Low level, low magic

[der_kluge]

I'm currently running a game that is high magic, high power, high level (currently 10th; they'll end at 20th).

I was thinking to myself that by the time this game is over with, everyone is going to want to play a 1st level character whose only dream is to acquire a masterwork weapon.


One of the most fun games I'd ever played started with us rolling 3d6 - in order, and then choosing the class. I had no score above a 13, and I made a rogue. It was great.

But, it seems like the pace of leveling quickly outpaces that ideal. That is, hand the PCs even one +1 weapon, and the idea of saving up your money for a masterwork sword goes out the window. Sometimes I wonder why there are even masterwork weapons in the game. Or even costs for full plate. When was the last time you had a character save up their money for full plate armor? By the time they've actually got enough to purchase full plate armor, they've probably already got magical armor, and don't want it.

I've never liked the way the economy scales in D&D.

Anyway, no particular question here. Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves.

I think after this game, I'm going to request to play (or run if no one is willing) a 1st level Ravenloft game built on a 3d6 array, with narry a magic item in sight.

 

[Crothian]

THieves World, city of Sanctuary. Low level, low magic. Heck, low morals, low ethics, low everything. I had a sixth level party thrilled when they found light crossbow. These games are fun when run right, but sometimes its hard to get the players in the right frame of mind, especially when coming from a high levl high magic game.

 

[Dogbrain]

Well, as this place has already concluded, low power is BAAAAAAAAAAAD. Anybody who doesn't run the highest-possible power campaigns must do so because he's an idiot. So, if you're like me and prefer low-power, be prepared for some snidery.

 

[A'koss]

One place you might want to check out (if you haven't already) is Andy Collins' Umber Campaign notes for a few low magic tidbits. You can find it here:

http://www.andycollins.net/Campaigns/Umber/Umber.htm

In there he suggests cutting the money back by a factor of 5 or 10 and keeping the prices for everything else the same which will have a huge effect. Personally, I'm going to try running my game with 1/5 the money available and see how it goes.

Also, on his discussions board there is usually some low magic talk going on there.

Cheers,

A'koss.

 

[Shallown]

Unfortunately D&D is not t he best for low-power, low magic. I think you could run one say starting characters at 3rd then only advance after a very long time to a max of say 6th. Instead of getting feats every 3 levels and a ability point every 4th, get one every level. If your only advancing three levels then that would balance out. this gives you some room to run low level where a lack of magic items doesn't affect as much as it does at higher levels.

Maybe cut experience by 100. That way even if players get creation feats for their caster's they won't want to spend too many of those precious XP.

Just an idea

later

 

[Pants]

Well, as this place has already concluded, low power is BAAAAAAAAAAAD. Anybody who doesn't run the highest-possible power campaigns must do so because he's an idiot. So, if you're like me and prefer low-power, be prepared for some snidery.

Really?
I see more people making snide remarks about high powered games than low powered ones.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

Really?
I see more people making snide remarks about high powered games than low powered ones.

That's called "selective memory".

 

[Malk]

I have to agree, it seems to me at least that more people on these boards prefer the low power games. Personaly what i love about DnD is the scalability of the game. I love the transistion from low-level "oh my god a masterwork sword!" days to the point when you debate the best way to slay the orc hoard. And i dont really understand why people say dnd levels up too fast seeing as how experiance is handed out by the DM..it confuses me..give less experiance or more experiance...whatever fits your groups needs. I guesse i just like a varied RP experiance one game i want to roll strait 3d6 and the next i want to play a half-celestial wizard, and i dont understand not being able to have it both ways it is "your" game after all.

 

[blackshirt5]

That's called "selective memory".

It's called "pity me because people disagreed."

 

[Crothian]

It's actually really easy to do low level low magic in the d20 world. First get rid of magical items. Second, get rid of spellcasting classes. There are enough base classes that don't use magic out there. Third, limit the amount of resources the players have and are able to find. The THives World novels are perfect example on how this can be done, but there are many other novels out there that can beused as examples.

d20 is versatile. The last three years has just started to show us what can be done with the system. There are already low magic settings out there like Slaine and Conan.