if you want to allow class changing.
Traits: Multiclass, Dedication
Prereqisites: 16 in one of the classes key ability scores, Trained in the associated skill
Select a class that you don't yet have. You receive the first level class features of that class. You count as having Core Level 1 of that class.
You increase your proficiency in the listed starting proficiencies to that classes value if it is higher than your current proficiency. You don't gain the Key Ability Score and it's ability score increase.
To calculate the number of initial trained skills and signature skills, calculate the average of your current and the new classes number (add together and divide by 2), rounded down. If this number is higher than your curent one, you gain a number of trained skills or signature skills equal to the difference. Choose signature skills from the new classes list.
After taking this feat you can take class feats for that class.
Special: If you take this feat at level 2, you don't receive some features of the new classes first level. Choose the first point that applies:
- If the class has a special entry on which class features you don't receive for it as a secondary class at level 2 you don't get those
- If the first level grants a Class Feat you don't get that
- If the class grants spellcasting, cantrips and 1st level spells at level 1 you get 1 less cantrip known (and can prepare one less if you prepare) and get 1 less 1st level spell slot.
- The DM can decide which feature you don't get or that you can't choose this secondary class now
You can gain the missed features later with the Basic Competence feat.
Special: Since this is a Dedication feat, you need to gain 2 other Multiclass Feats or Class Feats of this class before taking another dedication.
Notes: I'm not sure if the handling of initial proficiencies and trained & signature skills is balanced this way. The features you don't gain per the special rule should not be some that the class needs to function. Getting those later should be optional.
Traits: Multiclass
Prereqisites: Took Basic Class Competence at level 2 and got reduced class features
You receive the missing class features and lose any reduction in class features of your secondary class you might have from taking Basic Class Dedication.
Traits: Multiclass
Prereqisites: Dedication in the class
Select the next Core Level you do not yet have in a class you have a dedication in. This feat has a level 3 levels higher than that (e.g. level 6 for Core Level 3).
You gain the selected Core Levels class features and count as having that Core Level.
You also gain the Core Level after the selected one of that class once you are 3 levels higher than that Core Level. This can happen now or when you level up later.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times as long as you qualify for it for a class.
Notes: The purpose of this feat is to get class features efficiently while having them lag a bit behind. This should be the normal multiclass feat after you take a dedication.
Traits: Multiclass, Dedication
Prereqisites: 18 in one of the classes key ability scores, Expert in the associated skill
As Basic Class Dedication but you also receive all class features of Core Level 3 and count as having Core Level 3 of that class.
Notes: This is a higher level entry point into a class, designed to get the first few levels at higher levels. You can't have more than one dedication per class.
Traits: Multiclass, Dedication
Prereqisites: 20 in one of the classes key ability scores, Expert and one Skill Feat in the associated skill
As Basic Class Dedication but you also receive all class features of Core Level 3 and 5 and count as having Core Level 3 and 5 of that class.
Notes: This is a higher level entry point into a class, designed to get the first few levels at higher levels. You can't have more than one dedication per class.
Traits: Multiclass
Prereqisites: Dedication in the class
Select the next Core Level you do not yet have in a class you have a dedication in. This feat has a level 1 levels higher than that (e.g. level 4 for Core Level 3). This feat also gains the new classes name as a trait and counts as one feat of that class for determining the effective level for class feats.
You gain the selected Core Levels class features and count as having that Core Level.
Special: You gain the Enervated 1 condition as long as your level is less than the level of this feat + 2. You cannot remove this condition by any means while you don't have a high enough level. When you level is level of this feat + 2 you can remove the condition normally.
Special: You can take this feat multiple times as long as you qualify for it for a class.
Notes: This feat isn't really needed except to allow for changing your primary class since you need the latest Core Levels of the secondary class. The Enervated condition should hurt. This feat should only be attractive when you really want to change your primary class.
Spell Slots
All spellcasting classes seem to give 2 slots for a spell level you just gained and increase this to 3 spell slots when you gain a level. Since with this multiclassing system the spell slot tables are problematic, how the number of spell slots is calculated changes.
When you gain a Core Level that gives you a new spell level (up to 9th), you gain 2 spell slots for that spell level. When your level (capped by the effective class level for secondary classes) is greater than that Core Level, the number of spell slots for that spell level rises to 3. This keeps the spell slot progression as is now but requires no table.
Multiclassing spellcasting classes will need some balancing so that you don't end up with too many spell slots per spell level. As a quick proposal I have this rule:
When multiclassing, every spellcasting class except your primary class has the spell slots it provides reduced by 1. You always have at least a minimum of 1 slot per level per class (plus any you would gain by wizard school or domain spells etc.).
Changing Primary Class
When taking a Higher Class Core with which the Core Level you gained is the highest Core Level of that class you could have with your level, you can designate that class as your primary class from now on. This process takes 1 week of downtime.
Your stats don't change but from now on, you automatically gain the Core Level of the class of this feat instead of your original primary class. You then have to take Class Core multiclass feats for your original class to advance it .
When changing your primary class, all Multiclass Feats for the new class are fixed as soon as you directly gain a Core Level and can not be retrained anymore.
At first level I take Cleric, no change here.
At second level, I choose to multiclass into Fighter and take the Basic Fighter Dedication. I receive the fighters Core Level 1s initial proficiencies and features but I do not gain its level 1 class feat.
At third level I autimatically get the Cleric's Core Level 3, which is second level spells.
At fourth level I choose a fighter class feat. As I only have the Fighter Dedication, I can select up to level 2 fighter class feats.
At fifth level I autimatically get the Cleric's Core Level 5, which is third level spells. I'll leave out those levels now.
At sixth level I take another fighter class feat. I have the dedication and one class feat already so the maximum level is 4 (2 levels times 2).
At eigth level I could take another dedication. Say I choose the Advanced Rogue Dedication. I would gain the features and proficiencies of its Level 1 and 3, including the level 1 class feat.
At tenth level, when I would choose a rogue class feat, I could only choose up to level 2 feats because even though I have the level 3 features, I only have one level at which I got rogue stuff. So 1 times 2 is 2.
At 14th level I could take the Lower Class Cores feat for Fighter and immediately gain the fighters Core Level 3 and 5 features as I already have the fighters Core Level 1 via its dedication.
Final Words
I hope I could describe what I wanted to show understandably. I guesss many aspects like number of cantrips, initial proficiencies, level requirements for the multiclass feats and much more will have to be balanced. I just wanted to share the basic concept for the system.
Thanks for reading and please share your thoughts. :)