Hacking 2e: Dual-Class and Multi-Class

Before the monolithic ‘multiclassing’ of later editions, there was AD&D’s demihuman-only Multi-Class and human-only Dual-Class (or, as it was called in 1e, “The Character With Two Classes”). As they work completely differently, each provides a very different type of hybrid character, though the end result of both is exactly what you’d expect from any system that tries to mash two distinct archetypes into one uberclass abomination. Many players who started in the modern era look back upon these rules with a type of incredulous wonder.

Much of the reason for its quirkiness comes from AD&D’s variable XP requirements for each class, which meant that you couldn’t merely ‘take’ another class upon level up; you had to invest into each class individually, which created challenges when it came to the math. For what they had to work with, the solutions that Gygax devised (and Zeb cleaned up) are clever; even with the jank, they get the job done.

Before we get into the unique design of the two systems, and devise solutions for their problems, let’s look at how multiclassing has been handled elsewhere and if those examples can be of use.

Hacking 2e: The Bard Kit

Motley? A feather in his cap? 
A hurdy-gurdy!? This guy has it all.

At the final leg of our journey through the classes, we come to the bard. Another magazine hack, this class has transformed over time from a fighter/thief/druid hybrid into its current incarnation as a healing spellcaster who is culturally viewed as the medieval fantasy equivalent of Pepé Le Pew. Apart from such memes, the Bard has retained a common identity as a jack-of-all-trades. For a more thorough breakdown of the history of this class, I’ll direct you one last time to Stoddard.

While all the classes aside from the core four are considered optional in 2e, apparently the Bard is considered extra-optional, as that declaration is the first sentence in their description. This is the strangest class this side of the Druid; like that class, its Celtic origins were smoothed out to represent something unique to D&D: a magical smooth-talker who carries a lute into battle. It’s a far cry from most archetypes in low or high fantasy, so the PHB makes sure the DM has the tools to keep this capering skald out of the party.

For the most part, the Bard is presented as a support class. The book notes that they’re a “jack-of-all-trades but master of none”, and the rules support that with a delayed wizard spell progression, some musical powers to buff or protect the party, the ability to influence reaction rolls through performance, a few of the less exciting thief skills, and a level-based lore check. Due to level-based spell effects and the Rogue mega-class’s fast XP track, there are instances where the Bard can outshine the Wizard, so this isn’t entirely just a thief with better armor and some music features. Still, in every other way the class feels lackluster, especially compared to its successors.

Let’s crack open this class and remake it.

Hacking 2e: The Rogue

The boots really pull the 
whole outfit together.

The Rogue, or Thief, comes to us from the same wellspring that brought us the Ranger and the Illusionist: nerds not paid by TSR. For a more detailed overview, Stoddard is back on the menu, and Peterson provides a bit more about “The Thief Addition.” It’s a very weird addition. The Fighter interacts with the combat system, the Wizard interacts with the magic system, and the Cleric taps into both. The Rogue, by contrast, is built around a skill system which comes packaged with the class itself.

For some, these skills were the death knell of D&D, as they codified abilities that would be walled off from other classes. Suddenly, the release of Greyhawk removed the ability to be a sneak and a cutpurse from Fighters across the land, who were doing just fine before this thank you very much. This line of thinking reaches back into the primordial.

The iconic title of “Rogue” was introduced as the 1st-level title for the Thief in 1e, but gets top billing in 2e as the name of the mega-class which contained the Thief and Bard. 3e would make the wise decision to adopt it as the actual class name, which it has remained ever after. While thieving is certainly on the menu for this class, they’re capable of so much more, as seen by their many varied kits during 2e’s run, and their eventual evolution into the deadly striker and jack-of-all-trades we know today. As such, this hack will adopt this name over the title of Thief.

Let’s dig into this ne’er-do-well and see what makes the class tick.