D&D 4E 1st level 4E characters are already Heroes

[mmadsen]

In 3e, I've always wondered why the town guard just didn't do it. Doesn't matter what "it" is.

Because there is no town guard? Police are a remarkably modern invention.

 

[Brother MacLaren]

The same problem applies, you know.

If every Tom, Dick, and Harry in town is as capable as the PCs at delving that dungeon, why the heck is it still there with all its loot intact?

Because NOT every Tom, Dick, and Harry is as capable as the PCs. The PCs are significantly more capable than the "Normal Man" (B/X) or "Commoner" (3E) and generally slightly more capable as the city guardsmen -- who are needed to guard the city.

The PCs also have a very different risk/reward ratio than most everybody else in the world. Early editions were LETHAL. Only a fool would willingly invade a dungeon seeking treasure, but the PCs were those fools.

Then, on top of that, there are story reasons. In B1, the PCs were the only ones who had the map to the place. In B2, they were *not* assumed to be the only ones going into the Caves of Chaos, but it was the Borderlands after all -- not a heavily-populated area.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Because there is no town guard? Police are a remarkably modern invention.

Surely you're joking.

*Every* town in D&D, ever, has a town guard.

Yes, that's a slight exaggeration. But only a slight one.

 

[Jeremy Ackerman-Yost]

Because NOT every Tom, Dick, and Harry is as capable as the PCs. The PCs are significantly more capable than the "Normal Man" (B/X) or "Commoner" (3E) and generally slightly more capable as the city guardsmen -- who are needed to guard the city.

I disagree with you for 3E. I don't feel like the mechanical difference is significant. And since every introductory module ever designed has a few Expert 2 wandering around town who aren't old and retired, the PCs are often actually outclassed.

 

[Brother MacLaren]

I disagree with you for 3E. I don't feel like the mechanical difference is significant. And since every introductory module ever designed has a few Expert 2 wandering around town who aren't old and retired, the PCs are often actually outclassed.

The PCs have elite ability score arrays. The Commoners, Experts, and Warriors have a "normal" stat array. This is a HUGE difference in power.
The PCs have maximum HP for their first HD, the NPCs have average. So a 1st-level wizard (excluding Con bonus) has as many HP as a 1st-level human warrior.
The PCs have better class abilities (except perhaps when compared to the aristocrat).
The PCs have more money (again, except for the aristocrat).

Furthermore, in most games I've seen, the PCs have EVEN BETTER stats (28 or 32-pt buy) and some other bonus (e.g. luck points, heirloom item).

 

[IanArgent]

I'm going to have to chime in here. As one of the primary (probably not the only) design goals; D&D has to be immediately accessible to a group of 5-6 young teenagers with one rulebook, some free time, and no experience whatsoever. Otherwise, you run out of gamers. To a certain extent, D&D has to do this more than any other gaming system, because it is the gateway system.

Because of that, certain otherwise valid play styles are going to get less attention. Because inexperienced teenagers by-and-large won't be interested in it. We have enough problems attracting new players as it is.