A QUICK question for all..... [Archive] - Wizards Community

A QUICK question for all..... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Biff Bifford
12-19-03, 01:57 PM I play with a group of guys that meet every Sunday evening for four or five hours to play D&D. We started our game aprox three years ago with all characters at 1st level. We have had our fair share of deaths, new character generations, and players raised from the dead. Only one player that was rolled up on day one is still alive...at this point he is 11th level.

My question is this...after three years of playing one night a week, is our main character being 11th level typical for three years of play? Are we fast? Slow? Average?

Let me know............
Robert rath
12-19-03, 02:09 PM I feel that it all depends on what type of game you run, how much combat is involved, and if your players are happy. As long as your players remain happy, who cares what level they are.

:)
contrite
12-19-03, 02:35 PM I'd have to agree with Robert. I've seen games progress at many levels. And there is nothing wrong with slow progression as long as you are truly enjoying yourself. Some people find that when the game advances too quickly they get cheated out of many different experiences. Thanks to EL's it's hard to enjoy the thrill of fighting skeletons in a damp underground lair when your 10th level as opposed to being in a fight for your life against those same skeletons at say 2nd or 3rd level. It's kind of a trade off really.

At lower level play you don't really have access to all the cooler perks of power... say the ability to raze a village to the ground with a few quickened spells (assuming thats your thing of course). While at high levels, unless the DM gets wickedly cerebral with you, everything seems to grow a little stale or even too easy. WOTC did a very good job balancing the new edition but there is still a bit of anticlimax associated with epic levels, as in, "oh great, we get to save tha world again... hurrah."

Like Robert said though, the true measure of a game is in the enjoyment or lack thereof of its players. And sometimes that may have little to do with the speed of your particular game. I have been running games for about 14 years now and from the sounds of it your game has progressed significantly slower than mine would have, but that in itself is not unusual. I have a tendency to take charachters to high level (say 20th or so) then retire them for a new batch and a new campaign only to bring the old charachters back as NPC's for the amusement of my players.

It's really a matter of taste, Biff.
Biff Bifford
12-19-03, 03:44 PM I wish ours moved a bit quicker....
KShaver
12-19-03, 04:25 PM Originally posted by Biff Bifford
I wish ours moved a bit quicker....

Well by the book you should run into about one encounter per hour, and it should take about 13.33(?) appropriate leveled encounters to level. This means if you play once a week in sessions of 4-5 hours you should level about once a month.

Of course there isn't anything wrong with taking it slower than this, particularly in a high roleplaying environment. If the game is interesting, or if the GM simply doesn't want to deal with higher level stuff, then by all means level a little slower.
channel_dunlap
12-19-03, 05:19 PM our game has been off & on (took a couple months off for people moving and other things) for about 3 years now, and pretty much every character is 13th level. I've enjoyed it a lot because staying that long at a level makes that next level of spells, or next attack bonus, or save, or whatever you have to look forward too. Every level is something to cherished.

As for that stat of 1 encounter per hour, I don't know where that came from, we've had some 4 hours battles, 'course, they usually yield the experience of 4 encounters, so I guess it all balances out in the end.
KShaver
12-22-03, 09:20 AM Originally posted by channel_dunlap
As for that stat of 1 encounter per hour, I don't know where that came from, we've had some 4 hours battles, 'course, they usually yield the experience of 4 encounters, so I guess it all balances out in the end.

It came pretty much straight from the 3.0 DMG, haven't really looked that hard in the 3.5 one to see if that explanation is still there. One hour per encounter also assumes that the encounter CR = the party level, higher CR encounters should take longer.
VardusAlexanderIckben
12-22-03, 12:17 PM I once played a Cleric in Dungeons & Dragons (not 3rd. edition, nor any of the Advanced D&D stuff, just plain old D&D) until 32th level and it took around 3 years.

I don't know how to convert old levels to new ones, but I thought it was fair progress. We didn't even play every week, but when we did, we played for like 6-9 hours...

I think 11th level in three years is too slow, no matter what, if you've been playing once per week.

