DM Question: Ditching Old Characters Without Dying

[AeroDm]

I think it is much better to manipulate starting equipment than to mess with experience. XP is awarded through time and effort. Even if it is a new character, the player is the same. Equipment is given out in droves to characters, so if they make a new char cripple their equipment. This also serves the same power balance purpose. A few key items grant more power than a character level.

 

[Li Shenron]

for our campaign all new PCs begin at lvl 1 regardless of the other party members.

I think I've read this from you at least 20 times...

Early or late, I just had to ask you these questions:

How often do PCs die in your games?
How often new players enter the game?
What's the typical average level?
How long does it take in OD&D for 1st-lv PC to get close to the party?

If we used your rule in our games, where death is not overly common and level is not low anymore, we would definitely have problems such as the new character having to be almost completely idle in the game (in the action at least) for many sessions. It would also make a high entry barrier for new players.

I can see how this hard rule works in a game where PCs die quite often, and the party is just always at low levels 1-5. But in our typical games it really would be impossible to make it work.

 

[diaglo]

How often do PCs die in your games?
How often new players enter the game?
What's the typical average level?
How long does it take in OD&D for 1st-lv PC to get close to the party?

often; 1.23456; 3 to 4 months when you consider it takes about 1 year to gain a lvl.

edit: 1 player has already killed/retired 12 PCs. another has gone thru 3 PCs.

I can see how this hard rule works in a game where PCs die quite often, and the party is just always at low levels 1-5. But in our typical games it really would be impossible to make it work.

multiple characters.

 

[gamecat]

A new character costs you two levels... a few of my players just simply cannot keep w/ the same character, ADHD being the order of the day.

 

[JoeGKushner]

For my games, I usually let the PC start off a level or two below the highest.

With experience in 3.5, he'll catch up quickly anyway.

 

[frankthedm]

A new character costs you two levels... a few of my players just simply cannot keep w/ the same character, ADHD being the order of the day.

The player I had with a attention deficit problem never retired a character. I and the other DMs who ran were not forgiving in combat and not paying attention or rash judgments would lead to a swift demise.

He went through a lot of character sheets.