Shadow Rule? 3 consecutive levels in a class

[MissEvelyn]

According to our Wiki here:
http://wiki.arelith.com/Rules#On_Rules. ... adow_Rules

A shadow rule is something that some players (incorrectly) believe are rules...

I've heard countless of times people mention that it's against the rules to level a new class before you have at least 3 levels in your current.
Likewise, I've also heard that you have to have at least 3 levels in all the classes you plan on taking before level 20.

I'm honestly confused. Which is true? Can a DM confirm any of these rules?

But more importantly, can we make these rules not be a Shadow Rule? Because that's what it feels like right now, when it isn't written down anywhere on the rules page on the Wiki. Not even the 5 Golden Rules cover it.

[Mithreas]

You can try and do it if you like... (The engine won't let you - it will delevel you back to take the level again). So taking the first 3 levels of a class together is required.

However, the level 20 thing is entirely a fabrication. The engine won't let you take a new class at level 29 or 30 (as you wouldn't be able to take 3 levels), but doesn't care about level 20 or less.

[theCountofMonteCristo]

Not a DM but:

http://wiki.arelith.com/Category:Classes#Multiclassing

The 3 levels of the class in a row is mechanically enforced. You cannot violate it.

[MissEvelyn]

Oh my goodness. To be honest, I've never actually triggered this script for fear of getting smited by the DMs. So that explains why it's not a written rule, because it's mechanically implemented. I am speechless. All this time I thought I was doing so good, adhering to these unwritten rules

[kittenblackfriends]

Yup. If you try to take a level before then, it forces you to delevel and relevel. When I made my first PC, I was so confused when I couldn't level up into a new class at Lv3...

[Iceborn]

This is not a rule as in "you should not do it".
It's more a rule as in "you need to be evil to take assassin levels".
It's a mechanical limitation.

[Jack Oat]

This isn't a shadow rule. The information you seek can be readily found right here (as Count of Monte Cristo posted) as well as in the in-game reading materials.

[MissEvelyn]

All this time I've been living a lie
Thanks, everyone, for the answers! =)