D&D General 2nd edition player handbook class examples.

[Minigiant]

I feel a lot of characters from literature would be best represented as "name" level or less in games that work that way.

From literature referenced in those books.

There are plenty of characters in other literature that would be in the other 15-20 levels of 5e.

 

[Micah Sweet]

From literature referenced in those books.

There are plenty of characters in other literature that would be in the other 15-20 levels of 5e.

Not sure I'm parsing this correctly. Can you please rephrase?

 

[TiQuinn]

Sure (except in Deities & Demigods for Arthur), but you said 2e was the least capable. I maintain 1e was less capable.

Maintain away, my man. Maintain away.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Maintain away, my man. Maintain away.

Another response I don't understand.

 

[TiQuinn]

Another response I don't understand.

I’m okay with that.

 

[Minigiant]

Not sure I'm parsing this correctly. Can you please rephrase?

The examples of characters given in 2e mostly are from mostly from accounts of possible real life figures, low power fantasy books, or outright godly myth and religion.

Its a very very very limited spread of literature source to match the full level range of D&D post year 2000. None of the examples covers what 3e, 4e, or 5e would consider levels 6-20.

Like the fighter goes has regular low level humans like Sinbad, Hannibal, Little John, and Spartacus then legit demigods like Hercules, Cu Chulainn, and Perseus with maybe maaaaybe Beowulf in between.

 

[Joshua Randall]

It’s possible 2e avoided modern (ish) fictional characters for legal reasons.

Anyone can reference Robin Hood, he’s public domain, but if you reference Han Solo, Lucasfilm (at the time) might come calling.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The examples of characters given in 2e mostly are from mostly from accounts of possible real life figures, low power fantasy books, or outright godly myth and religion.

Its a very very very limited spread of literature source to match the full level range of D&D post year 2000. None of the examples covers what 3e, 4e, or 5e would consider levels 6-20.

Like the fighter goes has regular low level humans like Sinbad, Hannibal, Little John, and Spartacus then legit demigods like Hercules, Cu Chulainn, and Perseus with maybe maaaaybe Beowulf in between.

Okay, fair enough. What would you consider to be good examples of higher level characters from literature?

 

[Minigiant]

It’s possible 2e avoided modern (ish) fictional characters for legal reasons.

Anyone can reference Robin Hood, he’s public domain, but if you reference Han Solo, Lucasfilm (at the time) might come calling.

That too.

Most historic figures have less than 5 levels. And most myths and legends are level 20+.

When 2e was written, there probably were not many public domain heroes who weren't either slightly better than normal men or outright demigods and gods. You'd have to pay to use Jamie Lannister, Han Solo, Nightwing, Rambo, or Jonathan Joestar (if they existed at the time).

 

[Micah Sweet]

That too.

Most historic figures have less than 5 levels. And most myths and legends are level 20+.

When 2e was written, there probably were not many public domain heroes who weren't either slightly better than normal men or outright demigods and gods. You'd have to pay to use Jamie Lannister, Han Solo, Nightwing, Rambo, or Jonathan Joestar (if they existed at the time).

You still would for most of those (I don't know the last one).