Career Switches and Continuity of the Campaign

New rules/classes/options/errata is coming out from wizards all the time. Sometime its adversely affects a character (such as guathak). As characters become enmeshed in the story, dropping characters sucks because of a major rule change. In a similar vein, new stuff gets released that people want to try out- assassin or monk for example. Thirty levels is a long time to play on character if something else has really caught your eye.

I was thinking about how to address both these options.

One issue is class speciality. Gardain for example might want try out a different fighter option. In that case, when he levels up, at that time, he can make a formal declaration that he is changing his class speciality. So, for example, when he hits 7th, he can declare that he is training to be a sword and board and leaving battle-rager. For the entirety of level 7, he now has no specality- he has neither the special abilites of the battlerager, nor sword and board. The training occurs over the course level 7 and at level 8 he has now switched. You will need to then spend subsequent levels addressing any power changes required. There is a cost and a time requirement, but it allows for characters to relatively cheaply address this minor change.

On a more dramatic scale, you can also change your classes. To go from a paladin to a bard for example, you would need to formally declare this change when you earn a new level and spend the feat to multiclass bard. You would then need to spend a second feat (another level) to become a full bard, which is multiclassed paladin with you new abilities (two feats now comitted). You now have a full selection of bard abilities, bard hp, bard surges and bard weapon options- your only paladin abilities and options are determined by the multi-class feat. The next level, you have an option. You could leave behind the paladin forever and become a full bard, freeing up one feat (you would have to wait one more level to multiclass again into something new). Or, you can stay with the multi-class paladin. In either case, one feat is now permanently committed to the change- you never get to untrain this feat. If you want to make a huge change- say barbarian to wizard, it is the same process, but you need to spend yet another feat to change your ability scores- essentially, you can fully re-arrange your stats. This feat is also permanently committed.

This process allows for some experimentation over the course of a characters lifetime, but at a cost. It takes several levels and one or more feats. It assists story continuity as we don't have to swap out a character for someone new just becase class X was released or class Y was errated. You won't be quite as good as someone who stayed true to the path, but over 30 levels, one or two feats won't hurt you too much either. Now, if you do it more than once over the life of the character, the feat tax becomes high, but in that case- pick a career lozer.

Thoughts?

In the case of spending a feat to completely re-arrange our stats with the intent to become a new class - can that be done and not switch classes. Say for instance I am a Chaladin right now but wanted to become a Straladin instead (moment of insanity - Divine power helped them but not enough). Could I spend a feat and just re-work my stats staying a paladin, then slowly adjust my powers to be appropriate Straladin.

On and I think the other ideas are great!!!

On that note Gardain is going to use 1 feat in changing my stats, 1 to change my class, 1 into changing my sex, 1 to change my race and so I can be just like Darkeye, a female crossing dressing fairy.....

Gardain also switched races. Darkeye would like to switch races as well as drop Fey Warlock.. It sucks as a Striker.. it's more of a controller.. Mike's more of a striker than Darkeye is, but that's probably due to his AOE attacks, whereas Darkeye is all about single target at-wills.

Actually, I'd like to drop Darkeye completely. I'd like to try something completely different, if that's an option too, without waiting:
2 levels / 1 feat to redo race
2 levels / 1 feat to redo stats
2 levels / 1 feat to redo multi-class
1 level / -1 feat to remove multi-class
etc.

lets clarify which questions are real then

I assume Jim's are a joke, but mine are real. I'd like to completely drop Darkeye and do another character in his place.

Sigh- fine. Create your 5th level character- he can meet us in Fax.

well... to date, I haven't seen any errata that has changed my character at all. I'll be continuing with the progression I've laid out.

Mike

My 1st question was real - if I as as Charisma Paladin wanted to switch to a Str Paladin could I permamently lock down a feat and rework my stats. It was mentioned the stat could be used if making the swap to a new class. I was just wondering if it could be used to make the swap to a new focus within the class. Darkeye making a swap to a Con based warlock would be another sample or Chrys shifting stats to intelligence vs charisma and the benefits of that in the warlord for instance.

My 2nd post was reinforcing I think Don has come up with a great extension to the existing retraining rules that allow more flexibility, while keeping the party in such a way that our history and background are cohesive and doesn't require removing a player for the game and working another one in.

Mike - I don't think this has to apply totally due to game changes, it is more a retraining extension if you arent fully satisfied with your character build.