A level question [Archive] - Wizards Community

A level question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
whitefoxD&D
03-15-04, 08:58 PM OK, OK i know im asking an awful lot of questions, but its the best way to lean how toplay this game , i guess. Lets say i have a few people play this game and we are like level 3 and someone else want to play the game, do we have to start new characters at level 1???? i must not understand leveling.
Mumbling Rogue
03-15-04, 09:23 PM They could start at Level 1, but it will be harder for them to stay alive and catch up to the players. You could just have them start at Level 3, and check the DMG for the amount of gold to start them off with. Then have them RP'ing meeting up with the players, and off you go.
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger
03-15-04, 09:48 PM Generally it is up to your DM to decide. They should start at about the same level as the party. EX: If all the PC's are at level 3 and a new player joins he or she should also start at level 3.

Some DM's like to start them at a lower level. Using the above sample the new player would start at level 2 because the new player hasn't really 'earned' his experience by participating with your group.

Its up to your DM but I do suggest at or near the party's average level.
mrpink213
03-15-04, 11:11 PM i'd say start him a level lower than the lowest level in the group, with enough exp that he'll level by the end of the next session, that way he still has to earn a place in the group, but he's not too far behind the others
Seeker95
03-16-04, 07:26 AM Originally posted by whitefoxD&D
OK, OK i know im asking an awful lot of questions, but its the best way to lean how toplay this game , i guess.Actually, the best way to learn how to play the game is to play the game with a few people who already know how to play the game.

These boards are pretty good for straight-from-the-rules questions, but once it gets to the realm of opinion, we have such a wide range of experiences that you are unlikely to get a straight answer (and definitely not a single answer!)
Lina_Inverse
03-16-04, 07:43 AM Originally posted by mrpink213
i'd say start him a level lower than the lowest level in the group, with enough exp that he'll level by the end of the next session, that way he still has to earn a place in the group, but he's not too far behind the others

NOT LOWER,had that happen once,one player kept killing his char so i had a 9th level char....in a 17th level group.lets say that wasnt fun...

use one level below average
Seeker95
03-16-04, 09:29 AM Originally posted by Lina_Inverse
NOT LOWER,had that happen once,one player kept killing his char so i had a 9th level char....in a 17th level group.lets say that wasnt fun... How does "one level lower than the lowest level character" make a 9th level character in a 17th level group?

And what does a character in your group dying have to do with whitefoxD&D getting a new player in his group?
Hogre
03-16-04, 11:48 AM Originally posted by Seeker95
How does "one level lower than the lowest level character" make a 9th level character in a 17th level group?

And what does a character in your group dying have to do with whitefoxD&D getting a new player in his group? I can only assume they were using the dieing character's level in the consideration of lowest level character.

Lowest level character was the one who just died at level 8, so the new character has to be one level lower at 7.

Of course, I am just guessing, and that would be a very silly DM, in my opinion.
whitefoxD&D
03-17-04, 12:40 AM hmmmmmm, i see.....
Hrolf Halfdan
03-26-04, 02:38 PM I ususally use the level of the lowest level character in the group fro a new player. Example the players range through 4th and 5th level and someone wants to join the group. I would have them start as a fourth level character at the base experiense of a fourth level player this puts them a little behind the rest of the party but not a whole lot unless all the 4th level players are about to level. In 2e I always used the lowest experience total of all players and translated that to what the new character would be since all classes had seperate experience tables. For a new charater for a player already in the group, I would use the average level of the party. So if your character died and you brought in a new one it would have the average of everyones experience totals. I use this system in both 2e and 3e.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
whitefoxD&D 03-15-04, 08:58 PM	OK, OK i know im asking an awful lot of questions, but its the best way to lean how toplay this game , i guess. Lets say i have a few people play this game and we are like level 3 and someone else want to play the game, do we have to start new characters at level 1???? i must not understand leveling.
Mumbling Rogue 03-15-04, 09:23 PM	They could start at Level 1, but it will be harder for them to stay alive and catch up to the players. You could just have them start at Level 3, and check the DMG for the amount of gold to start them off with. Then have them RP'ing meeting up with the players, and off you go.
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger 03-15-04, 09:48 PM	Generally it is up to your DM to decide. They should start at about the same level as the party. EX: If all the PC's are at level 3 and a new player joins he or she should also start at level 3. Some DM's like to start them at a lower level. Using the above sample the new player would start at level 2 because the new player hasn't really 'earned' his experience by participating with your group. Its up to your DM but I do suggest at or near the party's average level.
mrpink213 03-15-04, 11:11 PM	i'd say start him a level lower than the lowest level in the group, with enough exp that he'll level by the end of the next session, that way he still has to earn a place in the group, but he's not too far behind the others
Seeker95 03-16-04, 07:26 AM	Originally posted by whitefoxD&D OK, OK i know im asking an awful lot of questions, but its the best way to lean how toplay this game , i guess.Actually, the best way to learn how to play the game is to play the game with a few people who already know how to play the game. These boards are pretty good for straight-from-the-rules questions, but once it gets to the realm of opinion, we have such a wide range of experiences that you are unlikely to get a straight answer (and definitely not a single answer!)
Lina_Inverse 03-16-04, 07:43 AM	Originally posted by mrpink213 i'd say start him a level lower than the lowest level in the group, with enough exp that he'll level by the end of the next session, that way he still has to earn a place in the group, but he's not too far behind the others NOT LOWER,had that happen once,one player kept killing his char so i had a 9th level char....in a 17th level group.lets say that wasnt fun... use one level below average
Seeker95 03-16-04, 09:29 AM	Originally posted by Lina_Inverse NOT LOWER,had that happen once,one player kept killing his char so i had a 9th level char....in a 17th level group.lets say that wasnt fun... How does "one level lower than the lowest level character" make a 9th level character in a 17th level group? And what does a character in your group dying have to do with whitefoxD&D getting a new player in his group?
Hogre 03-16-04, 11:48 AM	Originally posted by Seeker95 How does "one level lower than the lowest level character" make a 9th level character in a 17th level group? And what does a character in your group dying have to do with whitefoxD&D getting a new player in his group? I can only assume they were using the dieing character's level in the consideration of lowest level character. Lowest level character was the one who just died at level 8, so the new character has to be one level lower at 7. Of course, I am just guessing, and that would be a very silly DM, in my opinion.
whitefoxD&D 03-17-04, 12:40 AM	hmmmmmm, i see.....
Hrolf Halfdan 03-26-04, 02:38 PM	I ususally use the level of the lowest level character in the group fro a new player. Example the players range through 4th and 5th level and someone wants to join the group. I would have them start as a fourth level character at the base experiense of a fourth level player this puts them a little behind the rest of the party but not a whole lot unless all the 4th level players are about to level. In 2e I always used the lowest experience total of all players and translated that to what the new character would be since all classes had seperate experience tables. For a new charater for a player already in the group, I would use the average level of the party. So if your character died and you brought in a new one it would have the average of everyones experience totals. I use this system in both 2e and 3e.