Dual-Classing in Swords & Wizardry Complete

Dual-classing is an option that appears in 1^st and 2^nd edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, but was not so far as I am aware in 0E D&D. It’s a way for human characters to multiclass, but in a fashion which doesn’t work in the same way as traditional multi-classing, a feature reserved for demi-humans.

One reason you could opt to allow dual-classing is to accommodate smaller groups. If you are playing a game with only one or two players this will let them have more options for their characters, and help them to fill more than one role. Another reason could be story-driven; you could include monasteries, warrior’s school, wizard’s insitutes, temples, thieves’ guilds and other such institutions which can offer training for the right price (and right skill). This could be another option for players to explore with their characters.

Dual-classing is basically a “career change” option in which the character decides to shift focus from his existing class to a new one. It’s a bit convoluted as presented in AD&D (both versions), requiring significant base attributes to qualify, followed by specific rules on how the XP gain works, depending on what abilities are used. Logisitically it’s a bit of a mess, because you have to track whether the PC was using his old class abilities or his new class abilities in a given instance, or limit what abilities can and can’t be used, and the old class can never advance after a dual-class transition. The system I propose below is a reductionist view, cleaning up this process for ease of use.

Dual-Class Requirements: a human (and even any demi-human at the GM’s option) can choose to dual-class in a secondary class at a later date. When he does so, the following rules take effect:

Prerequisites: the character must qualify for the prime requisite XP bonus in both the old class and the new class in order to dual-class. Example: a magic-user that wishes to dual-class as an assassin must have an INT, DEX and STR of 13 or better.

Optional Training Cost: the GM may want the character to spend 1D6 months and 1D6X100 gold pieces training before gaining level 1 in the new class, to justify the development of the new abilities at level 1.

Hit Dice: Hit dice are based on the old class level and do not improve until the new class’s bonuses would exceed the old class. For example: a wizard (level 5) who cross-classed as an assassin would not gain new hit dice until he reached assassin level 6. He would use the better of the two attack chart options for his class.

Saves: use the better of the two classes saves. In our magic user/assassin example a level 5 magic user has a Saving throw of 11. He will go to Save 10 when his assassin class reaches level 6.

Attack Rolls: On attack rolls use the better option of the existing class levels vs. the new class. So, to look at our magic-user level 5 who dual-classes into assassin, his chart is the same for both classes, so when he reaches assassin level 6 he’ll advance on the attack table like normal. A level 5 magic-user who dual-classes into fighter has a magic-user THAC0 of 18 at level 5, which means his THAC0 goes to 17 when he reaches fighter level 5. If you use the attack bonus and ascending AC option on page 44 of S&WC it’s even easier to figure, and according to that chart a level 5 MU has a +1 attack, while the fighter improves to +2 at level 4, so our dual-classed MU 5/F 4 has +2 attack.

Armor and Weapon Proficiency: when dual-classing the character gains the additional armor and weapon skills of the new class. However, the character still suffers any special restrictions regarding the use of such weapons and armor in the old class; this means a magic-user can’t cast spells in non-magical armor, and a thief can’t use thieving skills while wearing anything heavier than leather (just like multi-classing restrictions).

Experience Gain: while advancing in the new class the character divides all XP gained by ½ but applies the remainder to his new class only. When his new class reaches the same level as the old class he may start applying 100% of the XP gained to the new class. Thereafter he gains all class advancements as he improves his new class like normal (so improves hit dice, saves, attack modifiers and abilities as the new class only).  He retains his old class levels and abilities but only at that level of experience.

Optional Continued Class Advancement: The GM can optionally allow the dual-classed character to advance in the old and new class once both of them are the same level. At that time, continue to divide the XP into two parts, but both classes gain the XP. This requires keeping track of two separate XP totals. For example: our magic-user level 5 reaches assassin level 5. He had 25,000 XP in magic-user when he decided to dual-class in assassin. Once he reaches level 5 (12,000 XP) in assassin he may now proceed to advance in both classes, tracking XP separately but dividing all XP earned equally between the two classes. Once he reaches this point all multi-classing rules in the main book now apply.

