How far can a character progress in one year? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How far can a character progress in one year? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ankhwearer
08-20-07, 05:35 PM When I started LG in October last year, I always did think that planning a character out to level 15 was a bit too far sighted.

Not only was I suspecting that 3.5 couldn't possibly last as long as it would take to level to 15th, I quickly became aware that too many interesting accesses appear, too many new books are published, and it is too hard to stick to one character type for three years or so.

But, now that we have twelve months to play before LFR comes out, how far and how fast can we take a character? What is the maximum level we should bother planning out to when making builds?
Mommy was an Orc
08-20-07, 05:54 PM It gets tricky. We need more information about what the rules of 2008 are going to be - they've gotta do something about crafting. I'd likely say 12th, though. Beyond that gets very, very complex.

I'd keep away from the trickier builds that come together at 9th level, try to aim for 6th-7th instead and absolutely ignore builds that turn uber at 12th. If you're starting a character right now, that is.
kjenks
08-20-07, 09:25 PM My level 5 druid had a build plan that turns uber at 12th. Now I'm giving up on that and going straight Sandstorm druid summoner. That's uber enough already and fun at every level.

Bring on the Augmented Dustform Servals!
clannagh
08-21-07, 12:30 AM with judicial use of adaptables and no TU units you could pretty much retire

But a character playing mainly adaptables is really rather anti-LG with all that accelerated combat based levelling with no proper characer development possible.
zoinks69
08-21-07, 09:04 AM I believe I hit mid-7th with my first pc in 52 TU (this included Isle of Woe). With the adaptables, playing 'up' with a group of higher level friends, and no deaths...probably 8 or 9 easy. If TU restrictions are lifted and you can knock out all your regionals, metas, cores, and travel to pick up other regionals and metas...you could comfortably retire...of course that relies on the "perfect storm" of players and judges to get the APL appropriate mods at every point (not playing stuff that goes to 16 when you are level 8, for example).
UMiskatonic
08-21-07, 10:26 AM A friend of mine did the math for this, and the cap with 52 TUs is 8th level, but 7th is far more likely, and 6th is possible if you lose XP on a mod, or play down half the time.

Without TUs, the sky's the limit. My 14th level character has died twice, and has 105 ARs. That's about 400 hours of game play, or ten 40-hour work weeks. Much of that was in year 1-2, when advancement was a trifle slower.

How much time have you got?
Iswald
08-21-07, 10:38 AM How many mods haven't you played yet?
Lupo
08-21-07, 11:43 AM When I started LG in October last year, I always did think that planning a character out to level 15 was a bit too far sighted.

Not only was I suspecting that 3.5 couldn't possibly last as long as it would take to level to 15th, I quickly became aware that too many interesting accesses appear, too many new books are published, and it is too hard to stick to one character type for three years or so.

But, now that we have twelve months to play before LFR comes out, how far and how fast can we take a character? What is the maximum level we should bother planning out to when making builds?

even with module's TU reduction for 598 i would guess a character can at best get to level 10, maybe scratch level 12 with lots of travel (as i don't see the regional limitation vanishing)

so i will switch my greyhawk ruins concept to a more "frontloaded" build, consider straight wizard, straight sorcerer, archer (without to many fancy ideas), even a rogue (with some level dips in either fighter, barbarian or swashbuckler), cleric aiming for radiant servant (as they are always useful and the powers from radiant servant kick in early).

ditch anything that gets powerful only after level 9, needs NONC access or special missions at all (i don't think triads will dedicate much time to these now).

ciao

martin m.
Rerednaw
08-22-07, 02:09 PM I've only been playing for a year. LG brought me out of RPG-burnout.

My main, a human wizard got to 9th before he ran out out of TU's. That was with no deaths.

I started a second main this year once my wizard TU'ed out. My druid got to one APL2 mod shy of 4th at Gencon before he got dual-fireballed to perma-death in the surprise and first rounds.

So assuming your toons don't die, 9th for one and maybe 4th for another.

