First level PC in high level campaign

[randcortin]

My DM has a rule, that when you die, you start at first level again, no matter how high your character was or the rest of the party is. That said, what are some tips for survivability as a low level PC in a high level camp? Right now everyone is third level, so it's not TOO bad, but as the levels go up, so do the risks of playing a first level PC.

For stats, let's assume I can get 18, 17, 16, 14, 12, 10 or lower. What would be some character suggestions, and suggestions in general, on how to survive despite the level difference?

My DM kills characters all the time, sometimes as many as 2 or 3 a session, and there's been 2 TPK's in the past 3 months. Most of it is simple creature damage, though there was an Instakill trap in the last dungeon (no damage, no save, just BAM! dead), and there probably will be more, and there are also other less deadly traps.

 

[Samnell]

My DM kills characters all the time, sometimes as many as 2 or 3 a session, and there's been 2 TPK's in the past 3 months. Most of it is simple creature damage, though there was an Instakill trap in the last dungeon (no damage, no save, just BAM! dead), and there probably will be more, and there are also other less deadly traps.

The DM is on the record stating that every dungeon we go into has an instakill trap somewhere too.

 

[Kibo]

Survival of the fitest

Well if he let's you pick random races. Something like a drow sorcerer or wizard might be spiffy. The darkness web burning hands combo (which I've never tried mostly because I DM) seems like it might be a pretty snazzy ambush.

The insta kill trap thing makes me think your DM might be named Aszweepe Dumas. Just about anything that involves a mechanical action should involve a ref save, sometimes a fortitude save. If it was magic based then the save should have been as per the spell. In my not so humble opinion.

If it's going to be all about random dungeon crawls with no rhyme or reason why not just play nethack?

I only bring the kookyness of your DM up, because he may well see playing as a zero sum game with him on one side players on the other. As such, he'd be more prone to doing stupid crap like traps that just kill the first PC bold enough to do something, and cheating. In the sense he shares his meta-game info as the dm with the npc's he runs. Which again would make one wonder why you're not playing nethack, and why he's not playing progress quest.

But I would say special race powers + flexible magic + high mobility + ranged weapon (light x-bow) are your best bet. Just whittle away at stuff let the other players do the work. You just take your share of the rewards. Remember it's not your fault. The DM laid the gay groundwork, and if he wants to build a turkish bath-house of a campaign, why add to your suffering when fighting him in it will do no good. If everyone else follows suit and your party becomes The Fleetfooted Brotherhood of Obscure Racial Outcast Sorcerers Specializing in Escape, Evasion, and Self-preservation, (FBOROSSEESp) well maybe he'll learn a lesson.

But maybe my impression is all wrong.

 

[Crothian]

Play a hlaf dragon or other strong template. THat will give you a nice boost.

 

[northrundicandus]

Find another DM.

 

[randcortin]

Well if he let's you pick random races. Something like a drow sorcerer or wizard might be spiffy. The darkness web burning hands combo (which I've never tried mostly because I DM) seems like it might be a pretty snazzy ambush.

I'm assuming it's basic races with no level penalty, although I'll definitely ask him.

The insta kill trap thing makes me think your DM might be named Aszweepe Dumas. Just about anything that involves a mechanical action should involve a ref save, sometimes a fortitude save. If it was magic based then the save should have been as per the spell. In my not so humble opinion.

The trap was a pit trap Samnell's character fell into, then a 5x5x20 chunk of stone fell from the ceiling, smashing him flat. Furthermore, it would go off again if someone stepped on the stone that smashed him flat, smashing that PC into the ceiling. This is the type of DM we're dealing with: Evil, Evil, Evil.

If everyone else follows suit and your party becomes The Fleetfooted Brotherhood of Obscure Racial Outcast Sorcerers Specializing in Escape, Evasion, and Self-preservation, (FBOROSSEESp) well maybe he'll learn a lesson.

Samnell's making a wizard that specializes in defense. I've already made an Elven Sorcerer that knows only Mage Armor and Shield, and is good with a x-bow.

 

[jgbrowning]

just my opinion

find a new DM.

one that wants to play for the enjoyment of all and who isnt on a power trip.

joe b.

 

[jhanzur]

I've been DMing 3E for almost 2 years now, with the same campaign. We don't meet as often as we would like (average 1.5 times per month), and the highest level is 7th right now. I have had two characters join up after the rest of the party had increased a few levels, and made them both start at 1st level also, but the party was no where near even mid-level at that point. It hasn't come up again, but I have decided to let any player who's character dies create a new one at about 3/4ths the XP of the party average.

In your case, I would pray for high stats, min/max skills and feats, and when in combat, always use cover and concealment and never join melee. By the time the other characters have gained just one level, your character should have gained 2 or 3 levels, if they are already at high level. More or less, even if you do these things and they are beyond, say, 5th level, any area effect spell cast on the party will probably whipe your character out, as will any melee enemies that manage to make it to you. The best you can do is move your full distance and range attack. Good luck!

 

[randcortin]

Find a new DM?

If we so choose not to follow this DM, then we'll be looking for new players for a new group, as it took close to 2 years to hook up with enough people to game with, and we're hoping that he'll eventually see the error in his ways, and stop making some undesirable decisions as DM. We've kind of agreed to try to work with him under the rules, and that we'll try to help each other out as much as we can.

Any other suggestions, comments, tips, maybe even a complete min/maxed character with the stats I've given, anything?

 

[333 Dave]

Simple. Next time theres a TPK, offer to DM instead. In the mean time, roll random characters (1d12 for class, reroll 12s, 1d6 for race). Its not like they'll do anygood anyhow.