 Example Dual-Classed character:

Vastor Redscar

Chaotic Human male of Aeronost

Magic-user level 5/Assassin Level 6 (MU XP 25,000-frozen, Assassin XP 27,000-active)

STR 14, DEX 16, CON 10, INT 13, WIS 12, CHA 8

HP 17, HD 5D4+1D6, Save 10, AC 6 [13] (leather plus Dex bonus), Attack Bonus +2 (or TAC 17)

Languages Known: aeronistic (common), Emon, elvish, Camrinal (forbidden tongue)

Weapons: long sword (1D8), short sword (1D6) (fights w-weapon style)

Assassin Skills: climb walls 88%, tasks and traps 30%, hear noise 4 in 6, hide in shadows 25%, move silently 35%, open locks 25%

Assassin Abilities: disguise, poison, backstab (+4 to hit and triple damage),

Spell Slots: 4 level 1 slots, 2 level 2 slots, 1 level 3 slot

Spell Book:

1^st Level: charm person, detect magic, light, magic missile, read magic, sleep

2^nd Level: darkness 15’ radius, ESP, invisibility, knock, phantasmal force, strength

3^rd Level: darkvision, fireball, haste, hold person, monster summoning I, protection from normal missiles, slow

Vastor Redscar was a student of the dark arts out of Asvinar under the tutelage of the wizard Taraman Dazaes when his master was assassinated. He was spared by the assassin, a woman named Rapineleth, who was impressed at his resourcefulness. She indoctrinated him in to the Guild of the Riven Flesh, an esoteric order of cultic assassins dedicated to the mad god of darkness, Ghaol, where he has prospered ever since. 

A look at Iron Falcon

Iron Falcon comes from Chris Gonnerman of Basic Fantasy fame, but unlike Basic Fantasy which focuses on an extremely OSR-themed rules-lite version of the D20 system, Iron Falcon is a pure retroclone in the finest sense, aimed at a very specific slice of D&D time: that period during which there were three little brown books plus one supplement (Greyhawk). As such it is occupying similar conceptual space to the Swords & Wizardry game, especially the Whitebox edition.

Before I go any further, let me point out that Iron Falcon is free in PDF format right here. As is traditional for the Basic Fantasy Project offerings the book can be purchased in a very inexpensive (at cost) print copy, or a more expensive hard cover. I've ordered the softcover myself....I am not sure I'll use Iron Falcon for actual gaming on its own, but I may use it as a supplement to planned S&W games. But who knows--I could also use Iron Falcon as the core rules and lean on S&W Complete for the "expanded content" of the later supplements.  It's a nice, complete package in and of itself, so a cheap portable copy of a 1975 0E-era retroclone seems rather useful to have around.

Since you can download it for yourself, I'll avoid going into too much detail, but Iron Falcon does distinguish itself from S&W as follows:

It has the four core classes (fighter, magic user, cleric, thief) with the thief from Greyhawk

Paladin is an option in the back appendix

No demons (those didn't appear until later supplements)

Classic saving throws (no "one save to rule them all" as S&W introduced)

Descending Armor Class (meh; I remember a time when descending AC seemed sacrosanct. Those days are loooong gone)

Some rules on trading out ability points to boost prime requisites (not sure if this was in the LBB set or not, memory fails)

Medium and Large size damage expressions for weapons, and optional rules on bringing back the weapon vs. armor type modifiers

Unlike S&W Complete, since Iron Falcon  strictly limits the scope to the 3 LBBs plus Greyhawk, we don't get a lot of optional or variant rules. Initiative, for example, is the group D6 roll option only since other later options appeared in other supplements

What's cool about all of this is that Iron Falcon (much like the core and whitebox editions of S&W) really hammers home how complete the original D&D was, and does a great job of revising and cleaning up the original into a compelling, playable package. It's also got a few advantages, depending on your personal taste: for one, it's written in a very clean, neutral tone....if you prefer a version of 0E that give you the rules without making any assumptions about how to play, this is a great edition for you to look at. It also is very concise....this edition, despite being branded as "not for beginners" by Chris is in fact actually a great starting point for new players (with the caveat that Basic Fantasy is, admittedly, the best starting point).

Downsides include a lack of art....as in no art. Also, since it only covers the first supplement of D&D it is missing the later content. Personally I'm going to hope that Chris follow up with an Iron Falcon sequel that brings the other supplements in to the fold....that would be ideal. But make no mistake...this game is a complete package, and has everything you could possibly want to start gaming like it was 1975. If your not burned out on retroclones yet, you should check it out.