Multi-Classing

As the party nears level 5, there's something I'd like all of you to consider:



We haven't really talked about this yet because, quite frankly, I didn't know exactly how it worked in 4th edition. In prior versions it was as simple as taking a level in whichever class you desired, adding the stat/ability bonuses for said level, then moving on. This in turn opened up new options, such as prestige classes, which have been replaced with paragon and epic destinies in 4e. For example, in 3.5 your Elven ranger may have been a total level of 9, but technically been a level 6 ranger, level 2 wizard, level 1 arcane archer.

But enough about the old days. All of the information I am about to give you comes from the following site: http://dnd4.wikia.com/wiki/Multiclassing
The gist of it is that the way to multiclass is to take one or more of the eight Multiclass Feats listed on page 208 of the Player's Handbook. Taking one of these feats causes you to technically qualify as both that class and your original class. For example, if you're a warlock and you take the Arcane Initiate feat, you are now both a Warlock and a Wizard and satisfy the Wizard requirement of feats, paragon paths, epic paths, etc.

There are two big restrictions here: First, you cannot multiclass into your own class (no double dipping for repeat benefits, so a Fighter can't multiclass into Fighter). Second, you can only multiclass once, so you can dabble in one additional class but not two (although the epic path Eternal Seeker is a way to dabble in many classes fairly freely).

Doing so means that also grants you the following boons:
1) You can take any Feat, Paragon Path, or Epic Path for the new class.
2) You gain free training in 1 skill from the class you multiclass into, as though you took the Skill Training feat. For some classes, this is a specific skill (Arcana for Wizard, Religion for Cleric, Thievery for Rogue). All other classes let you pick any skill that is a Class Skill for that class.
3) You gain limited use of 1 class feature from the new class. If it's an at-will power, you can use it as an encounter power. If it's an encounter power, you can use it as a daily power. This isn't the greatest power in your arsenal, but it's a nice perk.
4) If the class uses implements, you will gain the ability to use this implement when using the new class's abilities.
5) You can take the Power Swap Feats on page 209 of the Player's Handbook (allows you to replace a power of your base class with that of any other).

Since the party is still technically lacking many rogue-related abilities, etc., this may not be a bad choice for one/several of you. I know Krusk, in particular, had been hoping for thievery as a class skill...Plus, Barbarian Avenger just sounds like a badass class.