Starting level of new characters.

[mmu1]

I've seen it come up a few times recently on the board, as well as in the game I've been playing in, so I thought I'd post a biased little poll to find out what people do about the level of new characters entering the game, and, if you don't mind explaining, why.

 

[bwgwl]

same as the rest of the party.

(i don't give individual XP so everyone in the party is always at the same level.)

i'm not insane, so i wouldn't start a new player at 1st level unless the rest of the party is still at 1st.

i've tried one level below in the past but i don't think it's all that fair to the new person. they're being penalized just because they're new?

 

[Fenes 2]

Yay, First Vote!

I voted same level as the lowest PC, but I have to explain that all PCs IMC are the same level. We don't use individual XP, or XP at all.

 

[diaglo]

i start all at 1st lvl. b/c that's how it works in my campaign.

 

[Arnwyn]

New characters start at Level 1. Old skool, baby!

Well, not really. New characters come in at 1/2 the level of the lowest level member. Yeah, you read that right.

I certainly don't recommend using this method for most groups, but it works for us.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Another "same as lowest level but I try to keep them all the same level" vote here... I say try because a death and reincarnation did mess with my plans once, but considering that a barbarian with no weapon specific feats came back as a wolverine, I can't really think that the level lose hurt that much.

Kahuna Burger

 

[Mark]

Another "same as lowest level but I try to keep them all the same level" vote here... I say try because a death and reincarnation did mess with my plans once, but considering that a barbarian with no weapon specific feats came back as a wolverine, I can't really think that the level lose hurt that much.

Kahuna Burger

Yup. Me, too.

 

[Psion]

I generally bring new characters in at one level below the party average. I figure that it shouldn't be PREFERABLE to bring in a new character as opposed to having a character raised.

 

[VorpalBunny]

Like Psion, I bring in new characters at one level below the party average, for the same reason - it shouldn't be preferable to bring in a new character as opposed to having a character raised.

If I'm starting a campaign, it's 1st-level all the way baby!

 

[The_Gneech]

Like Psion, I bring in new characters at one level below the party average, for the same reason - it shouldn't be preferable to bring in a new character as opposed to having a character raised.

If I'm starting a campaign, it's 1st-level all the way baby!

Like, ditto, y'know?

-The Gneech