Why do levels one and two suck so bad?

[Cameron]

Fine. Core rules then. A monk with VoP is really pushing game balance anyway.



A 1st-level NPC has more gold than a 1st-level PC, and can have a heroic Dex score too with lighter armor.



That's a great way to heroically earn XP. They'll have a hard time with that, anyway, due to poor skill checks or, for that matter, doing anything clever that requires dice rolls.

Typical Dex score is in the +2 region. That means +9 from armour and shield. That means chainmail + tower shield to get your +11 AC. Sure, the party tank might have a hard time hitting him, but he is not gonna hit the party tank either with his -2 to-hit...

I know it is "heroic" But that is one of the things I generally want to beat into my players' heads: "CHARGE!!!!!!" is not generally a good idea during daylight hours, especially when your target is the main gates of a well-fortified, well-prepared castle...

 

[VirgilCaine]

Less about rules and more about role, adventurers can't operate in certain areas at 1st-level. What sense does it make to fight crime in a city where the city watch already has its own 1st-level fighters, wizards and so forth?

Oh, yeah, there's the little problem of everybody else being as good or better than you at what you're doing, so finding an adventure for the PCs to do should be difficult.

Why hire the PCs when you can hire people with experience and better gear?

 

[Nepenthe]

It's because you are Fragile and your biggest weapon is a nine inch nail.

 

[Delta]

Because you're not playing Star Wars Saga Edition?
I really love what they did with 1st level.

I must say, I really don't. I would much rather just say "the standard campaign starts PCs at 3rd level" than completely wiping out the 1 and 2 HD steps for everyone.

 

[Pants]

Why do players hate levels 1 and 2 so much?

Because we've played level 1 and 2 characters soooooooo much. Honestly, how many aborted campaigns have people run that start at level 1 and get to about level 4 or 5 before the DM loses steam, the players lose interest, the game halts due to RL concerns for an unknown amount of time and then when everyone does get back together no one knows what is going on and the DM says 'Ah screw it, let's start something fresh.'

I've seen all of those, hell, I've done all of those. While I can understand the fundamental importance of these levels, nothing would annoy me more than artificially dragging out level 1. If you're going to drag something out, choose a fun set of levels, like 4, 5, 6, or 7. Hell, even level 3 wouldn't be so bad, but let's get those first two over with.

It's because you are Fragile and your biggest weapon is a nine inch nail.

Trent Reznor does 1d12 damage.

 

[Herobizkit]

It's true. While there are scads of character-building opportunities to be had at first and second level, there's really not much players can DO in the way of killing things and taking their stuff.

I mean, unless the DM is using alternate monster books, how many kobolds, giant rats, goblins, and "bandits" can players handle before it's all the same ol' crap?

And yeah, characters of said level just don't have anything INTERESTING they can do.

So... yeah. I start all my campaigns at 3rd level, unless I'm running/playing Gestalt characters, in which case I don't mind starting at 1st so much.

 

[FireLance]

Oh, yeah, there's the little problem of everybody else being as good or better than you at what you're doing, so finding an adventure for the PCs to do should be difficult.

Why hire the PCs when you can hire people with experience and better gear?

I've used the following reasons for sending low-level PCs on missions before:

1. The personal favor: The PCs are asked to undertake a mission for a mutual friend or benefactor who does not have the resources to hire anyone else.

2. The covert operation: The PCs' employer's regular agents are too well known, so he has to take a chance on the relatively inexperienced but talented and unknown PCs.

3. The training mission: The PCs are sent on a low-stakes mission to see how well they perform in the field.

4. Interesting times: There is a crisis brewing, and everyone has something to do, including the PCs.

 

[the black knight]

"We played Dungeons and Dragons for six hours. Then I got killed by an elf."

 

[Cameron]

"We played Dungeons and Dragons for six hours. Then I got killed by an elf."

Better than "You played two hours to die like that?"

 

[Cameron]

Trent Reznor does 1d12 damage.

I am more worried about the two-handed 2d4 falchion with the +4 Str and Power Attack backing it up than any 1d12 flat...