With very little in new books this month, I have been going thru some of my older books that I have not read in a while and I came across something I had forgotten about. In Mongoose's Quintessential II class books, each had a chapter on Multiclassing with the book's class as the primary class. It looked at each combo's positives and negatives, builds and most interestingly Variant class options only available to a multi-classed PC.
Most of these were based off the synergy of the two classes. For example;
Rogue/Ranger: When Sneak Attacking your Favored Enemy, you use d8 instead of d6.
Bard/Sorcerer: Pooling your Spell slots so you cast from one per day list but having access to either spell list, depending on the class you leveled in.
Druid/Bard: Using your combined level when using your Wild Empathy, because "influencing" is part of being a Bard.
Wizard/Sorcerer: Sacrificing your Sorcerer's casting of spells and use the energy to pay for your Metamagic feats on the fly.
As someone who used to play half-elves exclusively in AD&D just to get the Multi-class options, I would love to see a chapter on muti-classing options and limitations. Maybe some variant class options and feats that are only available to those who multi-class would help silence those who think you loose too much when you do cross train.
I would like this as well. Some new multi-class only options would be a interesting option
This is interesting.
Most of the focus on "fixing" multiclassing (only some parts actually need fixing imo) are focused on the system itself (magic rating for caster level, etc.)
This would be adding content, such as feats, to blend specific combinations better. This won't work well when new classes are added (unless additional options are included for combining it with each and every previous class (an ever growing list)), but is at least a new way mostly.
I was always leery of the Quintessentials as a whole. Just skimming through them in the local shop they seem... out of whack.
While the concept sounds good creating greater synergy between multi-classed classes it needs to be done carefully. Feats would be the more likely method for handling this, maybe targeting the extra feats PFRGP adds to level chart (3 total). My guess would be a feat for 3rd, 9th, and 15th levels. Also note that most PFRPG races have two favored class options which also gives a nice place to start from.
From a fan-test standpoint it could be fun going through each class and looking at the multi-classing interactions in the PFRPG.
They are all done as "Variant Class Options" with you giving up something to gain the new advantage. Since some classes have overlaping abilities like Evasion, these also function as a replacement option.
Some could also be reworked into feats so that they are not limited to just one multi-class combo.
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Most of the time, it is spellcasters and a few classes that are based on Class Level rather than Character Level for specific advancement. So What if a primary spellcaster began multiclassing recieve additional spell levels (caster level and new spells) at 1/3 the normal rate. Maybe even 1/2, but that seems a bit high to me. I saw this option somewhere a long while ago, but it only applied to Caster Level, so failed.
I'm afraid this won't become core, since it would take up space, and there's not that much free space left in the PF book.
Plus, it does mean that it's a privilege to established classes. They'd have to give you new feats for the new classes they create. And if they have more than one book, they have to have a lot cross-reference for Class X out of book 1 and Class Y out of book 2. Or Classes W, X, Y, Z out of 4 books. And even if it doesn't come to that, older classes are out of luck.
I'd rather have a systemic approach, which would have the advantage of taking less space and fixing more combinations, including ones that aren't created yet or were created when those rules weren't invented yet.
A mixed approach might be best: I had the idea a while back that other classes would count half for the power of some, or even all, of your class abilities depending on level (smite gives you extra damage equal to paladin level, so with this option, a pal10/ftr10 would get +15), and there would even be an option to get more class abilities (i.e. paladin gets aura of resolve at 8th, so with this option, a pal6/ftr4 would get it). It has to be all-or-nothing - some things you would get in any case, some you wouldn't get at all, and for some you'd need the "improved multiclassing (your class)" feat.
I haven't playtested this, or thought about which abilities would fall into which category, but it would mean that you only need space for one feat, a paragraph or three of explanation, and a short paragraph per class that tells you which abilities fall into what category.
It would mean that third party classes would have nothing (or we would need to do it ourselves), but it would eliminate the rabid cross-referencing we would need to catch all combos (or have something akin to 2es restrictive multiclassing choices when some combos don't get treatment)
Yet there is no Feat needed for a Fighter to increase HD and Base Attack when they Multiclass. . .
No, there isn't. But his weapon training won't improve, and he will get no bonus feats. And his fighter level won't increase, which means things like greater weapon focus and all the other fighter-only feats that are bing rolled in are off-limits.
Plus, the general opinion seems to be that fighters can use some love.
Just an example.
But not a good one. :P
My idea would increase magic users' caster levels, too, and other stuff. Skill users already get more skill points with current rules.