Discussion: Multiple PCs and level curve

[Kalidrev]

I think I like option 2 as well. It's especially nice if you've run a character for a good long while and have simply finished his/her story. Starting over at level 1 is a great option and getting a bit of XP out of the deal is even better. This isn't a proposal yet, so I won't vote officially, but I say YES

 

[Dekana]

I don't particularly like either option. With option 1, wealth-by-level gets broken (I'm part of the "angry mob"). Low levels aren't so hazardous as they were in 3.5 that we need to make it easier for new PCs.

With option 2, we have the "feeder" effect of higher level PCs getting experience that "they" didn't earn. As written, this option also breaks the WBL in the negative direction - PCs get xp but not loot.

What's wrong with the reward of making new characters being the ability to play those characters?

 

[Kalidrev]

What's wrong with the reward of making new characters being the ability to play those characters?

Quite frankly, I think what's wrong is the fact that we're penalized for creating new characters AND the fact that there is no option to go back to the beginning. Our choices are:

1) Stay at current level and lose a magic item OR
2) Keep all your magic items, but lose a level (which in a sense still makes you lose a magic item, since you're a level lower =P)

Being able to start back from the beginning is a great option for those who have taken their characters as far as they want to take them. As mentioned by several posts above, it's not really possible to "feed" another PC by creating new ones since the returns on lower level characters won't give much to the new character (as long as the PC credits are worth an amount based on the level of the PC retired and NOT on the PC that they are being used on). This way, if you retire a high lvl PC to drop back to 1, one of your Low level/Mid Level PCs gets a nice little boost and you're not really gaining an advantage over anyone else.

Now, you mentioned a money hole because of the XP jump. This is easily correctable if we use the LEB system of DM credits, which after 10 credits gives 1/5th level of gold. This could be pro-rated for those who do not have all 10 credits to spend at once.

The only question that needs filled as of now (for me) is this: DM credits are based on time spend DMing. How would we calculate the Player credits one would get for retiring their PC and starting at level 1?

 

[evilbob]

Well, you could just use XP and gold.

Retired characters liquidate all assets into gp and donate all gp and XP to another character? Amounts donated must be proportional (so you can't give 10% XP and 90% gold). Anything left over can go to a new character. A character's total worth is just about meaningless to someone 5 levels or more above him, so it would limit feeders.

Downside is that it would supplant the existing rule about losing an item/level/etc., since you could just retire and give all XP/gold to a new character. Maybe there is an estate tax? Once you are liquidated, you lose 10%(?) and then you can distribute as you wish.

 

[LadyLaw]

Well, I think the best thing might be not to think in terms of PC Credits at all.

Here is my suggestion for an "Option C" (Although it might be better to replace option A):

When you retire a character you can replace it with a new character UP TO one level lower than it. Any exp lost in this way (a minimum of one level's worth by definition) is divided in half and credited to the player, trackable on a wiki page the same as DM Credits are.

Thus if I were to retire a level 2 character that had 1250 exp on it, I would be credited with 625 exp. That exp can be applied to any character at any time (with judge approval) the same as DM Credits.

To fix the "negetive wealth" issue, simply award gold to the character as if the exp credited was time exp. So if I were to turn around and apply that 625 exp to a level 4 character I would also get 700g.

625/145 (the monthly exp for level 4) = 4.3 (round down)
4 x 175 (the monthly gold for level 4) = 700g

 

[ScorpiusRisk]

I would imagine, that these credits would work like Time Xp or DM Credits. You don't just get xp but enough gold to keep you in tow with wealth by level.

With DM Credits each credit is worth 1/12th of a level. So if we wanted it to be the same system you could simply say for each level of the retiring character - 1, you get 12 credits. So someone retiring at level 4 would earn 3 x 12 = 36 Credits. That sounds too much like we're encouraging math for my tastes however.

I'd much prefer something like, you get 1 Retirement credit for each level of the Retired Character -1. Each Retirement credit is worth one level of xp and an amount of gold equal to that level's Time XP Gold.

So if you retire a level 4 Character you get 3 Retirment credits.

 

[LadyLaw]

My problem with that, Scorpius, is that I think transferring into straight levels is too much. That's why I suggested that we cut the exp given up in half, although the rest of my suggestion may have been too math heavy for people?

 

[Mezegis]

Here is my idea for "PC credits"

You gain PC credits when you retire a character, you gain the number of credits equal to their level -1, to prevent people from "farming" level 1's. Each PC credit is worth a set amount, I was thinking 500 XP and 500 GP. It is a slight boost to lower levels, but it slowly evens out and eventually drags behind at higher levels. I chose a set amount for ease of tracking, so the numbers can easily be adopted into a percent system like time XP/Gold is currently.

 

[ScorpiusRisk]

I didn't mean to ignore you Lady Law. I started writing my post a while ago and got interrupted.

I think what you're proposing makes sense. It's basically what I said only split in half.

I think what you're saying, Mezegis, is disproportionally favorable towards low level retiring.

 

[evilbob]

So someone with a level 4 PC that retires can effectively raise their level 6 PC to level 8?

There's a big difference between granting XP and granting levels.