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Message: <blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 6825581" data-attributes="member: 1210">Huh?I'll reiterate what I posted above: npcs and pcs work by different rules. They always have and they should continue to do so. The point of agreement I have with the "Npcs start at first level" is that, yes, npcs did start at first level, but unlike pcs, they did so off-camera. Except pcs-to-be don't earn xps off camera. In fact, most npcs are first level. The ones who aren't have histories- "this army captain is a veteran because he has done x, y and z and been involved in conflicts 1, 2 and 3." But that 60 year old shopkeeper, the 40 years old serving drinks, the guy the party buys rope and spikes from, the halflings selling tacos, the typical door guard, most bandits, etc- all of them are 1st level. Above first level is the exception, not the norm. Of course. But when it comes to recruiting, if you want someone above 1st level, unless it is a pc that someone has already played, that character is an npc- and probably a very specific one that I already know about. In my campaign there is only one city that remains as a bastion of civilization after an overwhelming assault destroyed civilization some 48 years ago. There are virtually no npcs above 5th level. There simply is no high-level cleric or wizard for the party to recruit. Here's another thing. How exactly is it that you think a party can tell by looking what level the new guy is? Does he have some kind of green glow around his head if he's high enough level? Does he carry a sign? Is the whole concept of "level" an in-game thing? Sure, you can spar or demand that the new guy cast his best spell. But that's not always a sure indicator of anything.I'd also point out the long tradition in the real world of apprentices, youths and less skilled people working alongside more savvy individuals, learning from them and earning their stripes. ES@1 models this perfectly.</blockquote>

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