Does it really matter how fast your characters level up?

[toberane]

I would also like to state that, all of my arguments for faster level progression aside, I appreciate the well thought out responses to this question on both sides of the issue. As my first post here in over two years, I didn't expect to get this much response, but it has helped me understand why this issue has been coming up in post after post for several years now.

 

[S'mon]

I think the longest in game time we've had between encounters has been one day, so it's hardly surprising that the rate of advance has been rapid.

Now we are starting to reach the stage where the party will become more recognised I suspect (certainly in the local area where the dungeon is) as we'll be close to the highest level NPC's there.

Seeing one of S'mon's earlier posts - isn't it worrying where your GM has a spoiler with a smilie in it!

Hi Dave - I think you've had a couple days between encounters when resting at the Inn. Still beats DMG standard 4 Encounters/Day, anyway!

I'd say you were now getting to 'typical adventuring group' level - as I noted above, 3rd level is 'Experienced'. Vali the Innkeeper is a Fighter-5 ('Elite') so you have a way to go to surpass him. Obviously in Endhome there are much higher level NPCs, like Stylus Kant the head of the Blue Light College of Magic.

Re spoiler - it's ok Dave, you can read it (spoiler was for people who never played Barakus) - I was just describing the cultists in the death-god temple (called Sarku IMC, Da-Jin in the book).

 

[S'mon]

Anyway, back on topic, this thread has persuaded me I should give out less XP.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'll voice dissent at the notion of the 1e model being a good one. It used to annoy the snot out of me that people would want to quit playing the characters just at the point that their abilities became interesting.

As S'mon says, who said anything about quitting? It was more a case that you were given rules within the system to at least start the PCs playing on a bigger, more important playing field. The idea of starting to play a "mover and shaker" in the world, aspiring to become king of a nation, aspiring to godhood even... how great an adventure is that? Aspiring to kingship is a staple of the fantasy novels I used to read. 3e is silent on that issue.

Supporting that kind of adventuring out of the box should be there. 1e had enough to get you started. 3e ignores it.

Cheers

 

[Plane Sailing]

Thinking about my experience as a player rather than a DM...

Back in 1e, it took so long to go up a level that most of the time I got my enjoyment from the game, the RP'ing, the adventure.

Now in 3e the levels come so quickly that I notice that *they* have become the focus of my enjoyment - gaining new capabilities for my character.

And as I weight up these two things I really think I preferred the old days when my enjoyment came primarily from the setting and the adventure. I think I'll have to see if I can regain that focus despite the faster levelling.

(Am I a worse RP'er now than I used to be? I don't think so. This is just one of those things that has 'happened' gradually without me knowing it. I just mention this to head off any snide remarks about "just find enjoyment in the adventure again")

Cheers

 

[Piratecat]

So, is it really so bad if the characters are leveling fast?

For me, yes. As Plane Sailing said, in fast-moving campaigns I tend to focus much more on what my character can do. In slower moving ones, I tend to focus on who he is. My preference is for the latter.

Mind you, I'm prejudiced. I'm the guy whose players go up two levels a year, about once every ten-twelve three hour sessions, so that the campaign is 13 years old and the highest level PC is 21st. That being said, I've seen some real advantages to our style of play which would be much more difficult to do with fast advancement. Two obvious ones are:

- knowledge of character abilities. Not a big deal at low levels, but with high level play the additional time at each level means that the players have time to work out great strategies and eventually use most of their capabilities.

- maturation of plot elements. PCs and NPCs both can put long-term plots into effect. The consequences from PC actions has a chance to trickle down into the world. Interesting NPCs have a chance to grow, mature and change.

If you do this, though, it's essential that you use other rewards in addition to simple XP. This may be cool plot development or campaign fame, but the point a number of people have made about wanting a tangible measure of their success is a good one. There are ways other than xp to become more powerful in a campaign, and it's important to use these.

 

[diaglo]

For me, yes.

Mind you, I'm prejudiced. I'm the guy whose players go up two levels a year, about once every ten-twelve three hour sessions, so that the campaign is 13 years old and the highest level PC is 21st. That being said, I've seen some real advantages to our style of play which would be much more difficult to do with fast advancement. Two obvious ones are:

- knowledge of character abilities. Not a big deal at low levels, but with high level play the additional time at each level means that the players have time to work out great strategies and eventually use most of their capabilities.

- maturation of plot elements. PCs and NPCs both can put long-term plots into effect. The consequences from PC actions has a chance to trickle down into the world. Interesting NPCs have a chance to grow, mature and change.

As Plane Sailing said, in fast-moving campaigns I tend to focus much more on what my character can do. In slower moving ones, I tend to focus on who he is. My preference is for the latter.

ditto. of so ditto it isn't even funny.

they are the exact reasons.

but with a slight change.... 1 level per 1 real life year.

3-4hrs/session; 5 session/week; 50 weeks/year; for 10+ years.

~900hr of roleplaying to gain 1 lvl.

 

[MonsterMash]

Anyway, back on topic, this thread has persuaded me I should give out less XP.

Oh well - looks like I have to get used to being 3rd level for a while then, making the munchkin in me disappointed, but I suppose as I'd reached 3rd in 4 sessions I can't complain about slow progression and it's the highest level cleric I've run as a PC in 3e so I do need to get used to the class abilities.

 

[Piratecat]

See, it's funny, Diaglo - that's way too slow even for me!

 

[diaglo]

See, it's funny, Diaglo - that's way too slow even for me!

i know we've had this discussion before. yours is too fast for me still.