Campaign Time verse Levels
- Thread starter Crothian
- Start date
RuminDange
First Post
Hum, let me see.
Started the campaign just before 3E came out, the characters had gotten to around 4th level average by the time we switched. Been playing ever since. What is that now...3 1/2 years real time. Started with 8 players, down to 4 now due to removing one player due to bad attitude, 2 moved and 1 is not 100% committed at this time.
In that time they have gone from 1st to around 34th average some lower by a few levels, one higher by few levels. (death sets back all that approach). Only about a year of campaign time has passed.
We play 1-2 times per week, 4-6 hours per game day. Been that way for while. Never really had a campaign progress like this one in all my years of DMing. Next time around I'll know how to run things a little better and different probably do a variant rule about training time to slow it down.
They have taken very little downtime, and taken on challenges much greater at times than they should have and survivied due to luck and some times tactics. Only one player (the highest and one never to have died) runs from things if judged too hard or dangerous, the others fight to the death even if pressed. Many of them now are taking downtime or handling character related story-lines, quests etc, the group basically split up for the winter, and made the DM's life hell for a change.
RD
Started the campaign just before 3E came out, the characters had gotten to around 4th level average by the time we switched. Been playing ever since. What is that now...3 1/2 years real time. Started with 8 players, down to 4 now due to removing one player due to bad attitude, 2 moved and 1 is not 100% committed at this time.
In that time they have gone from 1st to around 34th average some lower by a few levels, one higher by few levels. (death sets back all that approach). Only about a year of campaign time has passed.
We play 1-2 times per week, 4-6 hours per game day. Been that way for while. Never really had a campaign progress like this one in all my years of DMing. Next time around I'll know how to run things a little better and different probably do a variant rule about training time to slow it down.
They have taken very little downtime, and taken on challenges much greater at times than they should have and survivied due to luck and some times tactics. Only one player (the highest and one never to have died) runs from things if judged too hard or dangerous, the others fight to the death even if pressed. Many of them now are taking downtime or handling character related story-lines, quests etc, the group basically split up for the winter, and made the DM's life hell for a change.
RD
Last edited:
Katerek
Iconic Gnoll
I'll bite as well (bored at work today)
My current longest running game began in December of 2000 and the PC's were not quite 1st level. I "levelled" them up to first over the course of 3 sessions. An interesting attempt to recapture the 0 Level rules, I wouldn't advise it.
Anyway, the campain is still running, we play on average about twice monthly not to mention the occasional "solo session" through the week.
Most of the PC's, half of which began the campaign, are just now reaching 30th level.
Gametime, the game began in the year 1409 and it is currently 1434.
My current longest running game began in December of 2000 and the PC's were not quite 1st level. I "levelled" them up to first over the course of 3 sessions. An interesting attempt to recapture the 0 Level rules, I wouldn't advise it.
Anyway, the campain is still running, we play on average about twice monthly not to mention the occasional "solo session" through the week.
Most of the PC's, half of which began the campaign, are just now reaching 30th level.
Gametime, the game began in the year 1409 and it is currently 1434.
The game I'm playing in moves pretty quickly. From what I understand, the highest level character (and the only remaining member of the original group) has gone from level 1 to about level 16 in the space of roughly 5-6 months. I suspect this is FAR faster than average, and probably sort of pushing it as far as realism goes.
Volaran
First Post
There have been instances where levels in games I've played in have come fast and furious. The longest (in-game calendar) campaign I've played in hit epic in just over 13 years.
Particularly with the longer lived races, my GM came up with an interesting mechanic, though I do not have the specifics. NPCs living normal lives, dealing with normal challenges gain so much experience per year in his campaign, as I've seen in many others. So, for powerful characters who suddenly lead more normal lives...say, PCs on lengthy breaks or retirement...he begins deducting so much experience per year for every level they're above the norm for their race and age. Skills degrade, magic weakens, ect. because they're not being tested and challenged as much as your average PC constantly is.
Particularly with the longer lived races, my GM came up with an interesting mechanic, though I do not have the specifics. NPCs living normal lives, dealing with normal challenges gain so much experience per year in his campaign, as I've seen in many others. So, for powerful characters who suddenly lead more normal lives...say, PCs on lengthy breaks or retirement...he begins deducting so much experience per year for every level they're above the norm for their race and age. Skills degrade, magic weakens, ect. because they're not being tested and challenged as much as your average PC constantly is.
Characters have gone from 1st to 12th in a year game time and about the same real time. This is due to the short attention span of my players and what they expect out of D&D were the options and differences between one wizard to the next is mostly told after many levels, mechanics wise. We have also played a game that the characters were skilled (In D&D terms they were like 6-8th level had some power but not world unbalancing) and played for like a year and half gaining maybe a level or so if the power levels were compared to D&D. They were happy with all the things they could do and how different they were mechanics wise as well as role play wise.
I think they are gaining level way to fast and I run the game but to do it much slower I think they will lose interest and have less enjoyment. Its the tarde off I make to have a great group of players. They just have their preferences which aren't always mine.
Later
I think they are gaining level way to fast and I run the game but to do it much slower I think they will lose interest and have less enjoyment. Its the tarde off I make to have a great group of players. They just have their preferences which aren't always mine.
Later
