Variant Multiclass levels - Class levels?

[KunoichiSong]

If I use the Variant Multiclass rule to take... Monk for example, as a secondary class... would it count as me having class levels in Monk?

Stuff that I'm asking about:

* Monk's Robes: If I'm a level 10 with VMC Monk, would I do unarmed damage as a level 13 Monk or as a level 8 monk while the robe only gives me the option to do damage as a level 5 monk?

* Ascetic Strike: Do I count as having 7 levels in Monk if I'm a level 7 Rogue with VMC Monk?

[Gisher]

KunoichiSong wrote:

If I use the Variant Multiclass rule to take... Monk for example, as a secondary class... would it count as me having class levels in Monk?

No, you don't count as having class levels except as noted in individual VMC abilities. You only get the things it says that you get. You aren't actually multiclasssing. You are just trading feats for class abilities from another class.

KunoichiSong wrote:

Stuff that I'm asking about:

* Monk's Robes: If I'm a level 10 with VMC Monk, would I do unarmed damage as a level 13 Monk or as a level 8 monk while the robe only gives me the option to do damage as a level 5 monk?

The Robe would only let you deal damage as a 5th level Monk.

KunoichiSong wrote:

* Ascetic Strike: Do I count as having 7 levels in Monk if I'm a level 7 Rogue with VMC Monk?

No.

[Ellioti]

Gisher wrote:

You aren't actually multiclasssing.

I hear this argument a lot, yet it's called Variant Multiclassing. I'm not convinced...

[KainPen]

I think it depends unchained rules are optional GM rules. The book says while it does work with normal multi classing, it not recommend to do so, it was meant as replacement. So if your GM runs it as a replacement and does not use normal multi classing, I would say yes you do count as both class at your level. If it is just being used new feat option system. like most GM treat it as. Then no you don't. anything that comes out of unchained you need to ask your GM for how they are going to run it, as the entire book is optional system house rules. I run it as a complete replacement, So for my you do count as your full level.

[QuidEst]

If it doesn't say you count as X, then you don't count as X. VMC say you gain many of the benefits of multiclassing, not all of them. It also says you gain features of the class, but nothing about counting as that class. Some things may require a certain feature, in which case you're good, but anything requiring the class probably doesn't work. This is definitely the case for levels in the class, since you have no levels in it even if the GM counts you as being that class.

[Calth]

VMC actually does say you gain the class but is silent on levels. So you become a null-level member of your VMC class. So if a feat had a class but not a level requirement you would qualify (few if any such feats exist).

[KainPen]

yep it is silent on levels and the gm has to fill in that silence. The Devs have stated time and time again that, unchained is optional house rules left to Gm interpenetration, They did not have enough space to write everything or cover every little detail. They were surprised to get as much in there as they did. So it is left open intentionally for a Gm to make the call. If they were to cover every little detail, you would literally have a whole new edition of the game.

In cases for unchained stuff in PFS, the PFS community is the GM and making the calls on how it works. Every where else it the home brew GM rules. See your GM is the only valid rule answer for anything unchained related.

if your GM is doing like i am doing and using it as replacement for the entire multi-class system, it is a fair assessment to count the levels. you do give up a lot for it compared to the other system, you lose half your feats, Class skills, potential skill points, save adjustments and maybe potential hp. what you gain is a few powers and the ability to still get your capstone, which most games do go that far anyway.

like i said if your gm is treating as feat replacement option and keeping the old system then no I would say you do not get the level count. you are effective Rouge x /fighter 0

I think unchained is one of the best things to happen to pathfinder. It puts a lot of control back in the hands of GM, by leaving all these silence portions of the rule set for a gm to fill in. we don't need actual written rules for every little thing, unless we are playing PFS.

[Weables]

Pathfinder is a permissive system. Things only do exactly what they say they do. As the text does not say that you count your levels as that class, it's not the case.