Hit Dice or Character Level determines your encounter Level, vulnerability to certain spells, etc. Class Level determines all class abilities.
Your Rogue 8/Barbarian 2 can not select rage powers that require level 8.
Your Druid must have 12 levels of Druid to turn into a Huge Elemental.
If an Rogue switches to Barbarian at level 7, then if they also choose Barbarian at level 8, would they be eligible to choose a rage power that requires level 8 despite only having 2 levels of Barbarian?As I read the Multiclassing rules, a Druid would need 4 levels of Druid to unlock Wildshape, yet needs 12 total character levels to have that Wildshape change the character into a Huge elemental. Wild Shape itself being a class ability is based on Druid level, as are the number of uses each day, but as the scaling types of shaping are all based on an untyped level requirement, they are to use total character level.
Question 1: No, rage is a barbarian class ability. At rogue6/barbarian2 they can use up to level 2 rage powers. Also, you still only get 3 sneak attack dice even though you're 8th level because you only have 6 rogue levels.
Question 2: See question 1. You can Wildshape to a huge elemental at DRUID level 12, not CHARACTER level 12.
Any skills, powers, or abilities that are listed in a class advancement table require that you meet the specific class level requirement. There are some prestige classes that modify this for base classes in specific ways.
The same rule applies to caster level checks. A wizard8/cleric8 casts fireball as an 8th level wizard and searing light as an 8th level cleric.
Feats are pretty much the only things that base off character level else why stay with levels in any one particular class. Imagine a rogue1/fighter14 who gets 8 sneak attack dice just because he is part rogue.
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Rogue switches to Barbarian at level 7, then if they also choose Barbarian at level 8, would they be eligible to choose a rage power that requires level 8 despite only having 2 levels of Barbarian?
4 levels of Druid to unlock Wildshape, yet needs 12 total character levels to have that Wildshape change the character into a Huge elemental.
Can anyone cite anything official to refute this?
Neither work.
That rule is covering things like Leadership which requires "Character Level 7" which can be take as a level 1 Rogue if you happen to have 6 Racial HD.
Nothing to cite, you have already quoted the rule. You are just not understanding the text of the rule.
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Hm, is there a published multiclassed NPC anywhere that can be referenced?
Sigh
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/pathfinder-faq
Character Level != Class Level.
If you do not have sufficient levels in the CLASS to obtain the ability, it doesn't matter how many hit dice you have in races or other classes. You do not gain the ability.
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I think the point that fixes it for me is that under each class (barbarian, rogue, druid etc) the abilities you have listed are all listed under that particular class's "Class features" section - it is not listed as "character features" but class so all the levels listed to gain an ability are considered to be the levels of that particular class not the levels of the character eg quote from corerulebook
"At 6th level, a druid can also use wild shape to change into a Large or Tiny animal or a Small elemental" - note it says druid not character - the same applies to other classes
I would love for it to work how you are saying since I am running a character who is a rogue 3 druid 7 - extra sneak attack damage, huge elemental wildshaping etc but unfortunately (or fortuntely depending how you think) that is not how it reads.
Since everyone is of the same opinion as me & you are the only one who is reading it differently or not understanding the idea then I think you need to consider that you may be wrong on this case - oh btw I had to check the book just in case you may have found a loophole I had missed - pity
Fearless Rage (Ex): While raging, the barbarian is immune to the shaken and frightened conditions. A barbarian must be at least 12th level before selecting this rage power.
Unexpected Strike (Ex): The barbarian can make an attack of opportunity against a foe that moves into any square threatened by the barbarian, regardless of whether or not that movement would normally provoke an attack of opportunity. This power can only be used once per rage. A barbarian must be at least 8th level before selecting this power.
Note how it says a barbarian must be X level, that means barbarian levels otherwise it would say a character must be X level.
At 10th level, a druid can also use wild shape to change into a Large elemental or a Large plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid's wild shape now functions as elemental body III. When taking the form of a plant, the druid's wild shape now functions as plant shape II.
