Help a Paladin in need!

[FreeTheSlaves]

The problems with the 'bust & boom' reward is that the bust period is invariably not fun & the compensatory boom can be unbalancing.

D&D is a game about the journey, not about the end, it is the journey where all the play occurs & thus the fun. Getting nerfed for whatever plausible reason is still getting nerfed & we can all imagine how it sucks to be the deadweight sidekick.

The compensation at the end has to equal something like (the power level lost * time suffered) * extra % loss of fun. Without the extra % the compensation will merely restore parity without regard for all those moments of twiddling thumbs. Regardless, the compensation occurring as a lump sum will come as a heavy hit to the campaign in whatever form it takes. Omitting the compensation is just a really rude way of dis-inviting the said player to game.

 

[philreed]

Regardless, the compensation occurring as a lump sum will come as a heavy hit to the campaign in whatever form it takes. Omitting the compensation is just a really rude way of dis-inviting the said player to game.

What could be fun would be a series of tasks the heroes must complete, with each one opening whatever is blocking the gods' power a little more. This was they regain a little power as each task is completed. Hell, maybe something as simple as nine tasks, each one of which is linked to a spell level. Make it so that completing each task not only releases access to spells of that level but whoever completes the task gets some extra benefit.

Then throw in a competing party of NPCs and you've got a race to bring back the gods and a race for power.

 

[LostSoul]

What could be fun would be a series of tasks the heroes must complete, with each one opening whatever is blocking the gods' power a little more. This was they regain a little power as each task is completed. Hell, maybe something as simple as nine tasks, each one of which is linked to a spell level. Make it so that completing each task not only releases access to spells of that level but whoever completes the task gets some extra benefit.

Then throw in a competing party of NPCs and you've got a race to bring back the gods and a race for power.

That sounds like fun - especially if you're playing a class that doesn't draw on Divine Power.

The way I'm looking at it, the "reward" had better be pretty cool for all those hours spent playing a Warrior with d10 hit dice and good saves, while the Rogue is Sneak Attacking left and right and the Fighter is kicking everything's ass.

 

[philreed]

The way I'm looking at it, the "reward" had better be pretty cool for all those hours spent playing a Warrior with d10 hit dice and good saves, while the Rogue is Sneak Attacking left and right and the Fighter is kicking everything's ass.

The DM could also have the cleric/paladin/affected character(s) acquire some temporary magic items that help them during the crisis. Maybe their deity has limited communication with their world and sends them a message (in a dream of course) that leads them to some hidden items.