Variant Epic Level Progressions?

[Flynn]

Good Afternoon, All,

I was curious is there were other variant rules on Epic Level (above 20th) progressions aside from the standard ELH approach. I seem to recall that Arcana Evolved supposedly goes to 25th level instead of 20th, and wasn't there a Sword & Sorcery book that followed the 2nd Edition Forgotten Realms book with progressions for levels 21-30?

Is anyone familiar with these approaches, and if so, what do you think of them? Do you know of any others worthy of consideration?

Thanks in advance,
Flynn

 

[Piratecat]

I've extended the class progression to lvl 25, using Arcana Evolved as a model. This means continuing BAB, saves and spells along the standard chart, and allowing more powerful epic feats. i won't go past lvl 25, so this should work out well for me.

I've dumped "official" epic spellcasting, and have a handful of darn powerful 10th lvl spells instead. Technically my campaign has ritual magic to get the super-impressive 10th lvl spell effects as well, but no PC has ever expressed interest so the rules remain nebulous.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Advanced Player's Guide (Sword Sorcery) extends the levels out to 30. It adds some new class features and continues the bab and save progressions as normal. It alos gives higher level spell slots available to Bards (8th & 9th), Paladin (5th & 6th), Ranger (5th & 6th). The spell slots don't come with spells assigned to these levels however.

 

[Flynn]

Assuming one stayed at a reasonably close level, such as 25 or 30, so that the numbers don't get too radically different, do you think such a result would be workable? Obviously, Monte Cook thought so with Arcana Evolved, but I don't have any gaming experience under these conditions (the only epic game I ran fell under the ELH rules, but we closed up at 24th level).

Have any of you guys played up to these levels under the variant epic level progressions described above? If so, how was the experience?

I'm writing my own variant classes for my campaign, and before I take the step to go into these extra levels, I wanted to see what the impact might be, from those that might have experienced this before.

Thanks In Advance,
Flynn

 

[Piratecat]

We're 22-23rd level right now, and honestly I don't see any problems.

 

[Vrecknidj]

There is a group I've been DMing for about 7 years. I have roughly 10 players, and each has about 3 characters. We use different combos of players and characters based on who can show up that session and what the adventure will be.

Presently, the range in levels is 3 to 25. There are about 8 characters above 20th level. I am using the standard material in the ELH and it's working fine. That said, the difference in play by slightly increasing some of their attacks and slightly decreasing their saves (by sticking to expanded tables, rather than using the ELH progression) would change almost nothing.

Dave

 

[Flynn]

Thanks, Guys!

With Much Appreciation,
Flynn