Good luck.
Glanila
08-23-07, 09:01 AM I got to level 1 to 7 in three months. I used 50 TUs, starting in October and ending on Dec. 31. Had I unlimited TUs. I would have raised her to level 10 or higher, I'm sure.

The character has gone from 7 to 10 in the last eight months. Not only is progression obviously slower, but I also intend to play most of my mods at the end of the year. She still have almost 30 TUs left, so I fully intend to get her to 12 before the end of the year.

There's no doubt in my mind she will retire at 16 in 2008 and then die and join the Living Planar campaign to continue at higher levels.

Another character of mine was started in December of last year. Currently, she is in the middle of Red Hand of Doom and level 7. I hope she leaves RHoD this year at level 9. Next year, she may make it to level 14, but I will invest less energy in it than working up my main character.

Have hope, you can still have fun with your characters in just one year.
bhale187
08-23-07, 11:43 AM I hit 7th in 52 TUs some time around march I think and I started the character in january. I played up alot and did adaptables, but also did some crafting. I am fairly certain I would have been into 8th level had I not crafted.
clannagh
08-26-07, 07:51 PM Assuming they do actually abandon time units next year and you are prepared to travel an incredible amount and visit as many regions as you can you can clearly retire as you will have all year 7 and year 8 regionals and metaregionals "available".
ankhwearer
08-28-07, 01:28 PM And, if we assume that travel is NOT an option, what numbers do we get then?
clannagh
08-28-07, 07:32 PM And, if we assume that travel is NOT an option, what numbers do we get then?

That depends on three things

- what year 6 and 7 mods including adaptables you have not played

- whether you have the opportunity to play all the available mods at the optimal time for your PC (needs a willing GM and legal table)

- how much time you are prepared to devote to playing LG

If TU were wiped starting next week and the player has not yet played Red Hand or Hellspike you could pretty much get to level 11 or so by christmas meaning retirement at level 15 would be possible by the end.

In reality that is highly unlikely .... new characters tend to make it to somewhere between 6 and 10 in a bit over a year.
control freak
08-31-07, 05:14 PM heres a list of mods in order to get you to level 16

scourge of the howling horde
barrows of the forgotten king
fane of the drow
pits of azak zil
rise of the spider queen
part 1 of frostfell
diminion over brightsands
Red Hand of Doom (between parts play feilds of ruin)
Dragon down grotto
Expidition to pits of demon web
Hellspike prison APL 12 version
frostfell part 2

thats the bare bones which will take you to 15 or 14, not 16 though since theres no TUs
DerekSTheRed
08-31-07, 09:00 PM I think its very possible to start a character and retire by the end of 2008. It also helps that few of the ADPs overlap.

Play the first two parts of Greyhawk Ruins followed by Scourge. Play all the other Greyhawk mods before Barrow of the Forgotten King and Fane of the Drow. Keep playing core and regional mods until you get your guy up to 6th. Play him in RHoD to get him to 9. Play him in EtGR and get him to 11 or 12. Play him in EtDWP and your at 13 or 14. I'm estimating on the last two.

After playing high level regionals and meta-regionals even with not traveling, I think 14 is realistic with an outside chance at 15. You really have to play the ADPs though. I am also assuming they're still going to adapt EtGR. There might be more ADPs (they got to sell them somehow) like Sinister Spire and Fortress of the Yuan-Ti.

You still have to get a party and a dm willing to run all that for you by the end of next year. It's possible though.

