Just how good *IS* level X?

[Remathilis]

Pathfinder Edition

Typical peasant - 1st-3rd level commoner

Typical guardsman - 1st - 5th level warrior or 1st - 3rd level fighter

Typical guard captain - 4th to 7th level warrior or 4th - 6th level fighter

Typical knight (or equivalent) 5th - 9th level warrior, fighter, or paladin (rare)

King Arthur 5th level paladin (bonded weapon: excalibur)/10th level fighter

Merlin 3rd level fighter/12 level sorcerer (infernal bloodline)

Elric of Melnibone 5th level fighter/5th level necromancer (sword-bond, no abjuration or enchantment)/10th level eldrich knight

Bilbo - 5th level expert/1st level rogue

Frodo 7th level aristrocrat

Samwise - 5th level expert/2nd level fighter

Gandalf - Gray: 10th level Wizard (staff-bond) White: 15th level Abjurer (staff-bond, no necromancer or evocation)

Sauron - CR 30 Demigod

Saruman - 15th level wizard

Aragorn - 5th level ranger (companion bond, FE Orcs and Animals, bow-style)/5th level fighter

The Witch-King of Angmar - 18 HD advanced Wraith

Boromir - 7th level fighter

Legolas - 10th level fighter

Gimli - 10th level fighter

Galadriel - 12 level wizard

Conan - 16th level barbarian/4th level rogue

---

Now, there will be abilities each of these characters have that their "inspired" versions don't, but we're not aiming for faithful recreation, just a ballpark of "if this guy WAS a D&D character, what would he be?)

Note: I shot for "endpoint" stats, not beginning. Some character would evolve as their stories are told (IE gain levels).

 

[Cadfan]

The following are estimates and averages, even where a range is indicated.

Typical peasant
1, probably a minion

Typical guardsman
2-6

Typical guard captain
4-8

Typical knight (or equivalent)
6-10

I'm not going to do named characters. I think the logic breaks down on those too much. Its especially tough for protagonists, who tend to be as strong as the circumstance demands in high action fantasy.

 

[LostSoul]

For 4E. This is probably how I would stat things up. I also have a conversion forumla for making a normal monster into a minion/elite/solo - minions add 4-5 levels, elites subtract two, solos subtract 5.

Typical peasant - level 1 minion

Typical guardsman - level 3

Typical guard captain - level 3 elite

Typical knight (or equivalent) - level 5 elite

King Arthur - level 10 elite

Merlin - level 15 elite

Bilbo - level 2 to 3

Frodo - level 2 to 5 elite

Samwise - level 1 elite

Gandalf - level 17 to 21 elite

Sauron - level 25 solo

Saruman - level 21 elite

Aragorn - level 8 to 12 elite

The Witch-King of Angmar - level 14 elite

Boromir - level 6 elite

Legolas - level 12 elite

Gimli - level 9 elite

Conan - level 8 elite

 

[S'mon]

Interesting take, S'mon. I like the way you think.

Can you tell I like the 4e monster building system (& manuals) a lot more than I like the NPC-class rules?

 

[S'mon]

Surely these are PC's?

They're NPCs if they're NPCs, ie if the PCs meet them. I guess if they were PCs I'd start them at 1st level.

 

[AllisterH]

I'm with S'mon.

At best, I'd make them companions using the DMG2 rules....

 

[Snoweel]

Can you tell I like the 4e monster building system (& manuals) a lot more than I like the NPC-class rules?

Me too.

In fact, I'm inclined to thinking the PC classes should only apply to PC's, while NPCs should be based on entirely non-mechanical concepts and then statted up as needed.

This is a far cry from my views under 3.X where I felt the need to determine the societal roles for each class; the circumstances under which an NPC became a member of a PC class and so on.

I think an NPC really should play differently in combat depending on the impact I want him to have - this is largely determined by the Solo/Elite/Standard classification.

 

[S'mon]

Me too.

In fact, I'm inclined to thinking the PC classes should only apply to PC's, while NPCs should be based on entirely non-mechanical concepts and then statted up as needed.

This is a far cry from my views under 3.X where I felt the need to determine the societal roles for each class; the circumstances under which an NPC became a member of a PC class and so on.

I think an NPC really should play differently in combat depending on the impact I want him to have - this is largely determined by the Solo/Elite/Standard classification.

Yup - I agree on all points. This has been a big change for me too. And I think it's a very beneficial one - NPC stats now support the milieu rather than determine it. For instance, it beomes possible to 'accurately' stat Gandalf or Conan, so they come across like they did in their stories, because you're not bound by the rules for PCs.

 

[Raven Crowking]

RCFG Rules:


Typical peasant: Normal Man 3

Typical guardsman: Normal Man 3 warrior

Typical guard captain: Normal Man 5 warrior

Typical knight (or equivalent): Fighter 3-5

King Arthur: Fighter 8 to 10

Merlin: Sorcerer 6 to 8

Elric of Melnibone: meh

Bilbo: Begins as Normal Man (halfling) 3, ends as NM 3/rogue 2

Frodo: Begins as Normal Man (halfling) 3, ends as NM 3/specialist class 4 (Note that all LotR characters use book stats, not film stats)

Samwise: Begins as Normal Man (halfling) 4, ends as NM 4/fighter 2

Gandalf: Angel

Sauron: Angel (Fallen)

Saruman: Angel (Fallen)

Aragorn: Begins as human Fighter 3, Ranger 6

The Witch-King of Angmar: Dread wraith sorcerer 6

Boromir: Human Fighter 6

Legolas: Elf Fighter 2/Rogue 3

Gimli: Dwarf fighter 4

Galadriel: Elf Sorcerer 8

Conan: Depends upon the point in his career. He starts as a Human Barbarian 1.