Just my two CP
BlaineTog
12-22-03, 01:04 PM 3 years to get to 11th level? I tip my hat to you. :tiphat:

I had a party that took 4 months to get from 6th to 7th level. And then we switched DMs and now it takes 2- 3 hour sessions (6 hours total) to level. He gives out XP like candy. Really cheap candy. :D
priest vallen
01-02-04, 03:15 PM Biff,

Every potion you find, I mixed it. Every monster you encounter, I put it there. Remember that bluff roll that allowed you to live against that troll in the Caves of Chaos?? It wasn't a 20 Biff, I fudged it.....It would've killed you Biff and the whole party but I liked your spark.

So, do not question the rate of level advancement - only be grateful that I provide you with levels to advance. You and the rest of the players are like newly hatched ducklings following ME the mother duck to drink from the lake of D&D knowledge. How many characters have you played in that 3 year span Biff?? I can count 4 off the top of my head - Roman, Belladon, D'Dagon, Menifist......It appears as if you still may yet need to suckle from the Dungeonmaster's teet a little longer before I let you out into that cold cold world of ADVANCED Dungeons & Dragons.

Biff, or shall I call you JoJo, the next lesson you must learn is balance. You spend all your free time on this board and others searching for the holy grail of sorceror power - what are the best feats, most powerful prestige classes, best elemental choice as an Elemental Savant, etc. However, you are missing two critical points - 1. the most powerful character is not necessarily the most balanced character. If you would like to survive longer, you must analyze your weaknesses along with your strengths - sometimes the best offense is a good defense. 2. Follow your heart in character creation. No feat is a wasted feat if that is how you envision your character - I would not pick a prestige class just because it will make my character "more powerful". See the character Biff - BE the character Biff.

I shall now leave you to ponder these words of wisdom from your DUNGEONMASTER.
priest vallen
01-02-04, 03:15 PM Biff,

Every potion you find, I mixed it. Every monster you encounter, I put it there. Remember that bluff roll that allowed you to live against that troll in the Caves of Chaos?? It wasn't a 20 Biff, I fudged it.....It would've killed you Biff and the whole party but I liked your spark.

So, do not question the rate of level advancement - only be grateful that I provide you with levels to advance. You and the rest of the players are like newly hatched ducklings following ME the mother duck to drink from the lake of D&D knowledge. How many characters have you played in that 3 year span Biff?? I can count 4 off the top of my head - Roman, Belladon, D'Dagon, Menifist......It appears as if you still may yet need to suckle from the Dungeonmaster's teet a little longer before I let you out into that cold cold world of ADVANCED Dungeons & Dragons.

Biff, or shall I call you JoJo, the next lesson you must learn is balance. You spend all your free time on this board and others searching for the holy grail of sorceror power - what are the best feats, most powerful prestige classes, best elemental choice as an Elemental Savant, etc. However, you are missing two critical points - 1. the most powerful character is not necessarily the most balanced character. If you would like to survive longer, you must analyze your weaknesses along with your strengths - sometimes the best offense is a good defense. 2. Follow your heart in character creation. No feat is a wasted feat if that is how you envision your character - I would not pick a prestige class just because it will make my character "more powerful". See the character Biff - BE the character Biff.

I shall now leave you to ponder these words of wisdom from your DUNGEONMASTER.
Lord Psynister
01-02-04, 03:42 PM I agree with most everyone that's posted here already, so just follow their advise.

My examples though:

I've had a character that was raised to level 18 in about 3 years.

I've had characters that level up the day we started them.

I've had a character that went from Lv. 1 to becomming a god in less that a month.

How fast you level really doesn't matter, just have fun playing.
sedrorovin murghurobag
01-06-04, 12:08 AM Like all good relationships, compromises have to exist between the DM and the players. If the DM senses that his players are feeling stalled in their advancement, he should also recognize that it also represents a downturn in overall fun for the players.

