Less Sudden Paragon Pathing

[Garthanos]

Presumedly they are a transition perhaps in the story the character goes through an initiation or some event results in the discovery of hidden and transformative gifts..

... but for me it feels like poof.. now I am a bloodmage, I was wondering
what horrible impact it would be if Paragon paths began impacting earlier.

Like maybe spreading some of the features across earlier levels... a lot of them have multiple impacts at level 11 what if the first was at 7 9 11

For a blood mage they might get
blood action at 7
bolstering blood at 9
blood pulse power at 11

shrug

 

[Garthanos]

The other thought I had was to enable a toned down version of a paragon path power at the lower levels like allowing bolstering blood with smaller size dies
d4 5th level
d6 7th level
d8 9th level
d10 11 level

 

[keterys]

Or spread them out over paragon tier more - something at 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th frex.

At any rate, the tricky part is that each piece is not really balanced against the same pieces of other paragon paths. So you'd have some pretty disparate results from swapping stuff around. There already is _some_ of that with some having awesome 16ths but lousy 11ths and vice versa, of course.

 

[Garthanos]

Or spread them out over paragon tier more - something at 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th frex.

At any rate, the tricky part is that each piece is not really balanced against the same pieces of other paragon paths. So you'd have some pretty disparate results from swapping stuff around. There already is _some_ of that with some having awesome 16ths but lousy 11ths and vice versa, of course.

So In my example... somebody could get say there nice 11s earlier and somebody else might get some lackluster elements 11s earlier?

 

[Saagael]

I tend to think that all of the heroic tier is your gradual set up for paragon. Just like all of the paragon tier is a set up for epic tier.

Throughout heroic tier the player is getting stronger and by level 11 I'm pretty sure players have all the powers they get (except for utility powers), and so they get their paragon path as a boost to their power. Yeah, there is a large discrepancy in power from level 10 to 11, but don't you see things like that in reality (albeit on a much less grand scale)?

Then again, if the boost in power is tied to the story and makes sense, then it isn't really all that important. I like the feeling that once I reach level 11, my character will be even more awesome.

 

[Garthanos]

I tend to think that all of the heroic tier is your gradual set up for paragon. Just like all of the paragon tier is a set up for epic tier.

I see nothing in the mechanics to make it feel like its gradual or connected.

Then again, if the boost in power is tied to the story and makes sense, then it isn't really all that important.

Integrating things like initiation ceremonies and various story elements to the transitions... can be fine... but because it is dramatic --- everybody in the group having these at around the same time? could feel a bit stilted.

 

[Garthanos]

Note for my blood mage I can prepare for the paragon path by having my toughness go up ... and similar things and so I guess the synergy mechanics could indeed have some player controlled transitional feel.

 

[Mentat55]

I think some paragon paths definitely require some in-game explanation, especially ones that are tied to some tradition or organization. Others, though, like Battlefield Archer for a ranger or Kensai for a fighter, seem like a natural progression from the class -- the powers are just a bit more specialized, or the path reflects a higher degree of devotion to a particular facet of the class.

But the idea of spreading out PP abilities seems good to me, if you can find a reasonable way to work it out.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

I think that scattering PP stuff into the late heroic tier will just make the *poof* 'I'm a blood mage!' moment arrive sooner. Or maybe it's just because I like that bump in power and prestige at 11th and 21st level; it's like the point in the novel or film where the hero has an epiphany, stops bumbling around and is galvanized into [awesome] action.

Another suggestion: Instead of scattering PP mechanics around the heroic tier, scatter the initiations/quests/whatnot around the heroic tier. For example if a player wants to be a blood mage, have an NPC blood mage assign him a task at 6th-10th level. That allows you to pick different levels for the rights of passage for the other PCs, and allows everyone time to complete their tasks by 11th level.

 

[Garthanos]

I think that scattering PP stuff into the late heroic tier will just make the *poof* 'I'm a blood mage!' moment arrive sooner.

Well you could claim to have the gift sooner couldnt you. (Not sure theres anything wrong with that..) I was questioning the dramaticness and sometimes nature change... a doctor is a med student not a science student before he becomes tadah a doctor. (rarely is there some suprise look what I am).

Or maybe it's just because I like that bump in power and prestige at 11th and 21st level; it's like the point in the novel or film where the hero has an epiphany, stops bumbling around and is galvanized into [awesome] action.

that point in movies are normally sub elements of a single adventure not the entire character career. ;-)
Luke became a jedi off camera... but he had individual elements showing up on camera... and it was gradual.