Multi-Classed Priests

Priests are versatile characters, with good fighting skills, potent spells, and a variety of special powers and talents. Combining the priest’s range of spell powers with the talents of another class results in a very capable character. As described in the Player’s Handbook , dwarves, gnomes, and half-elves may all be multi-classed priests: dwarves may be fighter/clerics; gnomes may be fighter/clerics, cleric/illusionists, or cleric/thieves; and half-elves may be fighter/clerics, fighter/druids, cleric or druid/rangers, cleric or druid/mages, or fighter/mage/clerics or druids.

Specialty Priests: Unless otherwise noted, a multi-classed priest character must be a cleric and not any other kind of specialty priest. Some campaign settings may have world-specific guidelines for multi-classed specialty priests; the campaign setting rules take precedence over other material in the Player’s Handbook , Player’s Option: Skills & Powers , or Player’s Option: Spells & Magic.

At the DM’s option, some of the varieties of specialty priest presented in Chapter 2 may be added to the list of multi-classed combinations. (See the chart below.) Since the capabilities of the various specialty priests are comparable to each other, there is no penalty for choosing to be a crusader or druid instead of a cleric.

Race	Specialty Priesthoods Allowed
Dwarf	Cleric, Crusader
Half-elf	Cleric, Crusader, Druid
Gnome	Cleric

Restrictions: The only limitation that applies to a multi-classed priest is the restricted selection of weapons available to a cleric or druid. Regardless of the character s other class, he must abide by the weapon selection of his priest class. Of course, crusaders are able to wield any weapon, since they are not normally limited in this regard.

Optional powers: With the DM’s approval, multi-classed priests may select optional abilities described in Chapter 3 , including animal empathy, casting time reduction, cold resistance, communication, detect evil, detect undead, expert healer, extended spell duration, fire/electrical resistance, identify plants and animals, immunity to charm, immunity to magic, immunity to natural disease, inspire/enrage allies, know alignment, lay on hands, pass without trace, purify water, resist energy drain, secret language, spell-like granted power, and turn undead. These can be paid for by balancing advantages with restrictions of equal value; the priest may choose any limitation except armor restriction (for druids) or weapon restriction. Optionally, the priest can accept an experience point penalty of 30% plus 1% for each point he spends on additional abilities. For example, a priest who chooses know alignment (15 points) reduces the number of experience points he earns by 45 percent.

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