Learning on the Road

[KiloGex]

I'm going to be running into an issue that I have yet to encounter as a GM - leveling outside of civilization.

I will be running a modified AD&D X Module (Master of the Desert Nomads) and the players will be traveling in the wilderness for possibly several months. They will also hopefully be leveling up to 4th or 5th level along their journey. My dilemma comes when I have a player that wants to begin taking a prestige class early on (possibly 4th level) - The major question is how should I handle the players learning new abilities and feats and possibly entirely new classes?

I've thought about the abilities and feats part to an extent and figured that I'd simply ask the players what they are planning on taking the next level and have their characters start training in their down time; that way they will be proficient in it by the time they level and actually learn how to use it in actual situations.

However, how does one usually handle the situation when a player wants to learn something that it would be practically impossible for them to learn without an instructor? Am I just way over-thinking this and should just submit to the outer-reality laws of gaming?

 

[Lord Crimson]

I'd be tempted, in this case, to just let them level in whatever. You've specifically chosen a campaign that is keeping them from being able to play the PCs they want to play and level in the way they want to level - so unless you set out up front that multi-classing and prestige classes were going to be rare-to-nonexistent, you've sort of set them up for disappointment when you tell them: "Oh, I'm sorry. You're 300 miles from civilization - no prestige class for you".

And that disappointment could turn into very real complaints of unfairness if you then tell the next guy: "Oh, no, it's fine for you to multi-/prestige- class, as your choice just happens to fit because you chose to play a druid/barbarian/ranger at the beginning of the game."

 

[S'mon]

If it were me I wouldn't generally let them take a prestige class or multiclass 'on the road'. Mind you I actually ran X5 in 3.5e and I don't recall anyone ever wanting to multiclass either during that adventure or previously in the campaign.

I did discover it was a very uneven adventure, and the encounter with the skeleton-boat short-circuited it, avoiding the whole temple.

 

[Stumblewyk]

I think this is where my interpretation of PC development differs drastically from most others - I don't see characters leveling up as them training new abilities, but as them finally having perfected the use of skills and techniques they've been working on all along.

The fighter suddenly gets cleave? Awesome. Turns out, he's been TRYING to cleave enemies for 3 levels now. He just figured out the proper technique to pull it off. The Rogue wants a level of Sorcerer? Turns out she always had a magical knack, but she could never quite pull it together. After the stresses of weeks on the road, her magical abilities came out, and she's suddenly flinging Magic Missiles around. That Cleric just qualified for a Prestige Class? Well, they've ALWAYS been a member of that order, they just finally unlocked the divine mysteries required to utilize the classes abilities.

When you look at classes that way, not having easy (or any) access to training isn't all that big of a deal.

 

[KiloGex]

That Cleric just qualified for a Prestige Class? Well, they've ALWAYS been a member of that order, they just finally unlocked the divine mysteries required to utilize the classes abilities.

When you look at classes that way, not having easy (or any) access to training isn't all that big of a deal.

I'm not a huge fan of retconning the campaign like that though. I feel that them suddenly belonging to some secret organization this entire time slightly diminishes the affect of said club.

I do see eye-to-eye in terms of how people level in their chosen class - They've had enough experience in fighting in their chosen style that they are capable of pulling off more complex maneuvers. However, I think in terms of learning completely new skill-sets requires more work than just "what you've been doing has prepared you for something completely different."

 

[Stumblewyk]

I do see eye-to-eye in terms of how people level in their chosen class - They've had enough experience in fighting in their chosen style that they are capable of pulling off more complex maneuvers. However, I think in terms of learning completely new skill-sets requires more work than just "what you've been doing has prepared you for something completely different."

Fair enough. I don't see it as retconning, but I can understand why someone else would. I've found that with 3.x/PF most experienced players who would be looking to go into a PrC have their build well mapped out in advance. In that case, it's not all that unreasonable to say that they've been dabbling in these powers and mysteries from day one and they've only recently mastered enough control over them to use them actively.

To each their own. Good luck with your game, and I hope you find a solution that works for you.

 

[Luce]

I too like to tie in the game aspects with the fluff.
One thing to consider is that even though they are away from civilization it does not mean they are away from other people. Let me explain, literary tradition is filled with people who for one or another reason have gone into secluded areas. Heck, if your adventurers are traveling through the wastes why not other adventuring parties. The Atonement and Quest spells, worshiping a deity of survival/fire/suffering etc (while not nessesary a divine caster), medusa lair, grandfather of assasins who got tricked into putting on a helm of opposite alignment and is now repenting. The possibilities for a reason why a person who can teach the PCs few new tricks is near endless. Just ask the players to tell you in advance (min 2-3 sessions) what class/PrC they want to pursue then come with the NPC and tie him/her/it into the adventure.
Or at least that is the way I would go about it. This approach (used sparingly) not only diminishes the suspension of disbelief, but leaves you with potential future adventure hooks. For example, the party happens by in the same area and decides to drop for a visit only to find out that their friend is missing and there is a lot of dried blood... Or he shows up latter on to warn them that an (insert monster) is planing to (insert evil plan) and so on and so for.

 

[Squire James]

You see, there's this rocky mountain that has a cave at the top. A winding path leading to the cave is beset by Chaotic Evil Squirrels with rapiers, in case one or two characters are a few XP short of their level. In the cave are The Four Gurus: one devoted to the fighting arts, one devoted to advanced stealth and ninjitsu, one devoted to arcane magic, and the last one to divine magic. At least one of them belongs to each group the PC's might want to join.

The mountain also teleports, always keeping itself far away in proportion to how close the party is to going up a level. In fact, it teleports far away upon the completion of training, leaving them behind (in mid-air) and making the PC's glad the campaign's full of sand!

 

[D'karr]

I think this is where my interpretation of PC development differs drastically from most others - I don't see characters leveling up as them training new abilities, but as them finally having perfected the use of skills and techniques they've been working on all along.

The fighter suddenly gets cleave? Awesome. Turns out, he's been TRYING to cleave enemies for 3 levels now. He just figured out the proper technique to pull it off. The Rogue wants a level of Sorcerer? Turns out she always had a magical knack, but she could never quite pull it together. After the stresses of weeks on the road, her magical abilities came out, and she's suddenly flinging Magic Missiles around. That Cleric just qualified for a Prestige Class? Well, they've ALWAYS been a member of that order, they just finally unlocked the divine mysteries required to utilize the classes abilities.

When you look at classes that way, not having easy (or any) access to training isn't all that big of a deal.

It also explains how they got that 1st Level with all those nifty abilities with no "in game" training.

 

[aco175]

I used to have training at every level, but now mostly at high points or dramatic changes of character. If my 8th level fighter now wants to become a wizard tomorrow morning seems like a stretch. Even the week or so that training is usually pales compared to the years of toil and hardship most apprentice wizards went through before becoming 1st level.

I would tend to go with the roving caravan the pc's have joined for a few weeks having someone, or a stop in the oasis has some people or secret portal to school X.

Today I mostly play 4e and training is mostly non existant, more the stuff in an earlier post about perfecting techniques you already learned.