Be a good roleplaying gamer, support your group by being efficient. Efficiency starts at choosing your character class. Let’s have a close look at some options, starting with the low-hanging fruit, which should not come as a surprise to anyone, and working us down the list to a secret multi-class combination lurking between the lines of the core books, so mysterious that seasoned AD&D players have doubted its legal basis, and OSRIC players are completely unaware of its existence.
Humans
Human characters may be of any class, unrestricted by level caps. They are destined to become the Lords and Ladies of the human realms expanding into the wilderness. Play any class you want, except for the assassin and the thief (only play one during bard training) and the assassin, who are tied to an abysmally bad attack matrix and notoriously bad at sneaking in the dark without infravision, and the monk, who totally sucks.
Demi-Humans
Because of the level caps, demi-humans are best hired as henchmen to make good use of their special abilities and multi-class options. Still, some of the following combinations may be so irresistible you will consider them for your main player character.
Always consider adding a fighter to your chosen class for the better attack matrix. The thief class also has its appeal, being unlimited in level for most demi-humans. Never combine three classes, as the training costs will be horrendous – triple classes are for henchmen, who can be financed by their master or mistress.
Half-Elves
The half-elf is the only fellow who may be multi-class clerics. The cleric/fighter is granted access to all weapons – take that, 2nd edition players!
Elves
„I never play elves“ says neverplayselves.
Fool! The fighter/magic-user is allowed to cast spells while wearing any kind of armour! Woohoo! Except if your DM is being a dick (or running a 2nd edition game). This class combination allows for a particularly powerful low-level character, for a short level progression, or up till an untimely death – elves being spirit creatures, they cannot be raised from the dead.
Dwarves
Dwarves are valuable members of any party, due to their native understanding of stoneworks like pit traps or secret passages.
If your referee allows the level cap of single-class demi-humans to be increased by 2, as suggested in Unearthed Arcana, then you may as a single-class fighter one day become a Dwarven Lord, even without extraordinary strength! Otherwise play a fighter/thief, so you don’t waste your XP entirely after reaching the figher level cap.
Halflings
These little are made for being single-class thieves – just ascertain your referee is aware of the fact that the Monster Manual grants you a +3 on bows and slings. The fighter/thief is not viable because of the highly restrictive level cap.
Half-Orcs
„I never play evil characters“ says dreadlord.
Then you miss out on the terrific fighter/assassin combination! You can rise far as a fighter and unlimited as an assassin. Be a killing machine and strike brutally whether expected or not! Assassination may be attempted with any kind of sword – I personally prefer the bastard when playing a bastard.
Don’t let charisma be your dump stat though – use the assassin’s disguise skill to pass for a decent human, elf or the like wherever you go. If you show your ugly orc swine face, you might walk around carrying a billboard sign saying „assassin“ as well. And be careful – like their elfin cousins, half-orcs remain dead when dead.
Gnomes
„Why are they even in the book!“ cries someone who escaped my mind.
They are small and inconspicuous. They can be a wee fun. In a wee nasty way.
Pages 32-33 of the PHB list multi-class options in a way that is clearly intended to cover all of them. They don’t. Page 16 describing the gnome clearly states that any two permitted classes may be played in combination, those explicitly listed are mere examples. Alright, playing a thief/assassin does not make much sense, the more so does the illusionist/assassin! The what, you may exclaim. You read right, the illusionist/assassin! I also call it the giacomo class. Imagine such nasty little bugger, dressed in harlequin leather armour, jumping right out of an illusionary cake to cut the victim’s throat!
Rules lawyers, please refer to the Multi-Classed Assassin Table on top of page 18 in the DMG. The illusionist/assassin has always existed, hidden, waiting, ready to jump into your face.
Be warned, however, the illusionist/assassin is for advanced players only. Combining the classes with the worst attack matrices means you will miss most of your regular strikes. Use your cunning to your advantage!
Ghoultunnel 