D&D General Players Decide when to Level Up

[Lanefan]

We also leave characters in play when necessary for the story - for us, it doesn’t matter for levelling, but it sure does for story cohesion. As DM, I just play the characters myself and try to keep them out of the spotlight. Their turns go much faster!

Story cohesion is why we do it also. Levelling is a trivial consideration, though the missing players' characters do get xp (and are exposed to risk) just like everyone else.

 

[tombowings]

For those of your who assume PCs of absent players continue to adventure with their peers, do the PCs of absent players ever die (or are permanently transformed into a rodent/undergo an alignment- or gender-swap/etc.) when the player is away?

I would be pretty unhappy if I was that player.

 

[plisnithus8]

In most of our campaigns, absent player's PCs usually fade into the background -- they travel with the others but aren't specifically mentioned (if possible), don't act, and aren't harmed but also miss out on decision-making, loot (unless others share later) , and the fun of the game. Occasionally, they may run a side quest of their own to explain their absence or get left someone they can return from. In one campaign, we had device the players nicknamed the Poke-ball that absent players went into and another carried with them.

 

[TiQuinn]

For those of your who assume PCs of absent players continue to adventure with their peers, do the PCs of absent players ever die (or are permanently transformed into a rodent/undergo an alignment- or gender-swap/etc.) when the player is away?

I would be pretty unhappy if I was that player.

Only if it’s a TPK.

 

[TwoSix]

In most of our campaigns, absent player's PCs usually fade into the background -- they travel with the others but aren't specifically mentioned (if possible), don't act, and aren't harmed but also miss out on decision-making, loot (unless others share later) , and the fun of the game. Occasionally, they may run a side quest of their own to explain their absence or get left someone they can return from. In one campaign, we had device the players nicknamed the Poke-ball that absent players went into and another carried with them.

That's what we do in my games, right down to the magic item. (Although we called in the Purple Pendant of Plot Devices.)