What would you consider "name" level in d20?

[AuraSeer]

I'm very familiar with the AD&D level titles . . . would it be appropriate to make the "name" ranks into prestige classes?

Not really, because they're completely different ideas. A level title is just a benefit you receive, a milestone in your character's advancement. A prestige class is literally a whole other class-- it's not any particular milestone, it's a whole other path to walk.

For instance, you mention the Archmage prestige class. Most members of that PrC will have started out as wizards, but just gaining wizard levels does not ever make you an Archmage. To be a member of that PrC, you must fulfill a specific set of requirements, and then abandon advancement as a wizard for one or more levels. It's an altogether separate class which grants separate powers, and to get those powers you must multiclass into it.

 

[saethone]

really depends on the individual party

you can't say level 10 because, what if they accidentally cause a big catastrophe at level 4? EVERYONE will know who they are - the guys who got teh capitol city blown up!

hehehe

but really it depends on the world and how they are interacting

and how many NPC bards have traveled with them

 

[ecliptic]

We keep it level for level when we switched over, anyone lagging behind the highest level got bumped up.

We never followed the rules for giving out exp anyway. DM always gives out the exp he wants.

 

[irdeggman]

I don't think you can get there anymore.

With the ease of multiclassing and the introduction of prestige clases the concept of name level is sort of lost.

For example many of the prestige classes (e.g., knight of {whatever}) imply a name level but the prerequsites to meet the class are all across the board (anywhere from 5th level to 10th).

So I would just drop the concept and have it tied into specific actions (or a leadership score number perhaps).

 

[Geron Raveneye]

I'd say 6th level, as you're eligible to the Leadership feat by then, meaning your name and reputation swings enough clout to attract followers...which was an effect of being Name level in Basic D&D...where you got to Name level at level 9 of 36...approx. 25% of the way to immortality. So level 5-6 should be the point where people have heard of the heroes and decide to follow them, or support them, or worship them...or assassinate them before they become an even bigger nuisance.

 

[diaglo]

ADnD lvl 9,10, 11 for retirement = d02 lvl 16+ or 20th if you believe the phb.

 

[Li Shenron]

With the ease of multiclassing and the introduction of prestige clases the concept of name level is sort of lost.

I was in fact going to suggest "name = prestige class" as an option.

 

[MonsterMash]

Given how easy levelling is in base 3e I'd put it about 14-16th level IMC where levelling is a lot slower probably about 9-10th, but I'm considering adopting some form of reputation system (inspired by that in the Conan RPG) which would base it on deeds rather than level - after all if a 1st level party overcome an ancient red dragon they're going to earn a massive reputation out of it.

 

[Quasqueton]

To figure "name level" in D&D3, you have to consider what "name level" meant in the earlier editions of the game. Its meaning was not exactly the same throughout the earlier editions. Was it a game mechanic, or a fluff note, or a demarcation line? What was the original intent of having a "name level"? Does that reason still exist with D&D3?

Quasqueton