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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pdzoch" data-source="post: 6962137" data-attributes="member: 80982">I view experience and levels with skills/expertise.  It is separate from their fame or renown in the world, and I think it should be.  Separation of the two allows for a high level character to look unassuming.  Or for a high level character to be legendary (or source of rumored power) while being obscure (a'la "You're Hercules?).  It also allows for a low level character to have a noble background effectively.Levels of a character equates to their capabilities in the game, mostly mechanical, but some are story driven.But the story can not rely on only level progression for player happiness (though, as a young munchkin, I probably was good with advancing).  The story has to be supported with other rewardsI think the player's handbook lays out some pretty good guidelines on this in their tiers of play for heroes (PHB 15):"Tiers of Play    The shading in the Character Advancement table shows the four tiers  of play. The tiers don’t have any rules associated with them; they are a  general description of how the play experience changes as characters  gain levels.  In the first tier (levels 1-4), characters are effectively apprentice  adventurers. They are learning the features that define them as members  of particular classes, including the major choices that flavor their  class features as they advance (such as a wizard’s Arcane Tradition or a  fighter’s Martial Archetype). The threats they face are relatively  minor, usually posing a danger to local farmsteads or villages.  In the second tier (levels 5-10), characters come into their own.  Many spellcasters gain access to 3rd-level spells at the start of this  tier, crossing a new threshold of magical power with spells such as  fireball and lightning bolt. At this tier, many weapon-using classes  gain the ability to make multiple attacks in one round. These characters  have become important, facing dangers that threaten cities and  kingdoms.  In the third tier (levels 11-16), characters have reached a level of  power that sets them high above the ordinary populace and makes them  special even among adventurers. At 11th level, many spellcasters gain  access to 6th-level spells, some of which create effects previously  impossible for player characters to achieve. Other characters gain  features that allow them to make more attacks or do more impressive  things with those attacks. These mighty adventurers often confront  threats to whole regions and continents.  At the fourth tier (levels 17-20), characters achieve the pinnacle of  their class features, becoming heroic (or villainous) archetypes in  their own right. The fate of the world or even the fundamental order of  the multiverse might hang in the balance during their adventures."Essentially:1-4 - Local Heroes5-10 - Regional Heroes11-16 - National/Kingdom Heroes16-20 - Planar/World HeroesThe DM's guide contains many types of alternate awards that are appropriate for each level of heroism/fame. I view these not only as rewards, but also manifestations of their renown commensurate with their levels.For example, in the past I had awarded a rank in the royal military (knighthood) for some characters of a certain level.  The NPCs of similar military rank, who have earned it through hereditary means and the minimal martial demonstration, were far below the CR/level of the characters just awarded the rank.XP and fame.  Two different things, but interrelated.</blockquote>

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