Ongoing Campaign, New PC: What Level?

[haiiro]

What level do you start new PCs out at in your ongoing campaign?

By new PC I mean several different things:

1. New player with a new character (new to the campaign, not new to gaming)
2. Current player retires existing PC, makes a new one
3. Current player's PC is killed, they make a new one

When I started the campaign, my approach was to start all new PCs as if raised -- one level lower than an old PC, or one level lower than the lowest in the party. This sounded pretty good.

Since then, I've had some time to think about it and can see merit to simply starting all new PCs at the lowest level in the party.

Since it's just come up twice in a row and is still awaiting resolution -- what do you think?

(Edit: Clarified "new player.")

 

[Gumby]

What level do you start new PCs out at in your ongoing campaign?

By new PC I mean several different things:

1. New player with a new character
2. Current player retires existing PC, makes a new one
3. Current player's PC is killed, they make a new one

When I started the campaign, my approach was to start all new PCs as if raised -- one level lower than an old PC, or one level lower than the lowest in the party. This sounded pretty good.

Since then, I've had some time to think about it and can see merit to simply starting all new PCs at the lowest level in the party.

Since it's just come up twice in a row and is still awaiting resolution -- what do you think?

1. As low as possible, to make sure that a new player isn't overwhelmed with chargen choices. But that's gotta be tempered by survivability as well - no purpose to having a 1st level Cleric in a 15th level party.

2. A level or two lower, depending on reasons and how well one gets along with the player. If for some reason, the orig. character isn't suited to the campaign, then go ahead and make up a new one at the same level as long as you trust the player to not be abusing your goodwill. Someone who wants to make up a new character every week just shouldn't be playing with you, if he's just changing things around for powergaming purposes.

3. Probably a level or two lower, as you want there to be some sort of penalty for death.

 

[CRGreathouse]

1. I'd generally start new players at level 1 so they can learn, probably apart from the group from a while. Once they got the basics, see 2.

2. If everyone's at the same level, then new characters come in at one level lower (levels 2-9) or two levels lower (levels 10-99). Beyond that I use arcane formulae...

3. See 2.

 

[GuardianLurker]

Officially, my group breaks it down as follows:
1) Current Player, new Character = lowest level in party
2) New Player, new character = lowest - 2.

However, when put to the test recently, no-one had a problem with letting the newbie in at the same level. My only advice? Anything below Party EL-3 is doomed, and I don't recommend it.

 

[MythosaAkira]

For new characters for new players, they come in at the lowest level in the party.

Replacement characters, whether they are for dead PCs or retired, get to come in at the XP of the PC they are replacing. In years past, I've used a variety of systems to determine the XP of new PCs. Eventually, I just decided that it really didn't matter. There's no "penalty" for dying (which is particularly inappropriate if a PC dies in a manner that is fitting for the character) or retiring. Players can swap characters in-and-out as well; the idea there is that with the plethora of character types you can play, using the various races, classes, prestige classes, etc., I don't want players to feel "locked in" to a particular character and not take the opportunity to try something new or different because they'll be penalized in XP.

Obviously, this might not be for everyone, but it works for our group.

 

[Endur]

Depends on the campaign. I have let a new PC join at the level of the lowest character, or one level below the lowest character, or one level above the party.

When I let a new PC join at one level above the party, the theory is that the party will level soon, so I may as well go ahead and give the new guy the full level for his character rather than having him level his character up right after he joins.

 

[diaglo]

1. 1st lvl
2. 1st lvl
3. 1st lvl

there is only one way.

 

[haiiro]

1. I'd generally start new players at level 1 so they can learn, probably apart from the group from a while. Once they got the basics, see 2.

I guess I should have made number one less ambiguous: by new player, I mean new to the group -- not new to D&D.

Does that change your opinion on number one, CRG?

 

[Calico_Jack73]

One level lower than the lowest level character in the party. I don't take ECL into account on this so it really stinks for the player if there is a Tiefling or Aasimar in the party (worse yet, a DROW). The option is there but I expect my players to attempt to make their characters work.

 

[Quickbeam]

1) We usually welcome the characters of new players into the group at the average party level, rounding down.
2) In this case, my answer is entirely dependent on circumstances. However, if I were going to apply a hard & fast rule, it would be equal to the lowest current party member.
3) One level lower than the previous PC.