Cutting Back the Power Level

[Ellie_the_Elf]

We're getting ready to begin a new campaign (Running the Shackled City) and I've hit upon a little problem...

The two previous campaigns I've run have been fairly relaxed with rules/wealth/what's been allowed and as a result have been fairly powergamey - okay, very powergamey -which has been fine, because we've had a lot of fun with them.

However, I'd now like to try running things 'by the book' - a few reasons for this, but for the most part, this is because I'm running an entirely prewritten campaign and am worried about the PCs outstripping the challenges and/or having to spend ages advancing all the monsters they're going to face so that they still pose a challenge.

One of the things I've decided on as a result, is that characters are to be generated using a 28 point buy.

And all hell is breaking loose.

Okay, not quite, but my players aren't at all happy.

They are saying that it's impossible to create a decent character, that they'll be so weak that they'll die every game session and many character classes are being written off an unplayable under a 28 point buy (wizards, for example).

I think part of the problem is that we previously played under an extremely strict DM who liked to keep the characters very, very underpowered. I had an 11th level character with 10000gp worth of stuff, most of which I'd made myself, and who had only two stats higher than 11 (A 14 and a 16).

So what do I do? Any advice?

 

[Stalker0]

I hear ya. Playing high stats is addicting, my group went through the same thing. We were going with 32 point buy consistently, and when we dropped down to 28 it felt like a huge decrease.

Now you also mentioned toning down the amount of wealth the players are getting, might I suggest a compromise. Go ahead and give them the 32 point buy or whatever there used to, but go ahead and tone down the treasure like you had intended. You meet them halfway, and let them get used to a slightly lower power level.

Remember, not everyone can go cold turkey

 

[frankthedm]

They are saying that it's impossible to create a decent character, that they'll be so weak that they'll die every game session and many character classes are being written off an unplayable under a 28 point buy (wizards, for example).

If they say wizards are unplayable at 28 point buy, tell them they can DM a game. 28 is plenty

 

[iwatt]

They are saying that it's impossible to create a decent character, that they'll be so weak that they'll die every game session and many character classes are being written off an unplayable under a 28 point buy (wizards, for example).

Of all the classes out there, wizard is the one that demands the least in point buy.

I'm guessing they feel they "need" an 18 in int?

 

[smootrk]

Heck, cut them back to 25 point for a few sessions, then they will be grateful when you move it to 28points. Even the lowest point buy makes very playable characters. Sounds like they are just spoiled and need reality checks to put them back into Role-Play instead of Roll-Play.

To further your endeavors to cut the power level, reduce cash given out substantially, and also cut back xp awarded. This slows the pace considerably and gives you more time to evaluate encounters and play.

 

[Ravellion]

Give them the choice. 28 point buy or rolling by the book. No rerolls for "crappy" characters. You'll probably have them scrambling over the point buy.

Rav

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Living Greyhawk uses a 28 point buy. Those characters are just fine, and wizards at high levels become just as obnoxious as 32 point buy characters. BTW, the RPGA's Xendrik Expeditions, I believe, is making characters use a 25 point buy. There was a ton of grumbling by old LG'ers used to 28 point buys but the characters are proving perfectly capable.

 

[Blackwind]

In fact, if I were running a totally pre-fab campaign like Shackled City, I would limit them to 25 pt. buy. If they don't like that, let them roll (as per the standard method in the PHB). Rolling stats would quickly give them a more realistic picture of the range of stats that 1st level PCs are 'supposed' to have.

And yeah, lower stats are hard to get used to. I went through this with my group, too - we had started with 32 pt. buy, and then I realized that this can actually *cause* power creep. Why? 32 pt. characters can take on higher ELs, which means more treasure. So 32 pt. chars end up with more treasure for their level, which means they can take on ever-tougher challenges; in my opinion, a vicious cycle. By 12th or 13th level you are dealing with near-epic superheroes. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but personally I prefer a more gradual progression. And if you're running published modules, you will want to keep the PCs close to standard power-per-level.

 

[Hammerhead]

Of course, I hear the Shackled City adventure path is pretty darn lethal.

 

[FireLance]

Look at it this way: the difference between a 32 point buy and a 28 point buy is at most a +2 increase in modifiers. I doubt it will have a major impact on the difficulty of the game.

And, like Hammerhead said, I hear the Shackled City adventure path is pretty lethal. They just might need the extra edge.