E6 (E10?) in Fourth Edition

[Snoweel]

Like, you might get a nifty new machine gun at level 4, but if you want a red dot sight, you've got to kill 10 people first.

This is roughly how it works in the Australian army.

 

[arscott]

Not a problem for you, right? After all, the goal of E6 is to cornball, unimaginative high-powered antics away. However, in 4th edition, with great power comes matching challenges. This is because the game balances those neat level 11-15 monsters by giving them powers commensurate to what players get when they hit paragon level. However, players end up fighting level 11-15 monsters long before they get to paragon level. To summarize: level ten is a moment of peculiar systemic difficulty. I would recommend level 6 or 16, instead.

This. And given your goals, I'd say 16 is probably too high.

Consider the following rules:
*Play up through level six, as normal. Thereafter, their level is always considered 6 for purposes of level-based bonuses and effects, and they stop gaining hp. They are always considered heroic characters and never qualify for powers or abilities with a level requirement above six except as described below.

*At level 7, characters learn a new encounter attack power of 7th level or lower.

*At level 8, characters get a +1 increase to each of two ability scores, and also gain a feat

*At level 9, characters learn a new daily attack power of 9th level or lower.

*At level 10 and every four levels thereafter, characters learn a new utility power of 10th level or lower. They also gain one feat.

*At level 11, and every four levels thereafter, characters may learn a new encounter attack power of 7th level or lower in place of an encounter attack power they already know. Characters are limited to 3 total encounter attack powers.

*At level 12, and every four levels thereafter, characters get a +1 increase to any one ability score. No score may be raised above 22 in this fashion. They also gain one feat.

*At level 13, and every four levels thereafter, characters may learn a new daily attack power of 9th level or lower in place of a daily attack power they already know. Characters are limited to 3 total daily attack powers.