At 12th level, a druid can also use wild shape to change into a Huge elemental or a Huge plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid's wild shape now functions as elemental body IV. When taking the form of a plant, the druid's wild shape now functions as plant shape III.
Note how it says at X level a druid can change and not at X level a character can change.
I'll restate, if you only needed to take enough levels to get X ability (rage powers, wildshape, ect), what would be the point of continuing to take levels. Why not just make a barbarian1/druid1/wizard18, then you could get all the rage powers and wildshape abilities of a 20th level character plus the spellcasting of an 18th level wizard. It just doesn't work that way.
I am confused. Are you saying class features rely on class levels, or are you saying class features can be advanced by character levels?
edit: I just reread your last post. All class abilities rely on class levels unless otherwise specifically stated. Uncanny dodge and sneak attack can advance if you take another class that has those abilities already, but they specifically say so.
I don't know of any free published NPC's. In other words I don't think I can post any without breaking any copyright laws.
Monster HD do not advance class features unless the specific monster has an entry that says it does.
If any of your friends have any AP's those should have some multiclassed characters if you need examples.
What are some minority examples of when "most" class abilities are based on class levels? I am unable to find formal rules or examples for this, please advise.
There are no general rules for this. Most class abilities only advance by class. If another class or prestige class does not state that it adds to class Y's class feature then you have to advance the original class to get access to a better version of that feature or get the feature at all.
I appreciate your willingness to respond, but please understand what I'm asking about.
At 12th level(character or Druid?), a druid (requires level 4 Druid to get Wildshape, hence cannot have without being at all a Druid) can also use wild shape to change into a Huge elemental or a Huge plant creature. When taking the form of an elemental, the druid's wild shape now functions as elemental body IV. When taking the form of a plant, the druid's wild shape now functions as plant shape III.
As I read it, you do not get extra powers; they just scale better. It seems odd that a level 18 toon could take 2 levels of Barbarian and get stuck with a weak Rage Power for their level 20 ability. Nothing on their class chart is happening earlier than listed. A Rogue still needs to level in Rogue to get better Sneak Attack, as their chart lists, and needs 10 levels of Rogue to get their advanced powers.
I understand exactly what you're talking about and you're completely missing the point of what I'm saying. Fine, you need to be a level 4 druid to get Wildshape. That doesn't mean you can get to 4th level as a druid then start taking levels of something else and still get the druid Wildshape bonus. IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!
If you got to 18 level as a rogue then took 2 levels of barbarian then yeah, you only get level 2 rage powers. It may seems silly to you but you've only taken 2 levels as a barbarian. You have to take 20 if you want their capstone ability, just like every other class. Powers don't scale at all, you get what the table says when the table says.
The multiclassing rules say MOST because a number of prestige classes build on abilities from base classes. Yes, taking a prestige class is considered multiclassing. For example, the arcane archer gets caster levels in their previously taken arcane casting class. This means they get spells per day and spell levels higher than whatever their wizard/sorcerer/bard levels are.
Some of the (Barbarian) Rage Powers require the player to be a certain level. Is that the minimum levels of Barbarian that the player must be, or is that the minimum level total (i.e. for a rage power that requires you to be 8th level, do you have to be a Bar8, or can you have other classes [Bar2/Drd6])?Class abilities that refer to level always refer to your level in that class unless stated otherwise.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
Some of the (Barbarian) Rage Powers require the player to be a certain level. Is that the minimum levels of Barbarian that the player must be, or is that the minimum level total (i.e. for a rage power that requires you to be 8th level, do you have to be a Bar8, or can you have other classes [Bar2/Drd6])?Class abilities that refer to level always refer to your level in that class unless stated otherwise.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
Game, Set, Match.
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Nowhere in that faq is my question addressed.
Ha, much obliged.
I'm actually kinda shocked you took Jason's word for this, considering how sure (and assertive) you were that you had a clear interpretation to reject this line of thinking?
In other words, I responded to your post and I fully understood your point when I responded. I just didn't agree with your line of thinking.