Dual-class question

[pryor]

When a character makes the dual-class transition does he/she immediately gain the first level weapon and nonweapon proficiencies of the new class?

Cheers,

Pryor

[Scott]

It's not covered in the rules. I'd have to think about it, but my initial thought i I'd give the character one weapon.

[pryor]

Interesting. That works well in the situation that is arising in my current game, with a Monk dual-classing to Magic User. But say a Magic User wanted to dual-class to Fighter? Weapon proficiencies are the bread and butter of the latter class, so limiting the character to a single one might make it rather difficult to play.

Glad to hear that it's not that I simply overlooked a stated rule, and thanks for your response.

Cheers,

Pryor

[GT]

I refer you to the part of the Dual Class information on pg. 33 of the Players Handbook which states: "The character may mix functions freely and still gain experience, although restrictions regarding armor, shield and/or weapon apply with regard to operations particular to one or both classes." This would mean that if the HumanM-U (for only Humans can shift to a second class) wanted to now use Fighter weapons &/or armor, they would be unable to cast spells while advancing in that class. Likewise, any usage of M-U abilities will negate advancement as a Monk as per the same section. Frankly, I'm not sure I'd allow a dual-class Monk--probably treat it like a Bard which cannot enter another class and remain a Bard (that from either a Sage Advice column or early Polyhedron--when Gary was still there.)

[pryor]

Thanks, GT. So is your interpretation of that passage such that the character in question (the Monk becoming a Magic User) could never use his Monk powers while advancing as a Magic User? Or only until the point at which his Magic User levels surpass those of his Monk levels?

If the latter, I am in agreement, but the question about proficiencies still stands - should said character receive the proficiencies of the M-U class when transitioning to it, thus giving him the potential of, say, taking Staff and having a melee weapon (which, admmitedly, he'd be terrible at using)?

If that's the case, what of non-weapon proficiencies (as used in Oriental Adventures, the Dungeoneer's and Wilderness Survival Guides)? Would a dual-class character receive training in the full complement of NWPs available to a first level character in the new class, but be unable to access the NWPs of the previous class until such time as he/she has surpassed said class level in his/her new profession?

If the answer is no, does that mean that the character cannot make use of any NWPs until he/she has surpassed his/her level in the prior class?

Hence my general confusion as to how to adjudicate this.

And as an aside, there has long been an intriguing plot-arc in our game world with a band of semi-evil heretical monks who have abandoned the dogmatic path of enlightenment in favor of the quick road to immortality through magic. This is simply the first time that a player character is directly implicated, and so disallowing the transition is, perhaps sadly, not an option.

Thanks again for your thoughts and responses,

Cheers,

Pryor

[vandersaniel]

Hey Pryor.

I was reading your post and a few thoughts came to me. Not to sound like Kipling, but...

If one can imagine a monk changing professions and now as a magic user suddenly no longer knows how to fight, and...
If said monk/mage is forced into combat and somehow beyond rationalization fights now as a magic user, and
If by some process this character can use what? willpower, bad memory, I don't know... to somehow be just a magic user,
I don't think it's much of a jump to withhold certain WoP that the monk side once knew until the magic user side gets around to taking them as WoP or waiting until he as a spellcaster passes his old profession in levels to acquire them back for use.

I always liked the idea of dual classed characters, but perhaps a certain amount of suspension of disbelief is needed since the change from one class to another class without some previous education or training would probably necessitate several years of actual study, training, education or what have you in order to begin another profession that is so precise and demanding. Or on the other hand, some sort of compromise might be struck...like...keeping the old combat capability (which I find hard to imagine can be just shunted aside) whilst being a spellcaster. Maybe spending a little more experience for MU level might be an answer.
The whole concept of dual classing always seemed a little hard for me to entertain seriously, but at the same time, I find it intriguing and desirable.

Vandersaniel