Interesting. Ive two questions:
Rather than cap at level 6, why not either :
- adjust the xp tables so high level advancement is really slow
- modify the xp system so that only level-appropriate challenges give any xp
so 'high' level characters will only get xp by hunting down rare, legendary, lethal, foes
in what way is an outright cap better than this?
Secondly, I think that theres a problem in the rules for your type of game, at the other end.
Theres not enough granularity in the 'harmless to 1 HD/level" area.
For example, the below 0 level humans are crammed into a handful of hit points and to-hit scores.
- an utterly harmless old peasant
- a miserable weak serf
- an average farmer
- a miltiaman
- a bandit
- a soldier
Its more important in your type of game to draw a distinction between say the serf, the mitilia, and the soldier.
So, perhps you should consider
- start PCs at 2nd level
- playing 1st level characters is an unusual option, like playing 0-level in AD&D
- 'normal' humans then have 0, 1st, and even 2nd level to be statted into
- Similarly, demihumans and humanoids will be bumped up a bit (eg more 2HD orc seargents)
Rather than cap at level 6, why not either :
- adjust the xp tables so high level advancement is really slow
- modify the xp system so that only level-appropriate challenges give any xp
so 'high' level characters will only get xp by hunting down rare, legendary, lethal, foes
in what way is an outright cap better than this?
Secondly, I think that theres a problem in the rules for your type of game, at the other end.
Theres not enough granularity in the 'harmless to 1 HD/level" area.
For example, the below 0 level humans are crammed into a handful of hit points and to-hit scores.
- an utterly harmless old peasant
- a miserable weak serf
- an average farmer
- a miltiaman
- a bandit
- a soldier
Its more important in your type of game to draw a distinction between say the serf, the mitilia, and the soldier.
So, perhps you should consider
- start PCs at 2nd level
- playing 1st level characters is an unusual option, like playing 0-level in AD&D
- 'normal' humans then have 0, 1st, and even 2nd level to be statted into
- Similarly, demihumans and humanoids will be bumped up a bit (eg more 2HD orc seargents)