I often read on many posts here that people suggest on certain builds that they take certain classes at certain lvls to maximize their bab. It seems that pre-epic is where you have to carefully chooose what class to lvl. How do I ensure that my builds are getting their max bab. There are 3 types of classes when it comes to BAB

1. Combat classes (inc paladin, ranger, cot, fighter, blackguard,barbarian)
2. Semicombat classes (inc cleric, rogue, shadowdancer, druid, assassin, monk,bard)
3. Noncombat classes (sorcerer, wizard,palemaster)

not all classes listed but you get the idea.

group 1 classes gain bab at a rate of 1 per level
group 2 classes gain bab at a rate of 3 every 4 level
group 3 classes gain bab at a rage of 1 per 2 level

You get a number of attacks based on your BAB.(this exludes monk attacks with unarmed kama)
at BAB 0 you get 1 attack per round, BAB 6 you get 2 attacks per round, BAB 11 you get 3 attacks per round , bab 16 you get 4 attacks per round. 20 BAB is the maximum you get at level 20 so 5 attacks per round isnt possible.

Now if you are in group 2 you lose 1 BAB every 4 levels starting at level 1. So at level 1,5,9,13,17 you lose 1BAB compared to group 1. So it is better to stop one of these classes at a level divisible by 4. ie 4/8/12/16/20.

If you take 2 classes in this group (e.g. rogue/assasin) at level 5. On your 10th level you will have a BAB of 6. Which is exactly the same as a 4 rogue,4assassin(ignore prereq here)

If you wanted a class in group 2 to get 4 attacks per round you need to find someway of getting another BAB in. ie 16(group2),4(group1) will give a bab of 16 (4 attacks). If you took group 2 classes in anything but a multiple of 4 you will lose bab.

this is the same as group 3, you can take 16 levels of group 3 and 4 levels of group 2 and you get 3 attacks per round instead of 2.

Sorry if that is clear as mud.

Syrath I had to read it a few times and run the numbers in my head but I think I got it. So if was making a 14 bard/10rdd/16 pm would lvling it such as 12 bard - 10 rdd - 1 bard - 16 pm - 1 bard, give me the max bab I could get?
Quote: Posted 08/13/04 19:01:20 (GMT) -- highlife262626

I had to read it a few times and run the numbers in my head but I think I got it. So if was making a 14 bard/10rdd/16 pm would lvling it such as 12 bard - 10 rdd - 1 bard - 16 pm - 1 bard, give me the max bab I could get?

Yes. At level 20 you'd be 12 Bard (+9 BAB) and 8 RDD (+6) BAB for a total of +15 BAB (3 attacks per round), which is the max possible for that combination of classes.
_________________
"Well, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just
'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!"