User:Zhenra-Khal/Hybrid Classes and Subclasses (5e Alternate Rule)

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This variant rule is inspired by my disdain at lack of obtaining class or subclass abilities at appropriate levels when multiclassing, and thus this is my attempt at fixing this problem without breaking the game.

Hybrid Classes and Subclasses[edit]

With this variant rule, Hybrid Classes are introduced, with the ability to combine them. A Hybrid Class consists of the first ten levels of two existing Base Classes, melded together into a seamless 20-level class. Rather than getting their own subclasses, each Hybrid class has the ability to select one subclass from each of the parent classes.

Multiclassing[edit]

The first rule I'd make would be - You can only select a Hybrid Class if you meet the multiclassing prerequisites for both parent classes.

Additionally, a Hybrid Class's multiclassing requirements are the sum of all the ability requirements of both parent classes, but the numeric value is increased from 13 to 15. If both parent classes share a requisite ability score - Such as Paladin and Warlock - Then the requirement for that score is increased to 16.

Finally, multiclassing between two different Hybrid Classes is forbidden, primarily for balance reasons, but it also risks trading too much of your power's depth for breadth and thus doesn't make much sense. This is of course entirely up to the DM; This is just my own ruling on it.

Hit Points[edit]

When creating a Hybrid Class between two classes with the same Hit Die - Such as combining Warlock and Cleric - Then it's easiest to simply use that Hit Die, a d8 in this case.

However, when classes differ by one die size, it's more difficult - Combining Sorcerer's d6 and Warlock's d8 isn't as cut and dry, because there is no 7-sided dice. So here's what I would do.

  • If the parent classes differ by one size in Hit Die (d6 and d8, d8 and d10, etc.), then use the lower size of Hit Die, but give the character +1 hit point per class level. This creates the desired effect, though their ability to heal from Hit Die during rests will fall slightly behind as a balance factor for having a flat bonus in Hit Points.
  • If the parent classes differ by two sizes - d6 and d10, or d8 and d12 - Then the die size that falls between would be used. For example, a Hybrid between a Fighter (d10) and a Wizard (d6) would use a d8 for their Hit Die; And a Hybrid between a Warlock (d8) and a Barbarian (d12) would use a d10 for their Hit Die.
  • In the rare case that the parent classes differ by three sizes - Which in the base game can only happen when combining Barbarian (d12) with either Sorcerer or Wizard (d6), then a hybrid approach is necessary: Increase the hit die to one size above the smallest die size (In this example, from a d6 to a d8), and then grant them +1 hit point per class level, to even it out.

Weapons and Armor[edit]

For Weapons and Armor, if both classes gain the same proficiencies in a single section (Such as Fighter and Paladin), then leaving it alone is simple. However, many other combinations exist.

  • The Hybrid Class would gain the Weapon Proficiencies of both parent classes. Yes, this lets a Wizard hybrid swing a Greatsword, but that isn't as scary as it sounds.
  • If the parent classes gain two different groups of Armor proficiencies - Such as Sorcerer and Fighter - A compromise must be made. For every two items on the following list that is missing from one of the parent classes' proficiency list, one of them must be removed from the resulting Hybrid Class's proficiency list, in order of removal from first to last: Heavy Armor, Shields, Medium Armor, Light Armor.

Skills and Tools[edit]

For Tools, I propose that the Hybrid Class gain any and all tool proficiencies of both parent classes, as tools aren't super vital to gameplay - The main important ones would be Thieves' Tools and the Herbalism Kit, in my opinion, but everything else is largely flavor, and any of them can be picked up for free anyway using a custom background. Skills, on the other hand are more complicated.

  • For the Hybrid Class's Skill List, they can choose any skills from the skill lists of either parent class. If one of those classes is a Bard, only one of their skills may be chosen from the Bard list.
  • However, the number of skills they may select is the same as the lower of their parent classes, plus one if one of the parent classes gets to choose four or more skills (Namely, Rogue).

Thus a Fighter/Bard Hybrid would get to choose 2 skills, but one skill must be chosen from either the Fighter or Bard lists, while the other can only be a Fighter skill. A Fighter/Rogue would get to choose three skills from either the Fighter or Rogue lists, and a Bard/Rogue would be able to choose 4 skills, one of which can come from either the Bard or Rogue lists, while the other three must be Rogue skills.

Ability Score Improvements[edit]

Any additional ASIs, such as from Fighter or Rogue, are not gained by a Hybrid class that uses one or both of those classes as a parent class.

Spellcasting[edit]

Spellcasting is probably the most complicated ability for a Hybrid Class.