A good Dm would know how to reconcile the goals in his campaign with those of the players who explore it. Granted, he doesn't have to give away the farm, but he should strike a balance for the enjoyment of all.
Orcish Fury
01-06-04, 01:16 AM Consider yourself lucky to have a game last three years. Many are lucky if a game lasts a full month before something ends it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Biff Bifford 12-19-03, 01:57 PM	I play with a group of guys that meet every Sunday evening for four or five hours to play D&D. We started our game aprox three years ago with all characters at 1st level. We have had our fair share of deaths, new character generations, and players raised from the dead. Only one player that was rolled up on day one is still alive...at this point he is 11th level. My question is this...after three years of playing one night a week, is our main character being 11th level typical for three years of play? Are we fast? Slow? Average? Let me know............
Robert rath 12-19-03, 02:09 PM	I feel that it all depends on what type of game you run, how much combat is involved, and if your players are happy. As long as your players remain happy, who cares what level they are. :)
contrite 12-19-03, 02:35 PM	I'd have to agree with Robert. I've seen games progress at many levels. And there is nothing wrong with slow progression as long as you are truly enjoying yourself. Some people find that when the game advances too quickly they get cheated out of many different experiences. Thanks to EL's it's hard to enjoy the thrill of fighting skeletons in a damp underground lair when your 10th level as opposed to being in a fight for your life against those same skeletons at say 2nd or 3rd level. It's kind of a trade off really. At lower level play you don't really have access to all the cooler perks of power... say the ability to raze a village to the ground with a few quickened spells (assuming thats your thing of course). While at high levels, unless the DM gets wickedly cerebral with you, everything seems to grow a little stale or even too easy. WOTC did a very good job balancing the new edition but there is still a bit of anticlimax associated with epic levels, as in, "oh great, we get to save tha world again... hurrah." Like Robert said though, the true measure of a game is in the enjoyment or lack thereof of its players. And sometimes that may have little to do with the speed of your particular game. I have been running games for about 14 years now and from the sounds of it your game has progressed significantly slower than mine would have, but that in itself is not unusual. I have a tendency to take charachters to high level (say 20th or so) then retire them for a new batch and a new campaign only to bring the old charachters back as NPC's for the amusement of my players. It's really a matter of taste, Biff.
Biff Bifford 12-19-03, 03:44 PM	I wish ours moved a bit quicker....
KShaver 12-19-03, 04:25 PM	Originally posted by Biff Bifford I wish ours moved a bit quicker.... Well by the book you should run into about one encounter per hour, and it should take about 13.33(?) appropriate leveled encounters to level. This means if you play once a week in sessions of 4-5 hours you should level about once a month. Of course there isn't anything wrong with taking it slower than this, particularly in a high roleplaying environment. If the game is interesting, or if the GM simply doesn't want to deal with higher level stuff, then by all means level a little slower.
channel_dunlap 12-19-03, 05:19 PM	our game has been off & on (took a couple months off for people moving and other things) for about 3 years now, and pretty much every character is 13th level. I've enjoyed it a lot because staying that long at a level makes that next level of spells, or next attack bonus, or save, or whatever you have to look forward too. Every level is something to cherished. As for that stat of 1 encounter per hour, I don't know where that came from, we've had some 4 hours battles, 'course, they usually yield the experience of 4 encounters, so I guess it all balances out in the end.
KShaver 12-22-03, 09:20 AM	Originally posted by channel_dunlap As for that stat of 1 encounter per hour, I don't know where that came from, we've had some 4 hours battles, 'course, they usually yield the experience of 4 encounters, so I guess it all balances out in the end. It came pretty much straight from the 3.0 DMG, haven't really looked that hard in the 3.5 one to see if that explanation is still there. One hour per encounter also assumes that the encounter CR = the party level, higher CR encounters should take longer.
VardusAlexanderIckben 12-22-03, 12:17 PM	I once played a Cleric in Dungeons & Dragons (not 3rd. edition, nor any of the Advanced D&D stuff, just plain old D&D) until 32th level and it took around 3 years. I don't know how to convert old levels to new ones, but I thought it was fair progress. We didn't even play every week, but when we did, we played for like 6-9 hours... I think 11th level in three years is too slow, no matter what, if you've been playing once per week. Just my two CP
