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30th level at 21
- Thread starter fl8m
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GM-mandated downtime is the obvious answer. I would say in general D&D, don't force rest time - if the PCS want to do X Y & Z, run them through X Y & Z. But if they're not being proactive, at the end of 1 adventure it's fine to pass a year or two before the next GM-mandated scenario plonks on their doorstep. The other thing you can do is run an explicitly episodic style from the start, the default Conan approach, where months or years passes between every adventure right from 1st level; the GM in that sort of campaign is showing the highlights of their career rather than the naturalistic approach of running everything inc the mundane stuff. Personally I like both approaches, but for regular D&D I like naturalistic at low levels and episodic at high levels, where it only makes sense that threats suitable for high level heroes are rare.
William Ronald
Explorer
I would also argue that there would be a need for some training time to fully get up to speed. This was a feature in first and second edition that made sense, as it would take time for people to practice new skills, become proficient with a weapon, or research new spells. Another option is to allow slower advancement at upper levels, as explained in the DMG.
Travel can also eat up time for many parties, even in a world with teleportation and similar magics. It takes time to explore mountains for ancient ruins or to guide a caravan through a desert.
Also, some challenges that are important to characters can take time and not have a direct experience point reward. For example, political challenges -- such as ferreting out a spy in the king's court, rallying people to a cause, or trying to gain a place in the government -- can take time. So can such tasks as tracking down a missing relative, negotiating a trade agreement, or achieving a personal goal. The heroes may find that their success may have created a time of peace with few challenges. However, the heroes should then find that they have earned the gratitude of many people -- who can keep them busy with other things.
The threats that a high level party might consider commensurate with their skill might be few and far between. They may well find that their actions are limited by their adversaries. In which case, the PCs might decide to enlist adventurers to take out some of the supporters of their foes.
I think role playing challenges can help to not only take care of the issues of characters advancing too fast but help to add a sense of depth to a campaign. If Elric, Conan, Hercules, and other heroes had down time, so should your heroes. (Some young epic level characters might exist here and there, but they should be relatively rare like Alexander the Great. Such characters are notable by their rareness as well as their achievements.)
Travel can also eat up time for many parties, even in a world with teleportation and similar magics. It takes time to explore mountains for ancient ruins or to guide a caravan through a desert.
Also, some challenges that are important to characters can take time and not have a direct experience point reward. For example, political challenges -- such as ferreting out a spy in the king's court, rallying people to a cause, or trying to gain a place in the government -- can take time. So can such tasks as tracking down a missing relative, negotiating a trade agreement, or achieving a personal goal. The heroes may find that their success may have created a time of peace with few challenges. However, the heroes should then find that they have earned the gratitude of many people -- who can keep them busy with other things.
The threats that a high level party might consider commensurate with their skill might be few and far between. They may well find that their actions are limited by their adversaries. In which case, the PCs might decide to enlist adventurers to take out some of the supporters of their foes.
I think role playing challenges can help to not only take care of the issues of characters advancing too fast but help to add a sense of depth to a campaign. If Elric, Conan, Hercules, and other heroes had down time, so should your heroes. (Some young epic level characters might exist here and there, but they should be relatively rare like Alexander the Great. Such characters are notable by their rareness as well as their achievements.)
An example - IMC Sigurd the Norseman entered play in 2737 at age 19, he had frequent adventures for a year, by late 2738 he was 12th level when he became Jarl of Ravenmark, from there we fast forwarded to when he became King of Trafalgis at 13th level a year later in 2739 YE. In 2740 YE at ca 14th he led his forces to assist the Overking against the Mongali Horde, in 2741 at around 15th he reconquered Settlers' Country. 18 months passed peacefully before in 2743 King Osric of Caerns came to him & offered him his daughter in marriage if he'd help Caerns against the Priest Kings. At 16th level he led his army west and conquered the Lands of the Priest Kings, wintering in their capital. In 2744 he married Princess Sylvana, and at 17th level helped the Storm Giant King Alkegarr (who had sunk the Priest Kings' Fleet for Sigurd), repaying the favour by leading an expedition to slay Alkegarr's rival, the Dragon-Queen Krikk. Sigurd is currently 18th level, we're in mid 2744 YE and he's in the middle of an expedition against the kingdom of Tantok. He's raised 12 levels in 7 game-years and at 18th level is 27 years old. Anything between a few weeks and 18 months game-time passed between each game session.
FreeTheSlaves
Adventurer
The format I use is a DM-driven main plot & Player-driven sub plots. When the players want to focus on the main plot they tell me and I inform them that a time period passes until the next development - typically 1 year per level.
This allows the players some control of events but also allows a more epic feel, it even gets the guys thinking about their character's heir, marriage & legacy etc...
This allows the players some control of events but also allows a more epic feel, it even gets the guys thinking about their character's heir, marriage & legacy etc...
FreeTheSlaves
Adventurer
This I like.S'mon said:
Zappo
Explorer
At low levels, travel times are the key. In many cases, you're also going to spend a lot of time waiting for someone else to arrive. My current Warcraft campaign has been on for almost three years, with the PCs having only gained about five levels. One year has been spent building a fortress. Most of the rest was travel time. Just getting from Kalimdor to Azeroth and back took more than four months.
At high levels, I think that if you want to slow down advancement, you have to factor in the fact that high-level challenges are few and far between. I don't think the world needs to be saved from tanar'ri hordes every other week. Sure, there's always a kobold tribe or two to drive off, but that isn't going to give you XP.
At high levels, I think that if you want to slow down advancement, you have to factor in the fact that high-level challenges are few and far between. I don't think the world needs to be saved from tanar'ri hordes every other week. Sure, there's always a kobold tribe or two to drive off, but that isn't going to give you XP.
Do you mean that 12th level PCs wait 12 years to the next adventure? That seems a bit long to me, I find 1-4 years is about right.
DaveMage
Slumbering in Tsar
Two suggestions:
1) Have the PCs tell you what their characters might do with down time. If they're wealthy, they may spend their days drinking and otherwise getting into trouble. Or they might do spell research, combat research, etc.
2) For higher level PCs, have them serve as advisors to the rulership of the city/town/nation. They can be royal advisors indefinitely as things always come up. (Granted, PCs would probably tire of this eventually, but that's why it's done "off-camera".)
1) Have the PCs tell you what their characters might do with down time. If they're wealthy, they may spend their days drinking and otherwise getting into trouble. Or they might do spell research, combat research, etc.
2) For higher level PCs, have them serve as advisors to the rulership of the city/town/nation. They can be royal advisors indefinitely as things always come up. (Granted, PCs would probably tire of this eventually, but that's why it's done "off-camera".)
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