I wanna run a joke game where you can never take a 2nd level in a class you have.

[Reksew_Trebla]

So for instance, if their first level is Barbarian, they can never take another Barbarian level again. So for level 2, they must multiclass. They could choose Bloodrager or Skald if they want, or any class they are able to take, but not Barbarian. Say they took Fighter. Now they can never take another level of Barbarian or Fighter. So again, they must multiclass.

I'm going to use the variant rules for multiclass leveling up described here, to help with the poor saves and poor BAB.

I was wondering if there was anyway to abuse this and get more powerful than would be expected for this obviously low power game so I'd know what to look out for and preemptively ban. Any ideas on this?

[Hannibull Rektor]

I'm not saying that you couldn't make a martial god with this... but I'm saying you could make a martial god with this.

Seriously though, in this setting, a martial character would be king if they knew the right archetype combinations to take. Spellcasters would basically be worthless as well.

[Reksew_Trebla]

Well I haven't thought up any examples, but it's possible they could get prestige classes to gain levels of spellcasting in classes they have. Though that would still result in crappy spellcasters.

[roguerouge]

What would be the world rationale for this kind of play requirement?

[Reksew_Trebla]

I haven't really thought of a reason for this. It's mainly a joke game, for fun. That's why I want to find anything that could break this so I can keep it lighthearted.

[Ryan Freire]

Reksew_Trebla wrote:

I haven't really thought of a reason for this. It's mainly a joke game, for fun. That's why I want to find anything that could break this so I can keep it lighthearted.

Arent there basically fan-made pathfinder varients where you never really go over level 6 or 12 or something like that? I could totally see a game like this being pretty fun even as a caster in an environment like that.

[Gisher]

Behold, the One-Level Man thread!

[Tim Emrick]

I believe my local VC has a PFS character who, at 8th or 9th level, has yet to take a 2nd level in the same class. But at this point, he's run out of new classes that will actually help his build (a sundering combat monster).

[Chess Pwn]

fractional bab doesn't actually help out multi-class man, and fractional saves hurts them.

Using normal multiclassing you can make a character that is a good fighter with AMAZING fort save and really good other saves, better than what you could have normally.

bloodrager, paladin, avenger vigilante, cleric, ranger, brawler,

this is lv6, they have +10 fort, +6 ref, +6 will, bab 5.
paladin lv6 has base +5 fort, +2 ref, +5 will, bab 6
fractional has +5 fort, +2 ref, +5 will, bab 5 I believe.

[The Sideromancer]

Chess Pwn wrote:

fractional bab doesn't actually help out multi-class man, and fractional saves hurts them.

Using normal multiclassing you can make a character that is a good fighter with AMAZING fort save and really good other saves, better than what you could have normally.

bloodrager, paladin, avenger vigilante, cleric, ranger, brawler,

this is lv6, they have +10 fort, +6 ref, +6 will, bab 5.
paladin lv6 has base +5 fort, +2 ref, +5 will, bab 6
fractional has +5 fort, +2 ref, +5 will, bab 5 I believe.

Fractional BAB helps non-full BAB characters be anywhere close to decent BAB.

[Chess Pwn]

non full bab classes aren't good classes to dip much in, regardless of bab concerns. As long as you take 3 full for 1 3/4 you're fine for bab.

[Lucy_Valentine]

Reksew_Trebla wrote:

...to help with the poor saves and poor BAB

Multiclassing would generally improve saves, since classes get two or four points of saves at level one, and zero-three at other levels.

Fractional BAB wouldn't really help martial characters, since they won't be taking enough non-martial levels to care. But it would seriously help people taking caster and skillmonkey levels.

Also: I would totally play this game.

[Ierox]

The obvious sort of problem with this is casters - there's no prestige classes that lets you enter before level 6 and advance spellcasting at first level.

So even the whackest PRC build would only let you cast as a full character four levels lower than you.

[Meraki]

Somehow I just picture every PC in this game being a gnome.

[Philo Pharynx]

If you were doing this, I'd suggest Spheres of Power. That way spellcasters could take different classes and still be able to cast normally.

Without that you are saying "I want a game where people do weapon combat (mostly strength based) and skills. Everything else is going to suck. This includes healing.

[Davia D]

The main reason to take any non-martial would be, like, domain or bloodline powers. Get +10 movement. Get a familiar. Get a non-level-based ability.

But mainly? Martials.

[K-kun the Insane]

I've played a number of PFS games where one party member was pretty much this. There may have been a second level or two in there, but still a good 8 classes represented. We were doing the Echoes of the Everwar 4-part series as my Dragon Disciple's lead up to retiring by reaching 12th at the end.

The AC and saves on that character were ridiclous (mid to high 30s for AC).

Only our fop, Alithtair, had higher ATHEE (in the 40th) becauthe hith entire thing wath not letting anyone plathe a finger on him.

I had to settle for a measly 27 after buffs...

[Avoron]

Ierox wrote:

The obvious sort of problem with this is casters

Philo Pharynx wrote:

Without that you are saying "I want a game where people do weapon combat (mostly strength based) and skills. Everything else is going to suck. This includes healing.

Davia D wrote:

But mainly? Martials.

Take a look at the ultimate channeler and ultimate color sprayer I posted in the One Level Man thread linked above.

Meraki wrote:

Somehow I just picture every PC in this game being a gnome.

Behold the glory of the aforementioned gnome color sprayer!