  • A Hybrid Class between two spellcasting parent classes has access to both spell lists of their parent classes.
  • The Spell save DC and spell attack bonus for a Hybrid Class's spellcasting uses the higher of the parent classes' spellcasting ability scores - Thus, a Wizard/Druid hybrid would use the higher of their Intelligence and Wisdom scores for their spellcasting.
  • If both parent classes are the same type of spellcaster - Full Caster (Wizard, Druid, Cleric, etc.) or Half Caster (Such as Paladin or Artificer) - Then the number of spell slots they have are the same. Thus, a Paladin/Artificer would use one-half of their Hybrid Class levels on the Multiclassed Spellcasting table, and Sorcerer/Druid would use all of their Hybrid Class levels on the Multiclassed Spellcasting table.
  • If one parent class is a Full Caster and the other is a Half Caster, or a non-casting class with a Tertiary Casting subclass (Such as Eldritch Knight), then the Hybrid Class has a bizarre level of spellcasting, using three-quarters (Rounded down) of their Hybrid Class level on the Multiclassed Spellcasting table. At level 20, they would have 15th-level spellcasting, granting them access to up to 7th-level spells.
  • If one parent class is a Full Caster and the other is a non-caster, then the resulting Hybrid Class is a Half Caster, using one-half (Rounded down) of their Hybrid Class levels on the Multiclassed Spellcasting table.
  • If one parent class is a Half Caster and the other is a non-caster, the resulting Hybrid Class is a Tertiary Caster, using one-third (Rounded Down) of their Hybrid Class levels on the Multiclassed Spellcasting table.
  • If one parent class is a non-caster, and the other is a non-caster with a Tertiary spellcasting subclass (Such as Eldritch Knight), the resulting Hybrid Class gains that subclass's Tertiary Casting as normal.
  • If both parent classes are non-casters with Tertiary spellcasting - The only possible base game version of this is a combination of Eldritch Knight Fighter and Arcane Trickster Rogue - Then the resulting Hybrid Class is a Half Caster, using one-half (Rounded down) of their Hybrid Class levels on the Multiclassed Spellcasting table.
  • If both parent classes prepare spells, then the resulting Hybrid Class prepares spells as per the method of one of their parent classes, utilizing the higher of their spellcasting ability scores.
  • If both parent classes learn fixed spells (Like Warlock or Bard), then the resulting Hybrid Class learns spells as per the method of one of their parent classes.
  • If one parent class learns fixed spells, and the other parent class prepares spells, then the resulting Hybrid Class learns fixed spells at the rate of their fixed spellcasting parent, as well as preparing spells as the rate of their prepared spellcasting parent.

Extra Attack[edit]

Ordinarily, if one or both parent classes have the Extra attack feature, then the Hybrid Class gains Extra attack as a 5th-level ability. But, there are other exceptions.

  • If one of the parent classes is Fighter, or a class using a Subclass that grants the Extra Attack feature (Such as Bladesinger Wizard or Armorer Artificer), and the other parent class also possesses Extra Attack, then they gain the Extra Attack feature a second time upon reaching their 15th level in this Hybrid Class.


Subclass Abilities[edit]

Now, the real meat and potatoes. The main idea behind this Hybrid Class concept is the ability to pick up the subclass abilities from *two* subclasses, one subclass belonging to each parent class of the Hybrid Class you're using. The way this is done without breaking the game, is by selecting a subclass ability in place of an ability score improvement.

  • When selecting a subclass, you must do so at the appropriate level, and you may only select one subclass at the given level, even if both parent classes gain their subclass at the same level; This first subclass is your Primary Subclass. You may select your Secondary subclass from the other parent class in place of the Ability Score Improvement you would ordinarily gain at 4th level in that Hybrid Class.
  • If one parent class selects their subclass at a lower level than the other parent class, then that is automatically your Primary Subclass, and the other is automatically your Secondary Subclass. For example, a Warlock/Druid Hybrid would have their Otherworldly Patron as their Primary Subclass, and their Druid Circle as their Secondary Subclass.
  • The Hybrid Class gains their Primary Subclass features at the Hybrid Class levels appropriate for that subclass's parent class - Thus a Warlock/Druid hybrid would gain their Patron abilities at 1st, 6th, 10th and 14th levels.
  • Each time the Hybrid Class gains an Ability Score improvement via levels in that Hybrid Class, in place of that Ability Score Improvement, you may gain the next subclass ability for your Secondary Subclass. This may not occur at a level before you would ordinarily gain that feature - For example, you could not take a 9th-level Roguish Archetype feature using your 8th-level Ability Score Improvement - But you could take it using your 12th-level ASI.

Example Hybrid Classes[edit]

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