TOPIC: Advanced D&D Question

I'm working on an app for 1st Edition D&D, and have a question. For multi-class characters, the armor is limited by either class. For example if an Elven Fighter/Magic User is getting geared up, no armor can be worn, as it is limited by the magic-user class. What about weapons? Is the character limited to those weapons useable by a magic-user? or are they open to the fighter list? I know Fighter/Cleric's are limited to Clerical weapons. (blunt only)

If there is a reference to this in the Player's Guide or DMG, that would be excellent.

Thanks!

Think of it like a Venn diagram. The character would be limited to the weapons both have in common, so that would be the dagger, dart, knife, sling, and quarterstaff.

If memory serves weapons are also limited by class(or at least that's how we used to play it), but let me go pull out my 1st ed stuff and check.

Ok so after a flip through of basic d&d I dont think multi classing was in there. 1st ed Ad&d on the other hand has it. I cant find an explicit reference but I did turn up PHB pg 17 under half orc

When playing multi-class characters, the half-orc must abide by the restrictions of the least favourable class with regard to armour only.

Not sure if that applies to other races though. I would suspect not though since page 32 says


Cleric combinations (with fighter types) may use edged weapons.

So I might have been doing it wrong all these years.

Picc wrote: If memory serves weapons are also limited by class, but let me go pull out my 1st ed stuff and check.

You can use everything either class can use.

I have been DMing it
For 30 years.
Weapon, best possible
Armor, best of the worst.

Think of it this way:

Armor interferes with certain skills (iron messes with arcane magic and jangles during sneaking) so you’re restricted.

Weapons are limited by training, so you can use them all.

Wade’s pic shows Cleric/Fighters may sword, but as always it’s DM’s discretion, so Falcon isn’t wrong. We all tweaked the rules to be more to our liking. My AD&D players got to fire two arrows per round because I carried that over from the purple box.

In the Gold Box computer games (based on first edition rules) half elven Fighter/Magic User/Thief multiclass characters could wear chain. I abused the hell out of that.

But that was not the actual first edition rule.

Thanks, everyone. This helps a lot. I remember it being as Falcon described, although I have played in games where strict rules applied and weapons had to be available to both classes. Most of the time, it was just the Cleric limitation. Naturally that is the solution that requires more code, but it makes the most sense. The specific text would say otherwise. I'll have to think about it.

As you can guess, this will be a character generator for 1st Ed DnD, complete with the old style character sheets. Stats, spells, abilities, leveling are done, and I am working on equipment. Still have 7 tables of equipment to add to the database. Tedious, but it will be cool when done, later this Fall.

Thanks!

Its going to be awesome!

Cranston wrote: Thanks, everyone. This helps a lot. I remember it being as Falcon described, although I have played in games where strict rules applied and weapons had to be available to both classes. Most of the time, it was just the Cleric limitation. Naturally that is the solution that requires more code, but it makes the most sense. The specific text would say otherwise. I'll have to think about it.

As you can guess, this will be a character generator for 1st Ed DnD, complete with the old style character sheets. Stats, spells, abilities, leveling are done, and I am working on equipment. Still have 7 tables of equipment to add to the database. Tedious, but it will be cool when done, later this Fall.

I can’t wait to download it.
Thanks!