XP penalties, when do they occur?

20% for each class that is more than 1 level apart. Favored class is not included in the calculation.

A dwarven F4/C2/T1 has no penalty (F is favored)
a dwarven F4/C3/T1 has 20%
A dwarven F4/C3/T1/W1 has 40%

and so on and such .....

The penalty stays until all non favored levels are with in one level

Also check page 55 of your game manual for more extensive information... But it depends on
a) whether your character has a racially favoured class among the classes he's got; in that case he won't have the 20% XP penalty on future XP. See page 45 of your manual and beyond for those racial preferences. [img]smile.gif[/img]
b) whether your character without a racially favoured class has more or less "equal" levels in his classes (all within one class from the other). He can then balance the needs of his classes and suffer no penalty.

So you'll only get an 20% XP penalty when your character is multi-classing with no racially favoured classes among his class choices and when the levels of the classes are "uneven". A level 7 wizard/level 5 rogue will get this penalty, for instance.
One more thing... If you've got a 9th level gnomish rogue/2nd level illusionist, you won't get the XP penalty because of the illusionist class being a racially favoured one. The racially favoured class "doesn't count" for the XP penalty scenario. However, if you decide to take an *extra* class, a third one, for instance you add 1 fighter level, then you *will* get the 20% penalty on future XP, because his fighter level is so much lower than his rogue level.

Anyways, if this is still a bit on the complicated side, just check your game manual on the aforementioned pages. It's all in there. [img]smile.gif[/img]