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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Brother MacLaren" data-source="post: 3174309" data-attributes="member: 15999">There are some widely varying opinions on what constitutes "the cream of the crop" in a typical town or city.  I'm of the opinion that high-level characters are VERY RARE.  In my mind, only a major king's vizier and elite bodyguards and a major church's high priest might approach 15th-level PCs in power, and even there (like Aragorn & crew in Theoden's Hall) the PCs might prevail easily.  Characters of this level are legends.  They are superhuman.  They are among the greatest heroes on earth, surpassed by the gods and by the greatest heroes of the past.  If you have ANY 12th-level guardsmen in your game world, the PCs should know about them with Legend Lore, bardic knowledge, or decent Knowledge checks ("The city guard here once defeated a force of 500 orcs, 50 ogres, and 5 hill giants, with the captain of the guard single-handedly killing two of the giants.  The Church of Heironeous in this city is led by Calath, who has raised the dead in the past and is widely considered to be a candidate for High Priest if he moves to the capital.  The archmage Lagoth Zanta, slayer of the dragon Wromthax, maintains a tower at the edge of the city.")  Second, even though they're legendary, I'm doubtful that the PCs would necessarily be recognized if they didn't want to be.  This isn't the modern world.  Information travels by storytellers, not TV, so their faces won't be known everywhere.  Cosmetic details change ("Who is this warrior wearing red dragonhide armor?  We've never heard of such a man").  Magic provides disguises.  HOW will they be recognized?  If they are traveling openly proclaiming who they are, certainly the town guard will exercise caution in dealing with them, but they might simply be unable to stop them for lack of power.  For a small city, sending the very best they have might mean their 2 11th-level warriors, 4 5th-level warriors, and a few of the PC (mercenary) types they recruited.Third, it's perfectly reasonable for 15th-level PCs to encounter 2nd-level warriors.  If I run "Keep on the Borderlands" for my players at level 2, then they decide to take it over when they're level 15, I'm not going to change the keep's inhabitants.  The men-at-arms ARE level 1.  The corporal of the watch is Ftr2, the bailiff is Ftr3, the jewel merchant's guards are Ftr2, etc.  The Castellan is Ftr6.</blockquote>

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