Thursday, September 20, 2007

[House Rules] Leveling-up

I've been reading up on leveling-up and requirement for training etc. and it seems that both the rules and general opinion have changed since 1st edition days. People even run campaigns now where you can level-up mid-combat (which is a bit crazy if you ask me). Anyway, I thought it sensible to make clear our house rules on this and invite critisism formally.


General Interpretation : Leveling up is a gradual process that occurs all the time PCs face challenging conditions. They train and practice all the time, but what makes them better is experience - that is what the XP system is about. Otherwise anyone could just train 24 hours a day for 2 years and become a 10th level fighter.

Rule #1 : PCs can level up in one of their existing classes at any time, it does not require weeks of training with a mentor. However, it does require down time to think and reflect - it cannot be done in mid-combat or in a perilous situation.

Rule #2 : Practically, leveling-up should be left to between game sessions as it can be distracting and time consuming. This means that adventures can be large and split over a number of sessions with leveling up between sessions. There would be no requirement for PCs to go back to town, level-up and then come back for more.
[EDIT] This does not stop us from allowing mid-game level-up where necessary. (e.g. previous session a PC gains not quite enough XP to level-up, he should prepare his leveled up character anyway between sessions and level-up when appropriate. So long as the DM is willing to count XP mid-game)

Rule #3 : Training costs. There are no GP costs associated with leveling up (except for conditions below).

Rule #4 : If a PC wants to multi-class, then gaining the 1st level in a new class does require 1-2 weeks training, and should have a cost of 1000gp. If the PC wants to gain a Prestige Class, then they will require to find a mentor and cover training and costs (2x that of an ordinary class).

Issue: a problem with all this is that the training costs were a general drain on the PCs gold reserves meaning that they did not get crazily rich. However there are other ways of handling this, e.g. paying to identify magical items (instead of the DM just telling them).

So, I welcome your comments:
Assif

12 comments:

Hedzor said...

Seems fair to me.

RoboGeek said...

Thanks Kirk
Plus I will put a small edit on rule 2

Insanodag said...

Seems fair to me as well...

Hedzor said...

I disagree with 'small edit'.
Wait until the game season is finished.

Insanodag said...

I think that it could be ok, but only if the DM deems it appropriate, such as a trip back to base to rest and restock, but not when we are in the thick of it.

Hedzor said...

OK. If the characters can rest for a day.

Hedzor said...

If a character loses a level and then DM's, what level of experience compensation would he get?
The amount to raise raise him one level or the amount for the average party member?

Hedzor said...

As per the rules, everybody rests, but no-one (not even Telfis) goes up a level.

RoboGeek said...

As discussed, the DM character leveling up rules:

- While on DM duty, the DMs character gains a number of XP = Party Level * 1000 and an equivalent amount of gold.
- If he subsequently DMs another adventure he gets the same amount of XP again (and no more gold)
- likewise for a third (unlikely) DM session.

So, if the party is at level 2 (i.e. characters averaging approx. 2nd level) then the DMs character gets 2000xp + 2000gp for the first adventure, and additional 2000xp for each of the subsequent adventures they DM

In the disputed case (where a level was lost, say 3rd -> 2nd, character now has 2000xp) then the character gets an additional 2000xp giving a total of 4000xp and putting him at 3rd level with another 1001xp to go till 4th

OK?

Hedzor said...

It's all a bit confusing isn't it?
If I DM'd all the time, Mendez would be high level in no time!
Still, it's more fun to actually 'play'.
If you don't actually 'earn' the levels, they seem a bit devalued.
As/If the character go up in levels though, I think double or even triple sessions will become the norm.
From our game playing experience so far; we manage about one encounter per hour and a half. Three encounters per game session.
Not enough to really count as an adventure.

RoboGeek said...

As we play so infrequently, I would definitely not want to stretch adventures over more than 2 sessions. So, we just have to get quicker!
I think we will get quicker though - it is just a little inexperience as a group.
Next time, no hanging around trying to make mules swim or killing inconsequential goblins!

Hedzor said...

Those are the best bits!