Level 20 commoners?

[Keeper of Secrets]

I wonder what kind of things you do to get to 20th level as a commoner. I mean, be like a Supreme Court Justice?

 

[Storyteller01]

What level would the Old Woman from SK's "The Stand" be? Per the book, she still managed to hang, kill, and clean a pig. Nice feat, as old as she was.

 

[Crothian]

Sean Reynolds had a variant rule for commoner's on his site (maybe it's still there), giving them a CR1 encounter worth of XP per month. This worked out to them being about level 9 by age 61 (IIRC).

Old by human standards but look at the elves and dwarves ages, it is easier for them to do it

 

[Darkness]

What level would the Old Woman from SK's "The Stand" be? Per the book, she still managed to hang, kill, and clean a pig. Nice feat,as old as she was.

Assuming slaughtering of animals works similarly to the execution rules in the BoVD, she'd need her Profession at around +8, assuming she took 10. Of course, she could have had more.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

Old by human standards but look at the elves and dwarves ages, it is easier for them to do it

That's a really good point. Lke some kind of drwaven craftsman or elven tailor?

 

[Jdvn1]

Technically yes, but that stops making sense really quick.

A Com4 is not a challenge comparable to an ogre.

Well, but when you get to Com21, you qualify for epic feats. And, depending on the previous feats, you might start to worry.

 

[Storyteller01]

Assuming slaughtering of animals works similarly to the execution rules in the BoVD, she'd need her Profession at around +8, assuming she took 10. Of course, she could have had more.

My question, and I'm not being argumentative, is how high would those skills have to be to overcome the negatives she'd have received for her age and body type. Given her description, she had been pretty in her youth but not exceptional in any physical means. Her strengths were always of the mental variety.

If I remember correctly, she could barely move do to arthritis...

 

[Darkness]

My question, and I'm not being argumentative, is how high would those skills have to be

+8, as I said. Whether that means 5 ranks + 3 Wis, or 8 ranks + 4 Wis - 4 for physical problems, or whatever is what you'll need to figure out yourself; I just wanted to point you in the right direction.

Well, but when you get to Com21

NPC classes don't get epic.
He could multiclass into Com20/Exp1, though, I suppose...

Still, there aren't many dangerous epic feats whose prereqs a Commoner could meet. He only has a +10 BAB (+1 epic at 21st) and no class abilities. Stats wouldn't be too high either. So he could only qualify for stuff that needs you only to be epic, or requires lots of ranks in the skills he can have.

 

[Steverooo]

I always thought of Farmer Maggot, from LotR, as a twentieth level commoner... He was the greatest mushroom farmer in the shire, had a lot of land, had the wherewithall to stand up to a Dark Rider (and the Un-Hobbitly sense not to)! He even went into the Old Forest to meet with Old Tom Bombadil, on occassion... He always knew more than he was a'tellin', and LotR doesn't tell us much more about him, either!

So, a level 20 Commoner is a stay-at-home sort, advisor-to-heroes, who doesn't go off galavanting, hisself. He stays home and minds his mushrooms! Not that he couldn't tell an odd tale, now and then, if'n he had a mind too, 'bout all the strange things he's seen, or heard... or been involved in!

Mostly, though, he just minds his own business, and encourages others to do likewise. He won't be standing down any Black Riders, unless he absolutely HAS to, but he's the one who might know where the trolls' cache of weapons is, and where to find it, and how to get into it. He might also know about some trinket or odd bit of lore that might or might not be applicable. Not that he'd go off and leave his cabbage patch to go after it hisself, mund ye, but he might speak of it to some likely young lads who've proven themselves sensible... and capable enough to survive a trip to the trolls' den, and back...

He'd also know enough to warn them away from the Barrow Downs, as a place too tough for the likes of them. Even if there was greater magic, there, he'd know that he (and the PCs) couldn't handle it.

 

[DragonLancer]

Sean Reynolds had a variant rule for commoner's on his site (maybe it's still there), giving them a CR1 encounter worth of XP per month. This worked out to them being about level 9 by age 61 (IIRC).

9th is about has high in level as Commoner should ever get, and even then I think thats pushing it. I really don't see many getting past 5th IMO.

The reason that wizards, clerics and other adventurers are so powerful is because they risk all to go out and perform quests. Commoners are the sort who dare not, and stay at home tending the farm and occasionally defending the village. If they live in a region beset by monsters and raiders then they wouldn't be commoners for long, as they would have to multiclass into warrior, fighter, or maybe even ranger.