BlaineTog 12-22-03, 01:04 PM	3 years to get to 11th level? I tip my hat to you. :tiphat: I had a party that took 4 months to get from 6th to 7th level. And then we switched DMs and now it takes 2- 3 hour sessions (6 hours total) to level. He gives out XP like candy. Really cheap candy. :D
priest vallen 01-02-04, 03:15 PM	Biff, Every potion you find, I mixed it. Every monster you encounter, I put it there. Remember that bluff roll that allowed you to live against that troll in the Caves of Chaos?? It wasn't a 20 Biff, I fudged it.....It would've killed you Biff and the whole party but I liked your spark. So, do not question the rate of level advancement - only be grateful that I provide you with levels to advance. You and the rest of the players are like newly hatched ducklings following ME the mother duck to drink from the lake of D&D knowledge. How many characters have you played in that 3 year span Biff?? I can count 4 off the top of my head - Roman, Belladon, D'Dagon, Menifist......It appears as if you still may yet need to suckle from the Dungeonmaster's teet a little longer before I let you out into that cold cold world of ADVANCED Dungeons & Dragons. Biff, or shall I call you JoJo, the next lesson you must learn is balance. You spend all your free time on this board and others searching for the holy grail of sorceror power - what are the best feats, most powerful prestige classes, best elemental choice as an Elemental Savant, etc. However, you are missing two critical points - 1. the most powerful character is not necessarily the most balanced character. If you would like to survive longer, you must analyze your weaknesses along with your strengths - sometimes the best offense is a good defense. 2. Follow your heart in character creation. No feat is a wasted feat if that is how you envision your character - I would not pick a prestige class just because it will make my character "more powerful". See the character Biff - BE the character Biff. I shall now leave you to ponder these words of wisdom from your DUNGEONMASTER.
priest vallen 01-02-04, 03:15 PM	Biff, Every potion you find, I mixed it. Every monster you encounter, I put it there. Remember that bluff roll that allowed you to live against that troll in the Caves of Chaos?? It wasn't a 20 Biff, I fudged it.....It would've killed you Biff and the whole party but I liked your spark. So, do not question the rate of level advancement - only be grateful that I provide you with levels to advance. You and the rest of the players are like newly hatched ducklings following ME the mother duck to drink from the lake of D&D knowledge. How many characters have you played in that 3 year span Biff?? I can count 4 off the top of my head - Roman, Belladon, D'Dagon, Menifist......It appears as if you still may yet need to suckle from the Dungeonmaster's teet a little longer before I let you out into that cold cold world of ADVANCED Dungeons & Dragons. Biff, or shall I call you JoJo, the next lesson you must learn is balance. You spend all your free time on this board and others searching for the holy grail of sorceror power - what are the best feats, most powerful prestige classes, best elemental choice as an Elemental Savant, etc. However, you are missing two critical points - 1. the most powerful character is not necessarily the most balanced character. If you would like to survive longer, you must analyze your weaknesses along with your strengths - sometimes the best offense is a good defense. 2. Follow your heart in character creation. No feat is a wasted feat if that is how you envision your character - I would not pick a prestige class just because it will make my character "more powerful". See the character Biff - BE the character Biff. I shall now leave you to ponder these words of wisdom from your DUNGEONMASTER.
Lord Psynister 01-02-04, 03:42 PM	I agree with most everyone that's posted here already, so just follow their advise. My examples though: I've had a character that was raised to level 18 in about 3 years. I've had characters that level up the day we started them. I've had a character that went from Lv. 1 to becomming a god in less that a month. How fast you level really doesn't matter, just have fun playing.
sedrorovin murghurobag 01-06-04, 12:08 AM	Like all good relationships, compromises have to exist between the DM and the players. If the DM senses that his players are feeling stalled in their advancement, he should also recognize that it also represents a downturn in overall fun for the players. A good Dm would know how to reconcile the goals in his campaign with those of the players who explore it. Granted, he doesn't have to give away the farm, but he should strike a balance for the enjoyment of all.
Orcish Fury 01-06-04, 01:16 AM	Consider yourself lucky to have a game last three years. Many are lucky if a game lasts a full month before something ends it.