I Just Don't Know What to Do. . .

[Abraxas]

It seems that our group will be starting over, again. :\

Ever since 3.0 has come out our DM doesn't feel comfortable once we hit about level 12 and we end up taking a break and then instead of continuing, we start over. So my cleric, Grymjak - who has a nifty portrait from Claudio Pozas that I never got to use - is going into the folder with all the other characters that never got past 13th level. It used to be that we all died at 5th level, now we just retire at 12th.

Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do to stop it from happening? What can I do to help him stop ending campaigns at 12th level?

Also, we rolled up new stats (and everyone rolled completely out of their gourd) but I don't know what to do with them. I don't want to play another cleric or rogue - but I'm not really sold on any of the other classes (especially if they aren't going to get past 12th level)

Here's what I rolled 18, 17, 15, 14, 13, 11

What would you folks do with these scores? Its a FR game and we can use the following sources;
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, Players Guide to Faerun, Faiths and Pantheons, Unapproachable East, Races of Faerun, Magic of Faerun, Unearthed Arcana's Racial Paragons, Miniatures Handbook (Ch. 1-4), Expanded Psionics Handbook, Book of Exalted Deeds, Complete Warrior, DMG, PHB
No race with ECL greater than 1.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Well, I would suggest your DM look at Midnight. Most of his high-level concerns are pretty much addressed with that setting.

Anyway, with your attributes you can pretty much play whatever you want. I'd suggust Monk-4/Paladin-X since that build demands a lot of high attributes. Or play something from the new psi book, just 'cause.

 

[Zappo]

I've had this problem with several DMs. Unfortunately, I just don't know how to help. I have a hard time understanding the problem, since I've never felt any problem in letting a campaign flow to high level. I think that many DMs simply enjoy low-level adventuring and dislike high-levels. You can't get someone to DM something he doesn't like, so I don't think there's much of a solution, except DMing yourself.

 

[rgard]

I've had this problem with several DMs. Unfortunately, I just don't know how to help. I have a hard time understanding the problem, since I've never felt any problem in letting a campaign flow to high level. I think that many DMs simply enjoy low-level adventuring and dislike high-levels. You can't get someone to DM something he doesn't like, so I don't think there's much of a solution, except DMing yourself.

From a player's perspective, I've seen this too.

From a DM's perspective, it's a learning curve.

When I first started DMing many moons ago for a high level party, the hardest part was finding a sufficiently challenging campaign for them without killing them all off. My first ever high level session (well, 9th to 12th level pcs) was through TSR's Hill Giant Steading (G1?).

I came real close to wiping them out and eventually inserted some NPCs who saved them. Yes, it was a bit of a fudge, that time.

Best thing the DM can do is drive on with the campaign when the players reach 12 level or beyond. The DM can hit them with easier encounters to start and with the completion of each successful adventure, tweek the encounter levels up until you get a good balance. A good balance being an encounter that doesn't wipe them out or one that is so easy, you find the players wandering away from the table asking to be called back when it's their turn to hack the baddies.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Ice man]

with the stats you have rolled i would look at either a ranger/rogue or a monk/tattooed monk with a vow of poverty. either of these can be a very potent character and are interesting to role play.

as for your DM troubles; you may want to offer to DM at higher levels if you DM is uncomfortable above 12th, secondly if the DM is simply running out of ideas for his campaign at that point suggest some for him. another thought is to run a couple of one off adventures to give your DM a break for a couple of weeks, take him to coffee and talk about what you want to do in this campaign yet...hopefully these ideas will get his creative thought process going so he will have something he wants to do with the higher level characters.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

Here's what I rolled 18, 17, 15, 14, 13, 11

What would you folks do with these scores? Its a FR game and we can use the following sources;
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, Players Guide to Faerun, Faiths and Pantheons, Unapproachable East, Races of Faerun, Magic of Faerun, Unearthed Arcana's Racial Paragons, Miniatures Handbook (Ch. 1-4), Expanded Psionics Handbook, Book of Exalted Deeds, Complete Warrior, DMG, PHB
No race with ECL greater than 1.

Can't help you with your problem, but will at least give advice.

Since Races of Faerun I've wanted a change of pace, and try out a Shield Dwarf Battlerager. I don't know what level you'll start out at, but you'll need
6 levels of Barbarian or Fighter to qualify. *I* would go Barbarian 6 to max on Rage and Uncanny Dodge stuff, as for stats I'd say:

Str 17
Dex 15
Con 20
Int 13
Wis 14
Cha 9

Gives you MAD hit points, good combat w/ Str and Dex, and good Will saves.
Battleragers are considered uncouth and somewhat derranged, so Cha is not important.

If you want something less combative, try a Duergar Psion. It's ECL 1, and the new Psi book is cool, something new.

 

[DragonLancer]

Under 2nd edition I was like that and its still the same under 3.x although quite as bad. At high levels the monsters are powerful but I have always found that player characters are even more powerful, and although that may be enjoyable for them its not for me. I want them to face challenges not just play a cake walk.

 

[Jeb McDonald]

What about letting another player take over as the DM? Our group has four people who can DM. One guy DMs 2/3rds of the time, but he really enjoys DMing characters through about 8th level. I like DMing the higher level PCs so we simply swap seats at the table. My adventure may have something to do with his or it may not--it doesn't really matter because we get to continue with these characters.

 

[Abraxas]

Right now, I'm DMing for the group while the other DM takes a break - I've run their characters up to 7th level since last August. I have been thinking about boosting them to 15th level before turning the game back over to him - just to show him what it could be like.

As for the character - playing a monk has possibilities (or that monk/paladin suggested). I just found out that he is allowing the 3.5 ranger d10s for hit dice instead of d8s - that has possibilities also. How would you set up a monk with those stats in a combat heavy campaign (at least that whats been implied)?

 

[MrFilthyIke]

As for the character - playing a monk has possibilities (or that monk/paladin suggested). I just found out that he is allowing the 3.5 ranger d10s for hit dice instead of d8s - that has possibilities also. How would you set up a monk with those stats in a combat heavy campaign (at least that whats been implied)?

Play an Illuskan Monk with Jotunbrun (sp?) as a feat, pick Improved Grapple as your bouns monk feat, and max out strength. A +8 plus Str to Grapple, pin your oppent and inflict damage, can't go wrong, as long as your friends have your back (or flank )