D&D General New Critical Role Method for Leveling

[Clint_L]

I've never used this method in D&D, but I've used it in games like Chronicles of Darkness, Exalted, and Scion where you have some amount of XP set aside and the players can spend them mid-session. I think it's a really fun idea that had mostly positive results in the games where I allowed it! There were a few considerations though:

1. There was some joking about Shonen Protagonists when used to "power-up" in the middle of combat.
2. Increasing in power during critical situations does tend to bias choices slightly towards ones that help you survive.

I'm interested to see how this plays out. My gut reaction is...I like that a player might make a non-"optimal" (white room) choice due to an emerging situation. I think this actually makes more sense from a character development perspective, and could add drama.

3. There is a possibility a player might feel "pushed" to level up in a critical situation when they hoped to save it.

Again, I have to see how this feels when we actually do it ourselves. My players (home game) are very RP-focused, so I am betting it will be good. But I might turn out to be totally wrong. Wouldn't be the first time!

Most of those considerations are addressed by just being chill adults, but it was worth telling the players to not feel pressured, and that they were free to level up however they wanted. Definitely more fun than cons in my book either way.

This is my hope.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've only listened to a bit of WBN but I've seen a ton of D20 and this is the first time I've twigged to this leveling up method, so you are right about that!

Now we just have to figure out how to have Brennan roleplay a familiar on Critical Role, like the fox on Worlds Beyond Number. Best NPC ever.

 

[Charlaquin]

3. There is a possibility a player might feel "pushed" to level up in a critical situation when they hoped to save it.

Indeed, the mechanical incentive is just to level up as soon as possible! The only reasons to save it are narrative, or maybe because you really aren’t sure what spell/feat to take and want in-the-moment need to serve as your tiebreaker.