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.

 

[Lanefan]

One thing we've always done is that you don't get xp until you've slept on it and had a chance to think over what you experienced* that day (in 5e terms, you could only level after at least one long rest). I wonder how that concept would work with this?

* - hence the term "experience points".

 

[bedir than]

One thing we've always done is that you don't get xp until you've slept on it and had a chance to think over what you experienced* that day (in 5e terms, you could only level after at least one long rest). I wonder how that concept would work with this?

* - hence the term "experience points".

your example and Brennan's practice are both considered standard 5e

Some DMs let characters gain the benefits of a new level as soon as the characters have the required XP, which gives the players the joy of using the new features and spells they gain immediately. Other DMs prefer to wait until the characters take a Long Rest or until the end of a session before letting characters level up, which keeps the adventure flowing smoothly and lets players pore over their new options during a lull in the action or between sessions. Do what works best for your group.

If a character levels up outside a Long Rest, the character’s current Hit Points and Hit Point maximum both increase by the appropriate number for the new level, and the character gains access to additional abilities and spell slots (if appropriate) without regaining any that are already expended.

From the 2024 DMG

 

[Charlaquin]

One thing we've always done is that you don't get xp until you've slept on it and had a chance to think over what you experienced* that day (in 5e terms, you could only level after at least one long rest). I wonder how that concept would work with this?

* - hence the term "experience points".

I think they would work fine together. In fact, a long rest seems like a good opportunity to roll your hit points and select a few spell/feat options you’re considering, and since long rests are usually taken when you’re in a relatively safe location, it seems like a good way to make sure there’s a little breathing room between gaining enough experience to level up and being in a narratively appropriate situation to gain the benefits of the level.

 

[Charlaquin]

your example and Brennan's practice are both considered standard 5e


From the 2024 DMG

I think what sets the method Brenan is using apart is the fact that he’s leaving it up to each individual player to decide when they want to level up. So, some of them might decide to do it during a long rest, while others have already decided to do it in the middle of the action. And there will be at least some amount of time where the party’s levels are uneven, because some of them have taken the level and others are still waiting for the right moment.

 

[bedir than]

I think what sets the method Brenan is using apart is the fact that he’s leaving it up to each individual player to decide when they want to level up. So, some of them might decide to do it during a long rest, while others have already decided to do it in the middle of the action. And there will be at least some amount of time where the party’s levels are uneven, because some of them have taken the level and others are still waiting for the right moment.

5e doesn't have the base assumption that the party levels at the same time. My current campaign has characters at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th level

 

[Charlaquin]

5e doesn't have the base assumption that the party levels at the same time. My current campaign has characters at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th level

5e doesn’t really comment on the subject, but uneven party levels are certainly less common outside of Adventurer’s League. This is by no means unique to Brennan’s game, but it is something that’s likely to come across as novel to a significant portion of CR’s audience.