D&D (2024) Multiclassing and ability score drain?

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ECMO3

Legend
I am playing a multiclass Scout Rogue 3/Wizard 1. She had a 13 Intelligence, the minimum for a Wizard multiclass but lost 2 points of intelligence from a BBEG and her current stats are S6 D15 C10 I11 W14 CH6.

What are the rules for this going forward with an 11 Intelligence?

I was planning to take a Monk level next, but I think her Intelligence means she can no longer take any other classes because she does not have the minimum Intelligence to multiclass out of Wizard.

Since she is already a Rogue/Wizard I think she can continue to take levels in either of these classes.

Thoughts?
 

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ECMO3 said:
I am playing a multiclass Scout Rogue 3/Wizard 1. She had a 13 Intelligence, the minimum for a Wizard but lost 2 points of intelligence from a BBEG and her current stats are S6 D15 C10 I11 W14 CH6.

What are the rules for this going forward with an 11 Intelligence?

I was planning to take a Monk level next, but I think her Intelligence means she can no longer take any other classes because she does not have the minimum Intelligence to multiclass out of Wizard.

Since she is already a Rogue/Wizard I think she can continue to take levels in either of these classes.

Thoughts?
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Yes. Although you might decide that you can't gain another level of wizard until cured. But I think this is your own decision.
 

ECMO3 said:
I was planning to take a Monk level next, but I think her Intelligence means she can no longer take any other classes because she does not have the minimum Intelligence to multiclass out of Wizard.

Since she is already a Rogue/Wizard I think she can continue to take levels in either of these classes.
Click to expand...
This is correct. The multiclassing rules state that "To qualify for a new class, you must have a score of at least 13... etc etc" (bold emphasis mine).

This rule does not apply to gaining levels in a class you already have level(s) in.
 


mellored said:
IMO, I just ignore the minimum requirement.
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Nah, it's in place for a good reason. I'd personally set it higher at 15.

As to the original poster's dilemma, as a DM I'd probably say you couldn't pick up new levels until you met the minimum again. I'd also be contemplating whether you'd lose access to certain class abilities until you regained the drained points somehow.
 

I agree with @Stormonu in that you cannot gain any new levels and abilities in Wizard. I would let you keep the ones you have though since a lower DC for saves and checks is a penalty enough.

I have also thought about multiclassing into a third class and needing a score of 15 instead of just 13. Makes it harder to pick up a third class, but I'm not a big fan of multiclassing in this edition.
 

By the clear letter of the rules, you cannot multi class into a new class. You already are a Wizard; the rules do not care whether you started as one or became one later. So you can still use the Wizard abilities you have, and can gain more levels in Wizard in the future.

Personally, I find the other interpretations, which openly conflict with the words used, to be folks inserting their anti-multiclassing bias into the argument. If this were in any way the intended interpretation, especially the ridiculously punitive "oh and you also lose your class features!" part, then the designers would have said at some point that that was a thing.

You are a Rogue and also a Wizard. You may take levels in Rogue or Wizard at any time. You cannot take levels in a third class until your ability drain is healed, presumably via some flavor of restoration spell.
 


mellored said:
Disagree.

I can make a 16 Str / 8 Int wizard.
Then in order to learn how to swing sword i need to study even more magic. Spend my feats to boost my Intelligence.
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Agreed. I'm not a fan of the MC stat requirements in general, but even if I do keep them, I want them to apply to learning new classes, not old ones.

Between a character with 16 Str and 10 Int, and one with 13 Str and 13 Int, who both start in the Wizard class, why can only the former not take a level in Fighter, when they're obviously more talented at being a Fighter than being a Wizard?
 

TwoSix said:
Between a character with 16 Str and 10 Int, and one with 13 Str and 13 Int, who both start in the Wizard class, why can only the former not take a level in Fighter, when they're obviously more talented at being a Fighter than being a Wizard?
Click to expand...
The only answer is based on game balance, not realism.

It would be realistic to say you can't be a Wizard period without 13 Int, but then you could run into game balancing problems where characters with poor enough stat rolls wouldn't even be able to choose a class. So they have to eliminate the requirement for brand new characters. Multiclassing on the other hand is already overpowered enough that there is no risk that introducing new requirements would somehow ruin game balance
 

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