Every time you gain a level, you can choose in which class you want to advance. He could take a level as fighter at 7 if he wanted to. Or ANY other class, for that matter (unless he doesn't meet alignment or other requirements).
And a Multiclass character can use all abilities of all his classes. So a Fighter 5/Wiazrd 1 still fights as a level 5 fighter and casts spells as a level 1 wizard.
Hmmmm. Ok. Fair enough. Is all of this written in the core book somewhere and I have missed it?Every time you gain a level, you can choose in which class you want to advance. He could take a level as fighter at 7 if he wanted to. Or ANY other class, for that matter (unless he doesn't meet alignment or other requirements).
And a Multiclass character can use all abilities of all his classes. So a Fighter 5/Wiazrd 1 still fights as a level 5 fighter and casts spells as a level 1 wizard.
page 30 of the core rule book
page 30 of the core rule bookHmmmm. Ok. Fair enough. Is all of this written in the core book somewhere and I have missed it?Every time you gain a level, you can choose in which class you want to advance. He could take a level as fighter at 7 if he wanted to. Or ANY other class, for that matter (unless he doesn't meet alignment or other requirements).
And a Multiclass character can use all abilities of all his classes. So a Fighter 5/Wiazrd 1 still fights as a level 5 fighter and casts spells as a level 1 wizard.
Multiclassing
Instead of gaining the abilities granted by the next level in your character's current class, he can instead gain the 1st-level abilities of a new class, adding all of those abilities to his existing ones. This is known as “multiclassing.”
For example, let's say a 5th-level fighter decides to dabble in the arcane arts, and adds one level of wizard when he advances to 6th level. Such a character would have the powers and abilities of both a 5th-level fighter and a 1st-level wizard, but would still be considered a 6th-level character. (His class levels would be 5th and 1st, but his total character level is 6th.) He keeps all of his bonus feats gained from 5 levels of fighter, but can now also cast 1st-level spells and picks an arcane school. He adds all of the hit points, base attack bonuses, and saving throw bonuses from a 1st-level wizard on top of those gained from being a 5th-level fighter.
Note that there are a number of effects and prerequisites that rely on a character's level or Hit Dice. Such effects are always based on the total number of levels or Hit Dice a character possesses, not just those from one class. The exception to this is class abilities, most of which are based on the total number of class levels that a character possesses of that particular class.
I found that too....but it does not say a word about my original question. Does anyone know where it says...
I would assume the bolded part is the answer to your question. I can see this in one of two ways:
1. you think it is up to your character to decide where the new level goes.or
2. it is up to you as the controller of said character to decide where said level goes.
Most players, I assume, play it as the latter rather than the former, but honestly, the above quote is about as good an answer from the book as you will get.
There's also this quote:
When adding new levels of an existing class or adding levels of a new class (see Multiclassing, below), make sure to take the following steps in order. First, select your new class level. You must be able to qualify for this level before any of the following adjustments are made. Second, apply any ability score increases due to gaining a level. Third, integrate all of the level's class abilities and then roll for additional hit points. Finally, add new skills and feats. For more information on when you gain new feats and ability score increases, see Table: Character Advancement and Level-Dependent Bonuses.
RAW and RAI says its up to the player each time he level up to decide if he wants to add another base class, another level to an existing base class, or add a level of a prestige class.
You as the GM however can say that you require the player to undergo some sort of training to be able to take the first level of a new class, if it be a Core or Prestige class. I think most people find it strange that a Wizard suddenly know a lot about wearing armor and wielding swords, when he has touched neither in his entire life. But then its very important that you as the gm say so BEFORE you start the Campaign, otherwise the players that has agreed to play with you might feel a bit Screwed over.
Most groups ive played with "handwave" it that they have picked up bits and pieces here and there, and now suddenly puts it all togheter.
Most GMs are usually a bit stricter for Prestige classes however from my experience.
But the Golden Rule is: Its a game and its about having Fun.
If the group find realism and the need to spend time training for a new class to be able to pick it up, run with it, if your group have more fun "handwaving" it, and have more fun playing that way, go with that instead. Its when the GM starts putting restriction never mentioned at the start of the campaign that he will get disapointed and disapering players.