Problem: want PCs to train, no money.

[WanderingMonster]

Here's an idea:

Ask your players.

"This is my idea, but I want to know what you guys think." What's fun and "realistic" to you may not be fun for them. This may be an issue where you can compromise.

As for me: BAM! They level as soon as they have the experience. We've decided that it's more fun for us that way.

 

[Zerovoid]

If your PC's don't have enough money to train, maybe you should have given them more. Dropping a few extra piles of gold into the Sunless Citadel wouldn't be too hard, and it would mean that after training, they have just as much money as they would in a campaign without training.

I never liked the idea of training. It seems like a useful tool to speed up the passage of time in a campaign world, but the thing is, if you always need to find someone higher level than you to train with, how did the first adventurers do it? And if the highest level wizard in the land is 19th level, does that mean no one can go above 18th? And when he dies, no one will be able to go above 15th or something?

 

[smetzger]

BAM up a level for me.

 

[Squire James]

I just give them the levels, but if I were to start using training rules it'd be something like this:

It doesn't have to be 1000 gp per level/2. I find the idea of giving someone enough money to buy a house to train for 2nd level to be utterly ridiculous.

Try this formula:

Cost to Train = old character level x old character level x 50 gp

This keeps training costs at a level most PC's can afford, with the added advantage of draining off MORE money than the DMG rules at high levels.

As for seeking trainers, I'd probably make it an option that saves time and costs more money. Cut training time in half if they (1) have access to a higher CLASS level person to train them (eg: a 3rd level fighter can train a Wiz12/Ftr2), and (2) pay the above amount again. I'd even allow for PC's to train other PC's for no additional cost (though the trainer cannot himself be training at the same time) if they meet the higher-level requirement.

 

[Gnarlo]

Thanks for the responses, I appreciate it.

Darklone: Have already done this much Great minds, and all that...

Lord Pendragon: Heh, not *just* for the slowing of leveling, I like the believability factor as well. Otherwise, why not just play Final Fantasy and get power ups... I agree that a character that has been doing "characterly" things shouldn't have much to train in, but a couple of these chose new skills that weren't actually used in the adventure, and I don't think that expecting a little training in them would be out of the question. I like your rule ideas.

Pendragon, Leaghe, and Hand of Evil: Yeah, I'm toying with having the locals in the town offer training in return for services rendered.

Tsyr: I agree, except where learning new skills that you don't really have any experience with is concerned. IMC of course.

Bonedagger, Luscious: I like the ideas, as mentioned above.

Lady Danyon: Thanks! Reading through those as soon as I'm done with this reply

Oni: The only "problem" here is that they haven't been taking any downtime, other than a couple of trips back to the nearby Hamlet to resupply (and a 3 day layover to recover from Filth Fever, but they were too indisposed to train then ). I like having them state what they are working on for the next level, will run that by them this week for their opinions. Been a while since I DM'ed, a lot of ideas to get back up to speed in (blows the dust off the old 1e loose leaf houserules book )...

WanderingMonster: We had discussed training before the campaign got this far, so they know it's coming up I had simply anticipated there being a bit more cash flow at this point. My fault for not keeping up with the total amount vs time a little more closely.

Zerovoid: See immediately above. I've ran *lots* of 1e adventures in the past, but this is my first 3e one... As I said in my original post, I *swear* 1e adventures used to throw a lot more cash at the characters, so I wasn't paying as close of attention to that as I should have I don't want to just drop a couple of big piles of loot at this point, though, as it would feel artificial or out of character for what they've experienced so far. I'm leaning more to the training for services that other's have mentioned above. And as far as needing a mentor of higher level, I've used the "do it yourself but it takes more time" rule in my original post in old campaigns; after all, as you state, *someone* had to invent the techniques or skills on their own at some point in the past, and as the PCs are supposed to represent above average members of society, I think they'd have a fair ability to figure things out on their own.

Smetzger: Thanks

Squire James: I agree, I think that is a ridiculous amount. I was planning to go with the 50gp/week, and 1 week/skill rank gained formula. I like your ideas as well, and will mull them over.

Thanks, folks!