"He's the greatest X" = level ?

[Mystery Man]

"He's the most powerful mage in the world."

Forgotten Realms: 30th level

Keep going...

 

[painandgreed]

Now THIS may have something to dictate about levels as it's somewhat quantifiable in game terms. Although there's still room for a lot of adjustment, if the statement is TRUE it shouldn't be too difficult to assume average difficulty for each such duelling encounter, and thus at 13.5 average encounters per level such an individual ought to be at least 7th level, maybe halfway to 8th. That further assumes that the subject hasn't done much of anything else. The greater the variety of activities and longer time that a character has performed them implies either greater levels, lesser challenges, or simply inaccurate information.

But these are "personal duels" so i think it would take less than 13.3 encounters per level because there is nobody else to split XP with. A 1st level person taking on a CR1 enoctner in a personal duel would get all XP to themselves whcih is a lot more. The significance of stating "personal duels" is to show that he takes on higher level challenges than usual by himself and overcomes them though his own merit. He is both a risk taker and capable of overcoming those risks. This comes out to about 4 personal duels per level if facing CRs equal to his level so it could mean 25th level. Of course, that puts him in the range for greatest swordsman ever unless he constantly fights those of much less skill than himself which is most likely the case. To truely find out how skillfull such a duelist is, you'd have to research those he's killed in duels and find out if they were accomplised sowrdsman themselves or skillless nobles.

 

[S'mon]

>>"He's a great swordsman."<<

Ftr-6, depending on who's talking - could be anything from 3rd (peasant) to 15th (emperor).

>>"He's the greatest swordsman, ever."<<

High teens to Epic.

>>"He's killed over a hundred men in personal duels."<<

9th+.

>>"He's a powerful wizard."<<

5th+ Wizard

>>"He's the most powerful mage in the world."<<

Wiz 18+

>>"He's an infamous thief, known throughout the kingdom."<<

Rogue 10+

>>"He's the most infamous thief, known all over the world."<<

Rogue 16+

>>"He's god's right hand on earth."<<

Depending on the god, probably Cleric 15+

 

[BWP]

"He's an infamous thief, known throughout the kingdom."

Level 1 (and unlikely to reach Level 2).

"He's the most infamous thief, known all over the world."

Since he was likely hung for his crimes (where else would he get such notoriety?), it probably doesn't matter much any more.