I have been thinking of the classes and the amount of xp it takes for each to go up in level. Some people think that this class or that class is more powerful then the next and how one could make a changed to bring it in line with the others or what have you.
I have also been thinking about xp and how all classes level with the same amount of xp no matter if they are a rogue or a wizard that must study the great arcane....and to some extent the npc classes that are so underpowered being that they are not normally used by players.
Anyways to my point and my question.... there are three xp charts given for all classes depending on how quick you as a dm would like the pcs to go up in level. Would it be such a bad idea to maybe give npc classes the fast rate of gain other pc class the med rate or even the slow rate depending on power or just the class it may be, I know that it would be more paperwork and such, but not much.
I have even thought of maybe to balance multiclassing have it that if a fighter of 10th level wanted to start learning the ways of magic he would have a wizards pull of xp and his own fighters xp pool, along the lines of 1st and 2nd ed.
Maybe he would have to gain an amount of multiclassing xp then cash it in for a the first level of the new class of another and depending on how hard to go from one class to another would depend on how much xp would be spent. So rogue and fighter maybe not so bad, fighter to wizard would be much more but after that you would level up in the new class by that xp pool. Or maybe one would have to roleplay and do in game non xp cost things to start in the new class.
Anyways just some thoughts, what would be good and bad about this system, could it work or would it just brake. What are any of your ideas on this?
When it comes to amount of xp, I usually go with "the gut feeling". I rarely use xp charts when I'm Game Master. Players lv with the progression of the storyline. They can be lv 2 for lets say 2-5 sessions, but the trick is they should not feel cheated. For stupid example, if you are making a VS. ORC campaign it is kinda silly if they start killing poor orcs with ease and they don't feel a challenge. You can always later on increase xp awards saying they are adventure, quests, roleplay, etc. awards.
When it comes to Ad&D multiclass and dual-class it has some serious problems, it has soul, but serious problems. For example,multiclass characters divide xp equally between all of his classes. If you want to be fighter 14/ranger 14, you need to accumulate 3,600,000 xp points (1,500,000 for lv 14 fighter, and 1,800,000 for lv 14 ranger), and on higher levels you start to stagnate in comparison to pure classes (with 3,600,000 xp you could be lv 20 fighter or lv 20 ranger).
Dual-class also has a problem, when you take a second class you can't use any of your former abilities until both classes become equal in levels. So if you are lv 10 wizard, and want to learn some fighter stuff, you can't use any of your spells or any wizard ability if you want your xp.
My suggestion would be gestalt classes from Unearthed Arcana, but because they can become very powerful I would tweak them down. I would suggest it for high fantasy campaign with epic or world shattering storyline.
If you wish to make different xp for different classes based on their power, I would not suggest it. First of I'm not a power gamer, and in last few campaign I didn't make any builds. Now for the reason. Reason is simple, I never feel useless or underpowered by spellcasters. If I play a fighter, or a rogue I know that my job is easy. Keep the badguys from a owerpowered spellcaster who is more crunchy than me. He may be able to kill things with one word, and be able to roll 20d6 on dmg, but one slap over his face could send him to unconcsiousness. It is matter of teamwork, and how your group plays.
Hope this helps.