In 5e this is a bit more nuanced (not only because there are no prestige classes to begin with). For the squishiest casters (wizards and sorcerers, and maybe bards too) a 1-level dip into other classes (artificer for the wizards, hexblade warlock for the sorcerers) might be worth it just for the medium armor and shield proficiency.
Unlike in 3e, in 5e if you’re proficient with an armor, you can cast spells in that armor, there’s no chance for failure. Half plate + shield + 14 DEX = a respectable 19 AC.
And artificer levels are halved but rounded _up_ when multiclassing, not down like other half-caster levels, so a single level artificer dip wouldn’t even hinder spell slot progression while giving the caster access to the full first level artificer spell list and two cantrips. (It’s also one of the few ways a wizard can learn Cure Wounds, Spare the Dying, and Guidance.)
It’s also worth noting that it’s often better to take the one level of the other class _first_, as multiclassing into a class gives you fewer proficiencies than taking it as your main class. e.g. starting as Fighter gives you heavy armour proficency, but only up to medium as a 2nd class. Wizard doesn’t really have this problem, having nearly no proficiencies in the first place, so you get essentially 100% of the benefit of Wizard by taking it second.
Also it means you get the other class’s saving throw proficiencies – which can be useful itself. e.g. Fighter’s Con saving throw proficency is _great_ for a wizard.
True, my first character started with a fighter level before going cleric. Partially for the proficiencies, and partially for the fighting style; he was joining a party of squishier characters so he went to the frontlines with Protection to keep the monk from dying.
(Though a CON-save proficiency is quite easy to get with the Resilient feat.)
In case of an artificer/wizard multiclass it is definitely worth to take the artificer level(s) first because of the save proficiencies, weapon proficiencies, and the tool proficiency. Not that you’d use the weapons or the tool too often as a wizard, but they are nice to have.
(You can also take 3-4 artificer levels to go armorer, use a light armor as your arcane armor with the guardian subtype, and then go bladesinger all the way. But that’s a very specific build for INT-based melee combat and not really a dip.)
On my reread I think I figured out why the Bulywogs were trying to poison the castle – Oozanka.
But I don’t think it was their plan, just something they were told to do as part of their attack. Also the light in the castle’s foundation is a crack in reality… and the moat was probably drained to make it easier for others to get to the now exposed foundation.
It was all plans layered in plans, layered in plans to expose the castle’s crack…
(didn’t think I could squeeze a butt joke in there did you?)
The castle needed to be destroyed (multiple plans layered there) or moved (one final fallback plan there), so the potent guardians of the castle would be no longer guarding the reality crack in the foundation.
It would also have worked had the Princess (or her stand-in) had to be moved because the castle was breached.
So, yeah, layers and layers of plans and double bluff after double bluff. But in the end, the Viscount’s game of Xanatos Chess has paid off. The foundation is exposed, the guardians need to be elsewhere.
I’m just wondering how the Belt of Genre Change is going to play into it.
Also, isn’t Mimic’s group on their way back to the castle? What are the chances one of them will accidentally do something to the crack in reality to aggravate it?
…oh crap, that’s going to spark the next chapter, isn’t it?
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Very slowly.
He bought her dinner first.
Maybe she likes rock-hard abs?
Good call. Casters are generally better off never multiclassing (prestige classes notwithstanding)
In 5e this is a bit more nuanced (not only because there are no prestige classes to begin with). For the squishiest casters (wizards and sorcerers, and maybe bards too) a 1-level dip into other classes (artificer for the wizards, hexblade warlock for the sorcerers) might be worth it just for the medium armor and shield proficiency.
Unlike in 3e, in 5e if you’re proficient with an armor, you can cast spells in that armor, there’s no chance for failure. Half plate + shield + 14 DEX = a respectable 19 AC.
And artificer levels are halved but rounded _up_ when multiclassing, not down like other half-caster levels, so a single level artificer dip wouldn’t even hinder spell slot progression while giving the caster access to the full first level artificer spell list and two cantrips. (It’s also one of the few ways a wizard can learn Cure Wounds, Spare the Dying, and Guidance.)
It’s also worth noting that it’s often better to take the one level of the other class _first_, as multiclassing into a class gives you fewer proficiencies than taking it as your main class. e.g. starting as Fighter gives you heavy armour proficency, but only up to medium as a 2nd class. Wizard doesn’t really have this problem, having nearly no proficiencies in the first place, so you get essentially 100% of the benefit of Wizard by taking it second.
Also it means you get the other class’s saving throw proficiencies – which can be useful itself. e.g. Fighter’s Con saving throw proficency is _great_ for a wizard.
True, my first character started with a fighter level before going cleric. Partially for the proficiencies, and partially for the fighting style; he was joining a party of squishier characters so he went to the frontlines with Protection to keep the monk from dying.
(Though a CON-save proficiency is quite easy to get with the Resilient feat.)
In case of an artificer/wizard multiclass it is definitely worth to take the artificer level(s) first because of the save proficiencies, weapon proficiencies, and the tool proficiency. Not that you’d use the weapons or the tool too often as a wizard, but they are nice to have.
(You can also take 3-4 artificer levels to go armorer, use a light armor as your arcane armor with the guardian subtype, and then go bladesinger all the way. But that’s a very specific build for INT-based melee combat and not really a dip.)
Sand Golems get EVERYWHERE…
I guess she’s not one for prestige classes.
Prestige’s class is wizard.
On my reread I think I figured out why the Bulywogs were trying to poison the castle – Oozanka.
But I don’t think it was their plan, just something they were told to do as part of their attack. Also the light in the castle’s foundation is a crack in reality… and the moat was probably drained to make it easier for others to get to the now exposed foundation.
It was all plans layered in plans, layered in plans to expose the castle’s crack…
(didn’t think I could squeeze a butt joke in there did you?)
The castle needed to be destroyed (multiple plans layered there) or moved (one final fallback plan there), so the potent guardians of the castle would be no longer guarding the reality crack in the foundation.
It would also have worked had the Princess (or her stand-in) had to be moved because the castle was breached.
So, yeah, layers and layers of plans and double bluff after double bluff. But in the end, the Viscount’s game of Xanatos Chess has paid off. The foundation is exposed, the guardians need to be elsewhere.
I’m just wondering how the Belt of Genre Change is going to play into it.
Also, isn’t Mimic’s group on their way back to the castle? What are the chances one of them will accidentally do something to the crack in reality to aggravate it?
…oh crap, that’s going to spark the next chapter, isn’t it?
Since Presti’s a mage, maybe her pajamas are enchanted to fit whoever wears them comfortably?
WHOSOEVER SHALL WEAR THESE PAJAMAS COMFORTABLY IS RIGHTWISE BORN MONARCH OF THE KINGDOM
How the golem got in her pajamas Presti will never know.
(Old joke.)