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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rackhir" data-source="post: 1778544" data-attributes="member: 149">I was in a campaign where the new characters were 9th while the long term char were 12-13. It was a disaster. In original D&D starting new char off at lower levels worked because the XP to advance a level doubled each level iirc. So if you were higher it took a significantly longer time to advance. That is not the case in 3.5/3.0 where it is only several thousand more. Compounding the problem is the CR system. Higher level characters drag down the XP for ALL the characters. So that the lower level PCs would be getting substantially less xp, while facing creatures that are really tough challenges. That said, anyone who is complaining that their Lv1 caster is ineffective in combat, compared to 3rd level melee machines has only themselves to blame. You get one to three spells per day, effectively no combat skills and low HP. You are simply not going to be able to do that much until you start hitting at least 3rd and don't really start getting an equivalent power level until you are hitting 7th.Further more, I'd definitely have to agree that if you are running a caster anything that hurts your caster level is bad. So unless those paragon levels give you some really useful stuff for the character's entire career. They are a bad choice for casters.In short, don't let the characters start off at different levels. It really doesn't work well and any "penalties" you are imposing are unlikely to compensate for the substantial and continuing advantage the extra levels provide.</blockquote>

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