| Rezdave |
So we all know the problem ... a character who started as a straight Wizard or Fighter becomes heavily involved with a story arc in-game and in-session that would logically see them multi-class into Rogue (for urban or dungeon scenarios) or Ranger (for wilderness arcs).
However, the Player looks at the fact that the high Skill Points offered by these classes, particularly at 1st Level, and their ability to function effectively in these areas is hamstrung by multi-classing into them after 1st Level by loss of the 4x modifier that they choose not to do so, even though it makes every bit of sense IC and the Player would be otherwise happy to do it if not for the mechanical "punishment" they receive for not meta-gaming and taking their highest Skill-Point-earning class at 1st level.
A solution ...
Offer a PC multi-classing into a higher-earning class the balance of Skill Points they would have gained if they had taken the level at 1st Level.
Actually, the Rule and math has to be a little more complicated than that. It should be:
The PC gains the full allotment of Skill Points for advancing in their new Class plus any normal Intelligence bonus points. Additionally, if the new Class earns more Points-per-Level than the previous Class, the PC gains bonus points equalling 3x the difference between the two.
Thus ...
Fred the Fighter leaves the king's army and starts adventuring. Over the next several months he joins a group and wanders the wilderness and comes to the aid of a tribe of wood elves who become close friends and allies after the party saves them from a terrible disease (that, coincidentally, only affects wood-elves). Having spent so much time among the elves Fred has learned much of their silvan ways and survival skills. It is logical for him to take his next Level in Ranger. Since he earned only 4 x 2 = 8 points as a Fighter (having 11 Intelligence) at 1st Level, compared to the 24 he would have earned as a Ranger, RAW would severely punish him. This House-Rule offers him the normal 6 Points for multi-classing in Ranger, plus a bonus of 12 points ( 3 x ( 6 - 2 ) ) ... since having capable Ranger Skills is so critical to his Class-role. Per RAW he would only have a total of 14 points as a Ftr1/Rgr1, while a Rgr1/Ftr1 (perhaps a wood-elf he taught his fighting-skills in exchange for wood-craft) would have a far-superior 26 points. But now, HR-Fred has 26 points as well ( 8 + 6 + 12 ).
... or ...
William the Wizard, living in the city and having a preference for rays and touch-attack spells, is a charismatic and dextrous fellow with a 17 Intelligence. He joins a group of adventurers to explore crypts under the city when they stumble upon the lair of a group of thieves and what they believe are plans to assassinate the king. Investigating these plans they both interact with scheming nobles and sneak through the tunnels, sewers and crypts in which thief's guild hides. The investigation takes years, but by the time he reaches 5th level, William has become something of a skilled negotiator and trap-finder ... or at least he should be. He desires to advance as a Wiz4/Rog1, but RAW only offers him a paltry 8+4 (since he bumped his Int. last level) Skill Points for a total of 48 total points = ( 4 x ( 2 + 3 ) ) + 5 + 5 + 6 + ( 8 + 4 ) ... far less than the 66 a Rog1/Wiz4 would have and nowhere near giving him the points needed in his now-classed Diplomacy, Search and Disable Device to match his actual abilities. Fortunately, HR-William gains a bonus of 18 points ( 3 x ( 8 - 2 ) ) to make up the difference, bringing him up to the same 66 total. Even though he has increased his Intelligence modifier, however, he does not gain an extra 3 bonus Int. points.
Note that, due to initial point-spends, neither Fred nor William will match the Skill Ranks in their new Skills of their compatriots who started in those higher-earning areas, but then they do have more ranks in other areas appropriate to their starting professions. Overall, they achieve a better balance.
Also, this House Rule provides no bonus points to characters who multi-class into lower-earning classes. They will simply need to live with what they have ... but then their new Classes are lower-earning for a reason and their Class Abilities (spells or martial feats) are much more important to their make-up and functionality anyway, so they should be less hampered.
No doubt a few groups are already doing this.
Feedback appreciated,
Rez