D&D 5E "When I Run D&D 5E, the Arc of the PCs' Adventures is 'Zero to Hero'." (a poll)

[Yaarel]

I said True, zero to hero. Because I like the "apprentice tier" to feel approximately like reallife college or its equivalent.

That said, I dislike level 1 characters that are too fragile. I welcome the recent development of the cultural background feat to beef up the survivability of the apprentice tier.

 

[Mind of tempest]

false, as I do not run dnd I play.

Wish it was true but 5E isn't like that. Big Heroes with Big Numbers to back them up. Much prefer the zero to hero path.

since when have our fantasy heroes been without great ability since the beginning, Conan was a classic and that guy would have nuts abilities scores in dnd, no twenties but high.

 

[Shardstone]

Everyone says level 1 characters are OP, but they can get one-shot just the same as a peasant can by most things, they just have a chance of fighting back.

Its been a long time since 1st level meant so helpless you had to come to the session with 3 back-ups prepared.

 

[Yaarel]

I want to see the characters be shaped by their struggles into something greater than what they began as.

Yeah, that is exactly what I want too. Good way to phrase it.

I actually like high magic settings. At the same time, I want the characters to develope organically in within the setting.

 

[Shardstone]

false, as I do not run dnd I play.

since when have our fantasy heroes been without great ability since the beginning, Conan was a classic and that guy would have nuts abilities scores in dnd, no twenties but high.

Why would you even vote?

 

[Mind of tempest]

Why would you even vote?

no law against it, plus I consider voting civic duty.

 

[Shardstone]

no law against it, plus I consider voting civic duty.

Somewhere between Chaos and Law-as-Evil: Mind of Tempest.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Somewhere between Chaos and Law-as-Evil: Mind of Tempest.

my goals and morals are beyond your comprehension, my spirit makes Byronic heroes seem calm, and my lashing winds shall cut my way to the royal shape of reality.

 

[Yaarel]

It's funny, when I think about characters at the start of my campaigns, they are "zeroes" not because they're weak or incapable, but because they have limited influence in the world. They haven't made important connections with NPCs, found valuable treasure, or learned world-altering magic. It's not that they're in danger of being killed easily (though that can be true too), it's that they're newcomers to the setting or story.

I guess I think of "hero" in the Greek Mythology sense... Heroes are those who can do MORE than others. As characters in my campaign progress, they can do more: influence politics, raise armies, start towns, take down tyrants, attain powerful magic items...

To me, the Zero to Hero journey is all about gaining the power to influence the setting.

I mathematically determine how influential a character is:

fame = 10 ^ level/2

This formula approximates a 3,10,30,100,300,1000, etcetera pattern while leveling.

At level 2, a character is wellknown by about 10 people, often a sizable group of family and friends.

At level 6, a character is wellknown by about a million people, often a national hero or criminal.

At level 20, ten billion is the entirety of planet earth. Levels beyond involve the multiverse.

And so on.



This sense of progression helps determine the tone of each tier, quantifying about how recognizable and influential a character is because of their reputation.

 

[Minigiant]

I want to see the characters be shaped by their struggles into something greater than what they began as.

This can be done as Heroes though.

Most of Spiderman's major struggles in all forms of media come well after he becomes a well known NYC crimefighting hero.

I think a big issue is that many don't know how to tell stories of challenge with extreme weakness in the protagonist and people aren't always willing to allow vulnerabilities in their played heroes.

The powerhouse with weaknesses is a story not told enough or told in the same way too often.