Multiclassing
For Steel and Chaos there are several different options allowed to multiclass depending on what you would like to achieve. You should pick between these to best fit your character and the plot.
To a Significantly Different Class
If the development of your character suggests that you should switch to a different class type, for example switching between civilian, military, magic user, psychic, and augmented OCCs. We will use the standard Palladium Dual Class Rules. These are the only official multiclassing rules currently in print from Palladium. This is the simplest and arguably the worst option.
To a Related Class
If you are acquiring a new focus within the same type of class(usually martial, scholar, trained magic, etc.) then you'll redraw the character at the new level using OCC Related Skills to take OCC skills from the old class as much as possible. The skills that cannot be taken will be frozen at their current level and the new skills and OCC abilities will start at level 0. This will cost 1000xp + 500xp/frozen skill.
Cross training/Advanced Training MOS
This is a standard military option whereby soldiers are trained in advanced skills and skills outside their normal core competencies. Any MOS may be available if the character meets the attribute requirements of the original OCC. Doing this will cause you to lose all class, skill, and level bonuses to 5 OCC Related and Secondary Skills--4 if one or more of them is an new skill you have not selected at all. Characters are limited to at most 3 MOSs, usually their original and two advanced training, but they may retrain, dropping an entire MOS and all of its skills.
Advanced training MOSs are available in the Heroes of Humanity book, with the course times as listed. Exact availability will depend on plot, but normally crash courses would be available to all NEMA personnel with approval of senior commanding officers and the full courses would be available to all NEMA personnel with college degrees. Cross training Peacekeeper MOSs will take 16 weeks and 32 weeks for all other OCCs.
Black Marketer Special Abilities
A few of the special abilities from the Rifts® Black Market™ book may make sense if the plot allows but does not provide the benefits directly. These would take the place of 2 other skills either unselected or reduced to half their base level, losing all bonuses other than IQ.
Sorcerous Proficiencies
Casters are able to take Sorcerous proficiencies in place of secondary skills in pairs of Proficiencies and Limitations. These can be found in The Rifter® #27 and Through the Glass Darkly™. These proficiencies are subject to review for compatibility with your class and the campaign plot.
Dabbler (AD&D like)
If you want to take a few levels in another class you must make a serious, in character choice to do so and play it through. As this is not normal to Palladium and can create a very powerful character I am making this expensive, but perhaps you will find it worth it.
- This must make sense in character, you will need an interest, mentor, and opportunity to learn the new OCC. You must have the attributes required for that OCC.
- Your character must be at least level 3.
- From here on you will use the less favorable of your classes xp charts. This applies even if you fail to acquire your new class below.
- For an entire level after taking up the new class you will have its OCC and MOS skills at level 0, related skills as unknown skills(IQ and affinity bonuses only) and none of its special abilities. You will accrue playing in character xp only when you try to use your new skills and approaches suited to your new class before falling back on your existing skills. This is expected to mean more than normal playing in character xp.
- If you maintain this focus on the new class throughout that level you will gain all the class skills and special abilities at level 1 and at this and every future level you may add a level to either class.
- If you do not maintain this focus you will lose all but one of the new OCC skills, and gain a level to your "main" class as normal when you have enough xp.
- At the session where you complete your level the group will vote on whether you have maintained focus in character. The player and GM will each be able to cast a vote equal 25% of the group size and then each other player will be able to cast one vote. If no votes equal to a majority of players are cast you will fail as above.
This is the other competitor for the worst option.
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