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<blockquote data-quote="The Crimson Binome" data-source="post: 6592246" data-attributes="member: 6775031"><p>It may have not been D&D where the adage originated, although I know 5E specifically states that it's okay for a character to die, and you're winning as long as you have fun and tell a cool story. </p><p></p><p>I think there deserves to be more distinction between who <em>can</em> gain levels and who <em>does</em> gain levels, and D&D hasn't always been very clear on the topic. Certainly, most NPCs in AD&D <em>didn't</em> gain levels, but they also weren't in a <em>position</em> to gain levels. What about henchpersons and hirelings? Did they not gain levels? Or were they also assumed to be as special as PCs?</p><p></p><p>In 3E, everyone had a class and a level. The difference was that PCs probably had better stats, and took their levels in better classes. The exercise was left to the reader as to how an NPC reaches level 9 as a Commoner.</p><p></p><p>In 4E, only PCs had the traditional class and level (in most cases), but NPCs could reach high levels of competence as enemy (or allied?) monsters. The exercise was left to the reader as to how an NPC becomes a level 9 Soldier. If you take the view that monster stats or PC-stats are just a matter of perspective, such that you could reflect the same individual either way as the circumstances warrant, then there's clearly nothing special about casting spells or being really good with a sword.</p><p></p><p>In 5E, only PCs <em>must</em> have a class and level, and NPCs are allowed to use a monster stat block if the DM feels like it. The way it's set up, NPC stat blocks are designed to reflect class abilities. The question of whether to model someone as a monster or with a full PC-grade write-up is just a question of expedience, but there's nothing inherently special about possessing the abilities of a level 9 Fighter or Wizard.</p><p></p><p>That being the case, from a certain perspective, PCs have gotten less and less special with each edition.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="The Crimson Binome, post: 6592246, member: 6775031"] It may have not been D&D where the adage originated, although I know 5E specifically states that it's okay for a character to die, and you're winning as long as you have fun and tell a cool story. I think there deserves to be more distinction between who [I]can[/I] gain levels and who [I]does[/I] gain levels, and D&D hasn't always been very clear on the topic. Certainly, most NPCs in AD&D [I]didn't[/I] gain levels, but they also weren't in a [I]position[/I] to gain levels. What about henchpersons and hirelings? Did they not gain levels? Or were they also assumed to be as special as PCs? In 3E, everyone had a class and a level. The difference was that PCs probably had better stats, and took their levels in better classes. The exercise was left to the reader as to how an NPC reaches level 9 as a Commoner. In 4E, only PCs had the traditional class and level (in most cases), but NPCs could reach high levels of competence as enemy (or allied?) monsters. The exercise was left to the reader as to how an NPC becomes a level 9 Soldier. If you take the view that monster stats or PC-stats are just a matter of perspective, such that you could reflect the same individual either way as the circumstances warrant, then there's clearly nothing special about casting spells or being really good with a sword. In 5E, only PCs [I]must[/I] have a class and level, and NPCs are allowed to use a monster stat block if the DM feels like it. The way it's set up, NPC stat blocks are designed to reflect class abilities. The question of whether to model someone as a monster or with a full PC-grade write-up is just a question of expedience, but there's nothing inherently special about possessing the abilities of a level 9 Fighter or Wizard. That being the case, from a certain perspective, PCs have gotten less and less special with each edition. [/QUOTE]
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