Why don't more people play high level campaigns? 13th+

[Technik4]

My dwarven miner stated above had +3 enchantments on both his picks which began to become useless compared to the barbarian with the two handed sword.

"Useless compared to the barbarian"?

Are you implying that the damage disparity became too great? Because even at second level any barbarian with a 2-hander will both hit more often and out-damage a dual-wielding ranger.

Skill-wise? Depends on the skills you picked.

If you're referring entirely to fighting creatures that have DR which your party has no way of overcoming, I wouldn't consider that 'useless', but 'situationally impaired' with a fix of 'find a way to overcome DR'.

On topic, I prefer levels 1-8 as I feel its easiest to suspend your disbelief (although I realize its all a fantasy game).

 

[Stalker0]

I think when it comes to homebrew's, DMs often face the problem of how to contain PCs when they created the world when they were low level. It gets to a point where the plot has to stretch to encompass the new power, and the old game seems to fall away.

As others have said, high level dnd really is a different game. Its not necessarily worse, but its very very different. Sometimes a campaign doesn't survive when the transition hits. The plot seems wonky and is often spoiled with the PCs new abilities. Some Dms can't handle the transition, some players don't want to. Its how it goes.

 

[S'mon]

For me it's because from GM's-side I find 3e very poorly designed for high level play, for reasons noted - the work load, the way encounters are either cake walks or massacres and take hours to play, the irrelevance of Fighters (my favourite class). I ran high-level in 1e and that was fine, the saving throw tables, less restrictive rules on magic item use, and fewer powerful spells, kept high level Fighters balanced vs Magic-Users in a way I don't think they are in 3e, plus the prep workload was tiny in comparison. I find 3e best in a pretty narrow range, roughly 3rd-8th.

 

[jasin]

I ran high-level in 1e and that was fine, the saving throw tables, less restrictive rules on magic item use, and fewer powerful spells, kept high level Fighters balanced vs Magic-Users in a way I don't think they are in 3e, plus the prep workload was tiny in comparison.

What do you mean by "less restrictive rules on magic item use"? I've never played 1E, but I've always though magic item use was more restricted.

 

[broghammerj]

If you're referring entirely to fighting creatures that have DR which your party has no way of overcoming, I wouldn't consider that 'useless', but 'situationally impaired' with a fix of 'find a way to overcome DR.

Notice that I didn't say the party, only my character. Round per round our damage our was pretty equivalent. However, I could never overcome any of the creatures DR as we got higher in level. I consider DND characters to need a balance of combat skills and regular skills. Some PCs will shine more in certain areas, but my character who could no longer fight in combat (as a ranger) due to ever increasing DR. That's when he became worthless. My character concept was essentially nullified even though it was highly effective the first 10 levels

I don't realy want to entertain conversations on my ability to make "effective" characters (been playing for 20+ yrs).

 

[S'mon]

What do you mean by "less restrictive rules on magic item use"? I've never played 1E, but I've always though magic item use was more restricted.

Naw, in 1e a Fighter could use a Wand of Fireballs!
He couldn't use a Staff of the Magi or a Wand of Fire, but many of what are now Wizard-only items were usable by any class.

Edit: Also, in 1e a Fighter-10 would often have +4 and +5 gear (at least +3), and was relatively much better equipped vs the Magic-User than now.

 

[hong]

Naw, in 1e a Fighter could use a Wand of Fireballs!
He couldn't use a Staff of the Magi or a Wand of Fire, but many of what are now Wizard-only items were usable by any class.

Man, that Achilles could really have used a wand of fireballs. Stupid Achilles.

 

[S'mon]

Wow, that took less than 30 seconds. *eek* I feel stalked. *uh-oh*

 

[S'mon]

I'm hoping to run C&C at high level, the PCs reached 9th under 3e rules and we're converting over to C&C, putting them around 8th-10th. C&C high level is 9th-12th, 13th+ would be 'very high'. The system is a lot simpler, I'm hoping it won't have 3e's problems, though it may still have problems of its own, esp re high-hd foes being very hard to save against.

 

[hong]

Now I'm confused. Where's Achilles?