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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Khorod" data-source="post: 464092" data-attributes="member: 1636">Let's start out with where I am coming from.  IMC, first level PC's are not particularly special.  They are new.  They are green.  They might very well be ambitious and foolhardy.  And if they are worth anything they should reach second level within a couple months of game time, which could very well be only 2 sessions.  The thing that separates PC's out is that combination of wanderlust, feeling that they can change things, or need to be on the move, and that superhuman resolve that lets them not only pass a saving throw against dragon fear, but decide not to run.  And to an extent, fate will conspire to push them toward the center of events.A 5th level commoner might very well have high stats.  Good saves.  A nice attack roll.  And so the new kids on the block might have some problems walking up and clocking someone.  But by the same token, these characters are not specifically combatants.  Sure, over the years they've learned how to give as the get in a brawl, or stick the pointy end into the other guy.  But they are not perpetually preprared to be attacked.  So its not unreasonable to assume that they can be KO'd without having to run through all hit points.  Sure, they got levels, but not everything about what they have and what they can do is described by the mechanics.But in a mechanical comparison, as someone up there said, npc's generally have worse ability scores.  As D&D currently stands, training is much more important than ability scores.  That's a little broken.  In an attempt to fix it I use d10's for opposed rolls.  But I digress.  In terms of role-playing-- and face it, the motivations for everything in game is filtered through role-playing- or how things behave -- everyone sees the strong, fast, intelligent fellows and figures they can handle matters.Sure, they lack the experience, but look at how things generally work- the older ones make a plan, and the younger ones carry it off.  Perception of ability score should be important, moreso than subtle differences in hit points and attack bonus.Some might then ask, well, what about the 4th level warriors, aged 25, then hang around all the time?  Well, for one thing, they are probably soldiers.  Soldiers are not heroic, one-on-one fighters.  They are good at fighting other people.  Give them zombies in a dungeon and 1) there training won't be applicable, and 2) their morale will go to hell as their short swords and spears do little or nothing.Of course, this does retain some feeling of *what*?  Its not a perfect explanation, but then, try arguing that all npc's are 1st level.  That doesn't make sense to me.  You can't have experienced, compentent farmers or master smiths that way without making them ex-adventurers or rules-exceptions.In my campaign, I make up for this by the fact that it is a strange place.  Monsters generally are more powerful- or even unique.  Dungeons are not on every map, and are generally out of the way.  And its the warfare amonst the humans that gets most official attention, so if a flock of ghosts is popping out of the graveyard, not only will the soldiers be ineffective, but they are busy patrolling against an enemy incursion.The point is, choose what npc's are all about in your campaign, and the nature of the campaign should probably smooth over the rest.And of course, Rule 0 should be smeared across the countryside, and the farmers from the really, really boring village over the next hill need never be detailed.</blockquote>

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