MavrickWeirdo
First Post
Before I introduce the character, I am going to share my opinions about NPC level advancement.
I believe in what I call “Learn something new every day” advancement. The idea is that a typical human commoner gets 1 experience point a day. That gives him 360xp per year (I lowered the number from 365 to make the math simpler, so apparently he had 5 “stupid” days a year).
Starting to gain experience at age 15, (due to the “minimum starting age” in the PHB) he would reach L2 at age18, L3 age 23, L4 age 32. “Middle age” modifiers happen at 35 years. He reaches L5 at age 43, then “old age” modifiers apply at age 53. At age 57 he reaches L6, then “venerable age” modifiers apply at 70. He gets to L7 at 73 years and L8 at age 93. He would not have enough experience to reach L9 by the time he reached “maximum human age” at 110 years (according to the PHB).
While some people liked the idea, others had concerns.
Concern: “NPC’s don’t live that long.”
My reply: According to the PHB, most people die before achieving “venerable age” range. Most is not all. If a DM wanted to include a really old farmer in the story (like a PC’s grandfather) then they might need stats for a venerable commoner.
Concern: “Commoners in my world don’t go over 4th Level.”
My reply: Then do not use the stats I make over L4. Feel free to use the fourth level stats with the older background/flavor text. (If you do that, remember to apply ageing modifiers.)
Concern: “Most people are L1 commoners, with this method players aren’t as special.”
My reply: Demographically about half of a community’s population is children (under 15). They would be L1 commoners. Those between 15 and 17 would also be L1 commoners. In addition, some people do learn slower than average, those between 18 and 20 would still be L1. With all that, you can easily have 60% of a community L1 commoners.
Concern: “How are commoners supposed to gain experience?”
My reply: There are many challenges commoners faces, harsh weather, haggling a good price for their crops, raising kids, etc.
Concern: “You don’t give experience points for that stuff. You only give xp for combat.”
My reply: Consider it a “roleplaying" bonus for NPC’s. If you don’t agree, then a farmer would also: hunt small game (rabbits, game hens, etc.), defend crops from vermin, raise and slaughter livestock, get in the occasional bar fight, resist bandits, etc.
Concern: “if you give xp to NPC’s just for living then you have to give it to PC’s also.”
My reply: I do not think giving players 1xp per day (character time) would cause a problem. It would probably add no more than an extra 3% to a character’s xp total.
Concern: “At that rate there would be lots of high level elves. They would reach Epic levels if they lived to Maximum age.”
My reply: Elf commoners gain experience at a slower rate, 180xp per year.
Concern: “That’s ridiculous, elves aren’t less intelligent than humans. Just because they live longer does not mean they learn slower. Would you give an elf PC half as much xp as a human PC?”
My reply: It is not about race; it is about “lifestyle” and “culture”. Adventurers (of all races) live a high-risk lifestyle full of conflict. It is learn or die. Adventurers gain experience quickly, often 1000xp per month (game time). Human commoners generally try to live in places where they have less conflict than adventurers do. They only get 30xp a month. Elven culture (among commoners) is about fitting into nature, living in balance. They tend to have less conflict and risk than human commoners do, so they gain experience slower, 15xp per month.
Of course, people are not required to agree with my opinions, but now you know the reasons behind some of the choices I have made. I will try to post L1 Elf Farmer (commoner) tomorrow.
I believe in what I call “Learn something new every day” advancement. The idea is that a typical human commoner gets 1 experience point a day. That gives him 360xp per year (I lowered the number from 365 to make the math simpler, so apparently he had 5 “stupid” days a year).
Starting to gain experience at age 15, (due to the “minimum starting age” in the PHB) he would reach L2 at age18, L3 age 23, L4 age 32. “Middle age” modifiers happen at 35 years. He reaches L5 at age 43, then “old age” modifiers apply at age 53. At age 57 he reaches L6, then “venerable age” modifiers apply at 70. He gets to L7 at 73 years and L8 at age 93. He would not have enough experience to reach L9 by the time he reached “maximum human age” at 110 years (according to the PHB).
While some people liked the idea, others had concerns.
Concern: “NPC’s don’t live that long.”
My reply: According to the PHB, most people die before achieving “venerable age” range. Most is not all. If a DM wanted to include a really old farmer in the story (like a PC’s grandfather) then they might need stats for a venerable commoner.
Concern: “Commoners in my world don’t go over 4th Level.”
My reply: Then do not use the stats I make over L4. Feel free to use the fourth level stats with the older background/flavor text. (If you do that, remember to apply ageing modifiers.)
Concern: “Most people are L1 commoners, with this method players aren’t as special.”
My reply: Demographically about half of a community’s population is children (under 15). They would be L1 commoners. Those between 15 and 17 would also be L1 commoners. In addition, some people do learn slower than average, those between 18 and 20 would still be L1. With all that, you can easily have 60% of a community L1 commoners.
Concern: “How are commoners supposed to gain experience?”
My reply: There are many challenges commoners faces, harsh weather, haggling a good price for their crops, raising kids, etc.
Concern: “You don’t give experience points for that stuff. You only give xp for combat.”
My reply: Consider it a “roleplaying" bonus for NPC’s. If you don’t agree, then a farmer would also: hunt small game (rabbits, game hens, etc.), defend crops from vermin, raise and slaughter livestock, get in the occasional bar fight, resist bandits, etc.
Concern: “if you give xp to NPC’s just for living then you have to give it to PC’s also.”
My reply: I do not think giving players 1xp per day (character time) would cause a problem. It would probably add no more than an extra 3% to a character’s xp total.
Concern: “At that rate there would be lots of high level elves. They would reach Epic levels if they lived to Maximum age.”
My reply: Elf commoners gain experience at a slower rate, 180xp per year.
Concern: “That’s ridiculous, elves aren’t less intelligent than humans. Just because they live longer does not mean they learn slower. Would you give an elf PC half as much xp as a human PC?”
My reply: It is not about race; it is about “lifestyle” and “culture”. Adventurers (of all races) live a high-risk lifestyle full of conflict. It is learn or die. Adventurers gain experience quickly, often 1000xp per month (game time). Human commoners generally try to live in places where they have less conflict than adventurers do. They only get 30xp a month. Elven culture (among commoners) is about fitting into nature, living in balance. They tend to have less conflict and risk than human commoners do, so they gain experience slower, 15xp per month.
Of course, people are not required to agree with my opinions, but now you know the reasons behind some of the choices I have made. I will try to post L1 Elf Farmer (commoner) tomorrow.
I think someone should start a commoner battle arena in the fights forum... 
