what does DIP mean?

[Lost_Nomad]

so I'm fairly new to these forums and I find them really great and helpful
one question though
what does DIP mean? I've seen it on here a lot and cant find a definition

[Ruslan]

Dip means take a small number of levels in another class.

For example, Wizard level 18/Fighter level 2 is a wizard with a fighter dip.

[Sicarius Victis]

Generally, a "dip" refers to multiclassing into a different class for only a few levels, mostly used to pick up specific low-level features.

For example, a common "dip" for any character with a decent CHA bonus would be multiclassing into Warlock for two levels, just to pick up the cantrip Eldritch Blast and the Invocation Agonizing Blast.

[Millstone85]

Also, I don't think those are initials.
It is just a dip, as in a short plunge into something.

[CantigThimble]

What they said, and while there aren't any absolute definitions I would say that something is only a dip up to level 3. If you took 4-5 levels it would be a straight up multiclass.

[DanyBallon]

D.I.P. is a code name using a "letter +1" variation, and stand for Character Highly Optimized :smalltongue:

Just kidding, as everyone already ooint out, it mean "dipping" for a few levels in an other class.

[MrStabby]

The principle is that a lot of classes get their signature abilities early on so very often taking a handful of levels from another class will add a different style of play to a character and develop versatility.

Fighter for 3 levels, for example commonly adds battlemaster superiority dice, action surge and fighting style - this adds resource management and a spot of nova damage to another class and lets it do more things.

Rogue 2 for cunning action/expertise/sneak attack - cunning action enables any class to play guerrilla warfare, expertise develops a theme (now your cleric can know more about religion than a wizard) and sneak attack, well it is situational bonus damage.

Adding a couple of levels of any caster gives you use for concentration and there are a lot of low level spells that are useful and don't need saves or attack rolls. Warlock 2 is common for cantrips +invocations and for experiencing the joy of hex.

This is the most common form of dip in my experience. The second type is to pick abilities that stack with your core class or enhance them. Warlock 2 on a paladin gives a ranged attack, maybe some at will spells to give more options. Yes it provides some good short rest spell slots but they are a little less significant. Sorcerer dipping warlock is concentrating - it can cast enough spells that another caster class isn't broadening what it can do by much, but it is instead becoming specialist, usually around quickened eldritch blasts to get huge utility from the class cantrip.

The pro/con of each depends on your view. In a large party there is less need to generalise to cover more bases so some abilities from other classes are "nice to have" - cunning action dash to close to melee combat for example. This said many players find the increased options more versatile and fun (rather than 6 turns in a row taking the attack action). Specialism is the opposite - yes more power but very often your turns are all pretty much identical.

[Sicarius Victis]

Alright, I think the point has been made. Further explanation feels redundant.




D.I.P. is a code name using a "letter +1" variation, and stand for Character Highly Optimized :smalltongue:

That...actually works. Why it works, I don't know. But it does.

[Finieous]

On the old rec.games.frp.advocacy Usenet newsgroup, DIP (Design in Play) indicated a preference in character creation for starting with the bare bones of a character, even mechanically, and then fleshing it out in the course of actual play. This was contrasted with DAS (Design at Start), where a character is fully designed at character creation, typically with a complete background, personality, relationships, as well as game statistics.

http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/rgfa/

Not that I think that's what you meant. :smallbiggrin:

[DanyBallon]

That...actually works. Why it works, I don't know. But it does.

It took me some time to come up with it.

Not being a fan of "dipping" I was trying to find some absurd and slightly sarcastic way for a D.I.P acronym :smallbiggrin:

[JakOfAllTirades]

It's also important to remember that multi classing is an optional rule. At tables where it's not in use, "dip" generally refers to whatever is being served with the crackers.

[CantigThimble]

Always remember, simple, easily answered questions are to be beaten with a sledgehammer until reduced to powder. And then whipped with cheese and almonds.

[Nicodiemus]

Always remember, simple, easily answered questions are to be beaten with a sledgehammer until reduced to powder. And then whipped with cheese and almonds.

LOL OMG- cheese dip *eye roll + groan*

[CantigThimble]

LOL OMG- cheese dip *eye roll + groan*

Dear god I can't believe I did that unintentionally. It must have come from that deep dark place in my heart that I have tried so hard to seal away forever. The part that does nothing but create the worst puns possible. Sometimes they escape...

[hymer]

What they said, and while there aren't any absolute definitions I would say that something is only a dip up to level 3. If you took 4-5 levels it would be a straight up multiclass.

I've seen a slightly larger dip referred to as a 'splash'.

[JakOfAllTirades]

Dear god I can't believe I did that unintentionally. It must have come from that deep dark place in my heart that I have tried so hard to seal away forever. The part that does nothing but create the worst puns possible. Sometimes they escape...

It's okay, we're all very proud of you.:smallwink:

[Socratov]

Dear god I can't believe I did that unintentionally. It must have come from that deep dark place in my heart that I have tried so hard to seal away forever. The part that does nothing but create the worst puns possible. Sometimes they escape...

Hey, some of us think it's an artform and pun to our heart's content...

[Callin]

But is it the Content of the Heart that makes us do it?