Fast and Slow XP, I experienced (pun intended) both

[Voneth]

My GM wrapped up our last game, which readed 16th level in two years. This is not the fast advancement I ever had. There was a AD&D game back in the early 90s where we went to 12th level in a year.

The GM is using a varient out of the DMG to reduce our XP totals so that we have slower progression and for some inane reason he won't divulge the method to make sure we can't anticipate our level advancement I gave up asking why. Either way, here are my observations of fast and slow advancement.

Our GM ususaly has a combat for every session, mostly demons, undead and then as our levels climbed, more demons and teleporting psionic activity and necromatic priest (or wizards.)

By the time my Druid was 16th level, I got Wind Walk. It is an awesome spell that lets the party travel in the "mph" range. The continent quickly shrunk for us. Traveling sky-high, we no longer were slowed by ambushes or teleporting mystery men. The GM had to step up the challenges to things that were threating the world as well as personal subplots that had been ignored for years. Three sessions, he called the campaign to a close and asked us to start again.

For slower advancement, the first thing I noticed was that I lost any sort of temptation for Prestige Classes or multiclassing. The GM said we might make 9th level in two years, with no absentees. I have already had a couple of times that work or family made me skip the game. I am sure that when I finally get a new feat it will seem like a god send. But it would be nice to do some heroic stuff without signing my character's death warrant.


I can see pros and cons to both concepts, but the impression I am getting is that if you like low levels of DnD, then the varient rules for reduced XP work just fine.

If you like to give your players lots of options and the feeling that they can get to use those options, then a quicker rate might be needed.

 

[Sanackranib]

low power game

I am currently giving the 2nd and 3rd level PC's in my SL game a whopping 250 xp per session weither they have combat or not. as they level up I plan to increase this ammount. the general idea being it is too unrealistic to gain "a level a day" which is what the lower levels almost are. I told my players that I expect them to level every 6 weeks game time or so. Obviously they are going to be fighting many more weaker opponents then standard adventurers usually will ( which makes taking goblinoids as a racial enemy for a ranger much more attractive then it usually would be. the players also know that the gold and magic items are going to be keeping pace with the XP and about the time everyone hits level 5 they should all have +1 weapons. again this makes masterwork weapons special and worth questing after or waiting for them to be made. This is the opposit of how I usually run and the party is thusfar enjoying a really good game. in the end thats what its all about, not how fast you level.