Multi-class Fighter/Wizard

[Melkor]

Hi folks,

I'm looking at the Multi-Class rules on P.187 of the 6th Printing PHB (not the class-and-a-half version), and had a quick question about Fighter/Wizards.

From the page:
"Armor: Multi-class characters can use an armor from any of the combined class' armor allowed list at[sic] however, they still suffer penalties mentioned for a class ability such as with a rogue's pick pocket."

Does that mean that a Wizard can't cast spells in armor at all, the ranger can't use conceal or move silently at all, the rogue can't back attack in armor at all, etc, or do they just suffer some kind of penalty for trying to do those things in armor determined by the CK?

Thanks.

[Arduin]

They suffer exactly as the various class descriptions say. So a Wizard could NOT cast spells. Etc.

[Captain_K]

Arduin is right, straight multi-class is no wizard casting in armor. Want you PC to cast spells in armor.. then try class and a half with fighter supporting the wizard and you got it with minor penalties depending on the type of spells you want to sling. You could rely on a big, magical shield that you drop every time you want to cast spells. I can see this like a hockey player ready to get into a fight.. flipping off the helmet and gloves to duke it out..

Alternately create or allow magic items such as "bracers of defense" which further give the illusion of the armor type they offer or you could create "elfin mage chain" which is a special magical chain mail so light and so attuned to magic that wizards can wear it. It offers say chain mail AC -1. So if you PC concept is look like a fighter but cast spells... then these are some creative options.

[serleran]

You could, easily enough, allow racial combinations to benefit over others. For example, you might allow gnome and halfling illusionists to multiclass with fighter and retain their spellcasting, whereas elfs, half-elfs, and half-orcs might be limited as druids are (that is, some armor, but not all) when mixed with fighter. The others (human and dwarf) could take all armor. Or any other combination.

It is also possible to rule that armor worn restricts spellcasting by the inverse of the (nonmagical) AC benefit -- if you have armor that gives +8 AC, you can only cast up to 2nd level spells, for example (spell limit = 10 - AC bonus.)

But, these are just ideas to change what is in the rules. The former is more like AD&D. The latter less so.

[Snoring Rock]

You could, easily enough, allow racial combinations to benefit over others. For example, you might allow gnome and halfling illusionists to multiclass with fighter and retain their spellcasting, whereas elfs, half-elfs, and half-orcs might be limited as druids are (that is, some armor, but not all) when mixed with fighter. The others (human and dwarf) could take all armor. Or any other combination.

It is also possible to rule that armor worn restricts spellcasting by the inverse of the (nonmagical) AC benefit -- if you have armor that gives +8 AC, you can only cast up to 2nd level spells, for example (spell limit = 10 - AC bonus.)

But, these are just ideas to change what is in the rules. The former is more like AD&D. The latter less so.

It is also possible to rule that armor worn restricts spellcasting by the inverse of the (nonmagical) AC benefit -- if you have armor that gives +8 AC, you can only cast up to 2nd level spells, for example (spell limit = 10 - AC bonus.)

I love this!! I am steeling this!

[Captain_K]

The class and a half limit is really a great one, "any spell that allows a save are granted a +1 to the save per AC of the armor". You could further allow magical armor to either not affect the save or actually counteract the base AC.

[Rigon]

Here's my take on multi/dual classes wizards.

Arcane Casting in Armor
Multi/Dual-classed arcane caster can cast spells while wearing armor that is appropriate to their non-arcane casting class.
1. The character makes an Int check versus the AC bonus of the armor worn + the spell level of the spell being cast. Magical armor reduces this check on a 1 to 1 basis. (If the PC is wearing chain mail +1, the AC bonus is reduce by +1)
2. Multi/Dual Classed characters add in ½ (rounded down) of their non-arcane casting class and all of their arcane casting class to the check.

R-