Bard solo???? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bard solo???? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Steel Cobra
06-03-05, 11:35 PM I have a Bard lvl 12 and all my others are lvl 3,4,5 cause he started WAY early w/ someone that doesnt play anymore and well do I just send him on solo missions? Ids a bard ment to solo I think not but his stats are high so whats input
Manyfist
06-03-05, 11:37 PM I have a Bard lvl 12 and all my others are lvl 3,4,5 cause he started WAY early w/ someone that doesnt play anymore and well do I just send him on solo missions? Ids a bard ment to solo I think not but his stats are high so whats input
Make him put aside the Character and Roll up a Lvl 4 Character, and use his old character as an NPC, intill he reachs lvl 12 and he may choose to pick. :P It's Simple Really.
Steel Cobra
06-03-05, 11:48 PM Im not so sure he'll like that
Mirikon
06-03-05, 11:57 PM That is really too damn bad. Either have him make up a new char at the level of the group, or have him sit out a few sessions until the group is at his level. Having one player who is that far ahead of the rest of the group is NEVER good.
Thorak
06-04-05, 12:43 AM D&D is not a game where you get to take your character with you into whatever game you'll be playing. D&D is a game where the DMs job is to make sure everything is balanced and fair for everyone. Meaning shafting the guy who has a level 12 bard. Because he's done so much stuff outside the group that character should be considered to be his own, separate, campaign.
Kadasbrass
06-04-05, 01:00 AM Having a character wait out till everyone level may be more of a problem for some groups then others. Our DM is very unbalanced when it comes to exp, once a week we'll get an average of 200 xp for a level 10 character...

Even if the player doesn't like it your going to have more problems if he does solo missions at the same time as the rest of the group. For one thing your going to have two different groups competing for attention/time from the same DM, and no matter what you do your going to either make one group or both groups angry at you. Second while the bard continues to gain xp this means it will be even longer before all players are near the same level.

He migth not like it but the best bet is going to have him make a new character untill the group is near his level. The other players will be happy (translated, fewer people will be angry at you), and they will reach his bards level much sooner this way. If you have to, try mentioning he can make a 'new' bard and play it in the mean time.
Manyfist
06-04-05, 01:06 AM You, "I am Sorry Bob you're going to have to put your lvl 12 Bard to the Side, and roll up another Character"
* You hand him the dice* *Bob looks at you confused*
Bob, "Why?"
You, "Because you're already so far ahead of the rest of the game, and its unfair to those who started from lvl 1"
Bob, "But I want to Keep Bob, the Bard."
You, "If you don't want to give him up then find a NEW DM!"
Bob, "Fine, I'll Play by your rules" OR "FINE! I WILL!" :P

You should have this conversation with him, and if he doesn't apply, then screw him. Then go back to DMing. :P
Razel
06-04-05, 01:32 AM of course the other option is to have the other people make 11th or 12th level character. I would think that if he has played his character from 1st leve he is likely to be more attached to his character then the other players, this may be better. Up to you, but there is no way you can have a 7-9 level difference in the party level, mabey up to 3 levels or so, but any more then that and the encounters will be easily won by the high level character, or the low levels will be compleatly useless. Your going to have to make either the one high level make a new character or make the low levels remake characters. Depends on wheither you want a high level campain or a lower level one.
Artoomis
06-04-05, 01:57 AM If your campaign is set up that everyone start sat first level, then the situation is what it is - one high level character and a number of lower-level ones. Simply be sure to use an experience point system that makes sure the lower level character rise faster than the higher-level one so they catch up. This should not be too difficult as the challenges will be low for the high -level character, so he should not be rewarded as well.

It's only fair, really.
Schmendrick
06-04-05, 04:06 AM Or, if you simply must reconcile the situation as-is,

Depending on the type of bard he's playing, you might have him accompany the adventurers (to chronicle their adventures, perhaps? or to train some newbies? maybe he's learned about some prophecy involving them and so decides to take them under his wing.. I dunno) as more of an inactive "support" role (no melee except, perhaps, to save somone's neck as a last resort); bards tend to be very good at this anyway, and for some it's basically *all* they do. Let him contribute a skill now and again (but only if another character can't do it themself) and use his inspire abilities on the battlefield - but little or no more. The way xp is calculated will tend to even things out over time (higher level characters get less xp and need more to level, which slows them considerably relative to others), and the low levels get a nice "safety net" for their characters. The bard's player can still contribute (if not quite as much as "normal") and still gets to follow the story so he won't be lost once the new PCs catch up to his.

Alternatively, you could just have him pull up a 5th or 6th level version of is current bard and let him play it from there. If this threatens discontinuity in the game world, then I suppose you could always have him run into something that drains levels.

