D&D 5E Why Did You Take That Level of Fighter?

Tessarael · Mar 7, 2025

Proficiency in Constitution saving throws, armor + shield proficiency, and fighting style - all good reasons for a one level dip into Fighter, at character level 1.

GrimCo · Mar 7, 2025

DrJawaPhD said:
^This. Any Caster planning to use a weapon will usually start with 1 level in Fighter to gain Constitution saving throw proficiency plus Weapon Mastery plus Fighting Style plus Shield proficiency plus maybe they care about Heavy Armor proficiency. Added bonus is that you're also just a 1 level dip away from Action Surge down the line if your campaign lasts long enough to pick up the spells that you want first.

Fighter first than caster after. That con save prof is very handy with concentration. My bladesinger ( way back when bladesingers weren't out yet) was fighter 2 (for action surge, second wind and 2 weapon fs plus armor/weapon/save proficiency) then 10 levels of wizard (abjurer). Haste, 2 weapons, shield as reaction, go into melee and fleisch maschine goes brrr. Those first 2 levels as a fighter helped with surviving low level play also.

Single level dip is ok, but if i'm taking fighter, i'm taking 2 levels for action surge.

Smackpixi · Mar 7, 2025

The answer is always to “game the system” which is boring and tedious. “If I use this exploit I can be a sorcerer in heavy armor” or whatever. Look, as a charitable DM I’m always willing to trade, you want to be able to do X, ok, what will you give up for it in character creation. One level dips are always about gaming the system for abilities. I’m not about denying the thing a PC wants, I’ll give it to them in exchange for something else so long as they don’t get tedious with dips. I know it’s not a popular opinion. But, fork all dips.

GrimCo · Mar 7, 2025

That's one of the problems with class based systems. For some concepts, you need dips in different classes to nib those abilities. Other option is to turn key class abilities into feats so you can take that sneak attack without dipping into rogue for example.

Iry · Mar 7, 2025

Smackpixi said:
Look, as a charitable DM I’m always willing to trade, you want to be able to do X, ok, what will you give up for it in character creation. [...] I’ll give it to them in exchange for something else so long as they don’t get tedious with dips.

I'm willing to trade a level.

TwoSix · Mar 7, 2025

CleverNickName said:
I didn't think you gained save throw proficiencies when you multiclass. Am I wrong about that?

Generally, you shouldn't multiclass into fighter. But taking it as the character's 1st level for armor, a fighting style, and Con save proficiency for a caster is a fantastic idea.

TwoSix · Mar 7, 2025

Smackpixi said:
The answer is always to “game the system” which is boring and tedious. “If I use this exploit I can be a sorcerer in heavy armor” or whatever. Look, as a charitable DM I’m always willing to trade, you want to be able to do X, ok, what will you give up for it in character creation. One level dips are always about gaming the system for abilities. I’m not about denying the thing a PC wants, I’ll give it to them in exchange for something else so long as they don’t get tedious with dips. I know it’s not a popular opinion. But, fork all dips.

"Gaming the system" is half the fun of having a defined, crunchy system in the first place.

And, as a DM, if you're willing to trade X ability for Y, you're essentially just doing a point-buy system without a defined player-focused point algorithm. Which I'm totally in favor of! But it's still just "gaming the system" except with DM involvement.

aco175 · Mar 7, 2025

So I can take a 2nd level of fighter to gain Action Surge and spam two fireballs.

James Gasik · Mar 7, 2025

aco175 said:
So I can take a 2nd level of fighter to gain Action Surge and spam two fireballs.

Well, if you're not playing with the brand new 5e2024 DLC, that is.

Distracted DM · Mar 7, 2025

James Gasik said:
Well, if you're not playing with the brand new 5e2024 DLC, that is.

Oh right, they made it "no more than 1 spell that uses a spell slot per turn," right? But does that mean that they could fireball + fireball wand?

D&D 5E Why Did You Take That Level of Fighter?

Why Did You Take That Level of Fighter?

I wanted to boost my hit points.

I wanted proficiency with all simple and martial weapons.

I wanted proficiency with all armor and shields.

I wanted the Fighting Style feature.

I wanted the Second Wind feature.

Because of story reasons: I was a former soldier, or something.

My first character class was boring, and this helps.

ONE level? Sir, this is the first of several levels of Fighter.

Another reason not listed here (see my comment below)

I wouldn't multiclass with Fighter for any reason.

Tessarael

Adventurer

GrimCo

Hero

Smackpixi

Think I’ll go eat worms

GrimCo

Hero

Iry

Legend

TwoSix

Everyone's literal second-favorite poster

TwoSix

Everyone's literal second-favorite poster

aco175

Legend

James Gasik

We don't talk about Pun-Pun

Distracted DM

Distracted DM

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