Merging Parties/Disparate Levels

[DMFTodd]

I have 2 campaigns joining together. The levels for the PCs will be 13, 11, 9, 8, 8, 8. The 8th level players are going to be generally overshadowed by the 13th level and, less so, the 11th level character. Anybody have suggestions to "even out" the parties when this happens?

Looking at the XP chart, the 8th level players will never really "catch up" with the 13th level guy. They'll be 4 levels behind when he reaches 20th level.

You could just declare the 8th level characters to be 11th level, or you could ask the 13th and 11th people to back their characters up to 10th level. Both of those have their problems.

Ideas?

 

[smetzger]

You could do XP the FR way.

Instead of using average party level you calculate XP for each individual (based on their level) and then divide by number in the party (6 in your case). The 8th level guys will eventually catch up.

 

[AdamBank]

AdamBank

In the past, I've raised levels of joining characters and then taken them through "flashback" adventurers to justify the level up. A character death in a flashback translates into permanent level drain in the mainstream campaign.