Realistically, though, I have to recommend what others here have done already: have him make a new character, possibly with the option to switch over when "caught up".
Steel Cobra
06-04-05, 10:16 AM actually I was thinking of having him join an army or somthing of that nature and like help out the elves
Azri
06-04-05, 12:04 PM Have most of the bard's gear stolen, and have him permanently level drained until he's close to the level of the rest of the group. Have this happen in a heroic, glorious encounter worthy of an epic poem or song. Done and done.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Steel Cobra 06-03-05, 11:35 PM	I have a Bard lvl 12 and all my others are lvl 3,4,5 cause he started WAY early w/ someone that doesnt play anymore and well do I just send him on solo missions? Ids a bard ment to solo I think not but his stats are high so whats input
Manyfist 06-03-05, 11:37 PM	I have a Bard lvl 12 and all my others are lvl 3,4,5 cause he started WAY early w/ someone that doesnt play anymore and well do I just send him on solo missions? Ids a bard ment to solo I think not but his stats are high so whats input Make him put aside the Character and Roll up a Lvl 4 Character, and use his old character as an NPC, intill he reachs lvl 12 and he may choose to pick. :P It's Simple Really.
Steel Cobra 06-03-05, 11:48 PM	Im not so sure he'll like that
Mirikon 06-03-05, 11:57 PM	That is really too damn bad. Either have him make up a new char at the level of the group, or have him sit out a few sessions until the group is at his level. Having one player who is that far ahead of the rest of the group is NEVER good.
Thorak 06-04-05, 12:43 AM	D&D is not a game where you get to take your character with you into whatever game you'll be playing. D&D is a game where the DMs job is to make sure everything is balanced and fair for everyone. Meaning shafting the guy who has a level 12 bard. Because he's done so much stuff outside the group that character should be considered to be his own, separate, campaign.
Kadasbrass 06-04-05, 01:00 AM	Having a character wait out till everyone level may be more of a problem for some groups then others. Our DM is very unbalanced when it comes to exp, once a week we'll get an average of 200 xp for a level 10 character... Even if the player doesn't like it your going to have more problems if he does solo missions at the same time as the rest of the group. For one thing your going to have two different groups competing for attention/time from the same DM, and no matter what you do your going to either make one group or both groups angry at you. Second while the bard continues to gain xp this means it will be even longer before all players are near the same level. He migth not like it but the best bet is going to have him make a new character untill the group is near his level. The other players will be happy (translated, fewer people will be angry at you), and they will reach his bards level much sooner this way. If you have to, try mentioning he can make a 'new' bard and play it in the mean time.
Manyfist 06-04-05, 01:06 AM	You, "I am Sorry Bob you're going to have to put your lvl 12 Bard to the Side, and roll up another Character" * You hand him the dice* Bob looks at you confused Bob, "Why?" You, "Because you're already so far ahead of the rest of the game, and its unfair to those who started from lvl 1" Bob, "But I want to Keep Bob, the Bard." You, "If you don't want to give him up then find a NEW DM!" Bob, "Fine, I'll Play by your rules" OR "FINE! I WILL!" :P You should have this conversation with him, and if he doesn't apply, then screw him. Then go back to DMing. :P
Razel 06-04-05, 01:32 AM	of course the other option is to have the other people make 11th or 12th level character. I would think that if he has played his character from 1st leve he is likely to be more attached to his character then the other players, this may be better. Up to you, but there is no way you can have a 7-9 level difference in the party level, mabey up to 3 levels or so, but any more then that and the encounters will be easily won by the high level character, or the low levels will be compleatly useless. Your going to have to make either the one high level make a new character or make the low levels remake characters. Depends on wheither you want a high level campain or a lower level one.
Artoomis 06-04-05, 01:57 AM	If your campaign is set up that everyone start sat first level, then the situation is what it is - one high level character and a number of lower-level ones. Simply be sure to use an experience point system that makes sure the lower level character rise faster than the higher-level one so they catch up. This should not be too difficult as the challenges will be low for the high -level character, so he should not be rewarded as well. It's only fair, really.
Schmendrick 06-04-05, 04:06 AM	Or, if you simply must reconcile the situation as-is, Depending on the type of bard he's playing, you might have him accompany the adventurers (to chronicle their adventures, perhaps? or to train some newbies? maybe he's learned about some prophecy involving them and so decides to take them under his wing.. I dunno) as more of an inactive "support" role (no melee except, perhaps, to save somone's neck as a last resort); bards tend to be very good at this anyway, and for some it's basically all they do. Let him contribute a skill now and again (but only if another character can't do it themself) and use his inspire abilities on the battlefield - but little or no more. The way xp is calculated will tend to even things out over time (higher level characters get less xp and need more to level, which slows them considerably relative to others), and the low levels get a nice "safety net" for their characters. The bard's player can still contribute (if not quite as much as "normal") and still gets to follow the story so he won't be lost once the new PCs catch up to his. Alternatively, you could just have him pull up a 5th or 6th level version of is current bard and let him play it from there. If this threatens discontinuity in the game world, then I suppose you could always have him run into something that drains levels. Realistically, though, I have to recommend what others here have done already: have him make a new character, possibly with the option to switch over when "caught up".
Steel Cobra 06-04-05, 10:16 AM	actually I was thinking of having him join an army or somthing of that nature and like help out the elves
Azri 06-04-05, 12:04 PM	Have most of the bard's gear stolen, and have him permanently level drained until he's close to the level of the rest of the group. Have this happen in a heroic, glorious encounter worthy of an epic poem or song. Done and done.