Controlled Epic or High level Non-epic campaigns?

[Sundragon2012]

Hi,

I am beginning a new 3.5 campaign, own the epic level handbook and must admit that some of it I like, some of it seems a bit over-the-top, more like superhero stuff than the fantasy I favor (Robert E. Howard, Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Salvatore, Hickman and Weis, etc.). In other words, I am a old school 1E/2E DM and I was able to have characters in my group of 25+lvl and using the old Player's Option (2E) rules I was able to effortlessly run my game. Now I am not asking whether or not anyone like, hates, prefers, etc. 2E I am just expressing that I had no trouble running a campaign for 2nd, 10th, 17th, 25th+lvl characters with that system.

Plus I have been reading the epic board on wizards.com from time to time and see some of the IMO nightmarish/crazy problems encountered by DMs in such campaigns.

I wanted to ask whether or not there was an alternative high level system outside of that presented in the Epic Level Handbook whether created by WoTC or a 3rd party?

Maybe some of you have some epic house rules that allow for great skill and power but at the same time allow for more of a mortal feel to the game even at very high levels. Anyone have any ideas?


Thanks,

Chris

 

[CRGreathouse]

Maybe some of you have some epic house rules that allow for great skill and power but at the same time allow for more of a mortal feel to the game even at very high levels. Anyone have any ideas?

There are a lot of house rules around these parts, so maybe we can help. Could you give some examples from the ELH of what you don't like and some examples of what you do like? For example, some really like the epic feats (they're like optional class features) and dislike the epic spell seed system. Others have problems mainly with the items but love the monsters, and so forth. Maybe you could give exmaples within these -- favorite/least favorite monster/feat/spell/whatever, however you think you could best give us a feel for your tastes.

As far as the WotC boards are concerned, donb't worry... in actual play it's not nearly so bad. If you've seen what they do with nonepic material you'd see it's a facet of the boards more than the system.

 

[Sledge]

The only horrendous parts of epic play are generating 42nd level npcs...
Otherwise it is sometimes less difficult than low level games as the pcs are likely to be much more effective at getting from point a to b.

 

[CRGreathouse]

The only horrendous parts of epic play are generating 42nd level npcs...
Otherwise it is sometimes less difficult than low level games as the pcs are likely to be much more effective at getting from point a to b.

*Shrug* I've never had problems with it, although I'll admit to sticking to low-epic (never above 26-28). This is why I decided to ask for clarification -- different people find different parts 'hard'.

 

[TheGM]

Hi,

I am beginning a new 3.5 campaign, own the epic level handbook and must admit that some of it I like, some of it seems a bit over-the-top, more like superhero stuff than the fantasy I favor (Robert E. Howard, Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Salvatore, Hickman and Weis, etc.). In other words, I am a old school 1E/2E DM and I was able to have characters in my group of 25+lvl and using the old Player's Option (2E) rules I was able to effortlessly run my game. Now I am not asking whether or not anyone like, hates, prefers, etc. 2E I am just expressing that I had no trouble running a campaign for 2nd, 10th, 17th, 25th+lvl characters with that system.

Plus I have been reading the epic board on wizards.com from time to time and see some of the IMO nightmarish/crazy problems encountered by DMs in such campaigns.

I wanted to ask whether or not there was an alternative high level system outside of that presented in the Epic Level Handbook whether created by WoTC or a 3rd party?

Maybe some of you have some epic house rules that allow for great skill and power but at the same time allow for more of a mortal feel to the game even at very high levels. Anyone have any ideas?


Thanks,

Chris

Wow, if you could effortlessly run a 25+ lvl campaign with Player's Options, you should have no problems with ELH. I usually wound my 2E campaigns down around 15-17th level... But I digress.
/bows at Sundragon

I agree there are parts that if you are into "Epic Fantasy" don't match from ELH. I've not even bothered to try the process of deciding what to use and what not (haven't had a party get high enough level to care yet). After you've been at it, post how it went, would you?

 

[the Jester]

My campaign has pcs up to around 26th level (started at 1st, though many entered later at higher levels). I don't need many house rules, though some parts of the ELH need a lot of dm input (especially epic spellcasting!).

Anyway, explain what you find problematic and I'll see what input I can give.

 

[Bront]

I don't like the epic rules. They seem to over the top. I think that there's nothing wrong with plugging along over L20 with most of the normal class bonuses, feats, ect. However, our 3.5 campaigns tend to end around 15th-20th level, and we're already getting pretty rediculous at that point.