Good Luck,
Derek

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ankhwearer 08-20-07, 05:35 PM	When I started LG in October last year, I always did think that planning a character out to level 15 was a bit too far sighted. Not only was I suspecting that 3.5 couldn't possibly last as long as it would take to level to 15th, I quickly became aware that too many interesting accesses appear, too many new books are published, and it is too hard to stick to one character type for three years or so. But, now that we have twelve months to play before LFR comes out, how far and how fast can we take a character? What is the maximum level we should bother planning out to when making builds?
Mommy was an Orc 08-20-07, 05:54 PM	It gets tricky. We need more information about what the rules of 2008 are going to be - they've gotta do something about crafting. I'd likely say 12th, though. Beyond that gets very, very complex. I'd keep away from the trickier builds that come together at 9th level, try to aim for 6th-7th instead and absolutely ignore builds that turn uber at 12th. If you're starting a character right now, that is.
kjenks 08-20-07, 09:25 PM	My level 5 druid had a build plan that turns uber at 12th. Now I'm giving up on that and going straight Sandstorm druid summoner. That's uber enough already and fun at every level. Bring on the Augmented Dustform Servals!
clannagh 08-21-07, 12:30 AM	with judicial use of adaptables and no TU units you could pretty much retire But a character playing mainly adaptables is really rather anti-LG with all that accelerated combat based levelling with no proper characer development possible.
zoinks69 08-21-07, 09:04 AM	I believe I hit mid-7th with my first pc in 52 TU (this included Isle of Woe). With the adaptables, playing 'up' with a group of higher level friends, and no deaths...probably 8 or 9 easy. If TU restrictions are lifted and you can knock out all your regionals, metas, cores, and travel to pick up other regionals and metas...you could comfortably retire...of course that relies on the "perfect storm" of players and judges to get the APL appropriate mods at every point (not playing stuff that goes to 16 when you are level 8, for example).
UMiskatonic 08-21-07, 10:26 AM	A friend of mine did the math for this, and the cap with 52 TUs is 8th level, but 7th is far more likely, and 6th is possible if you lose XP on a mod, or play down half the time. Without TUs, the sky's the limit. My 14th level character has died twice, and has 105 ARs. That's about 400 hours of game play, or ten 40-hour work weeks. Much of that was in year 1-2, when advancement was a trifle slower. How much time have you got?
Iswald 08-21-07, 10:38 AM	How many mods haven't you played yet?
Lupo 08-21-07, 11:43 AM	When I started LG in October last year, I always did think that planning a character out to level 15 was a bit too far sighted. Not only was I suspecting that 3.5 couldn't possibly last as long as it would take to level to 15th, I quickly became aware that too many interesting accesses appear, too many new books are published, and it is too hard to stick to one character type for three years or so. But, now that we have twelve months to play before LFR comes out, how far and how fast can we take a character? What is the maximum level we should bother planning out to when making builds? even with module's TU reduction for 598 i would guess a character can at best get to level 10, maybe scratch level 12 with lots of travel (as i don't see the regional limitation vanishing) so i will switch my greyhawk ruins concept to a more "frontloaded" build, consider straight wizard, straight sorcerer, archer (without to many fancy ideas), even a rogue (with some level dips in either fighter, barbarian or swashbuckler), cleric aiming for radiant servant (as they are always useful and the powers from radiant servant kick in early). ditch anything that gets powerful only after level 9, needs NONC access or special missions at all (i don't think triads will dedicate much time to these now). ciao martin m.
Rerednaw 08-22-07, 02:09 PM	I've only been playing for a year. LG brought me out of RPG-burnout. My main, a human wizard got to 9th before he ran out out of TU's. That was with no deaths. I started a second main this year once my wizard TU'ed out. My druid got to one APL2 mod shy of 4th at Gencon before he got dual-fireballed to perma-death in the surprise and first rounds. So assuming your toons don't die, 9th for one and maybe 4th for another. Good luck.
Glanila 08-23-07, 09:01 AM	I got to level 1 to 7 in three months. I used 50 TUs, starting in October and ending on Dec. 31. Had I unlimited TUs. I would have raised her to level 10 or higher, I'm sure. The character has gone from 7 to 10 in the last eight months. Not only is progression obviously slower, but I also intend to play most of my mods at the end of the year. She still have almost 30 TUs left, so I fully intend to get her to 12 before the end of the year. There's no doubt in my mind she will retire at 16 in 2008 and then die and join the Living Planar campaign to continue at higher levels. Another character of mine was started in December of last year. Currently, she is in the middle of Red Hand of Doom and level 7. I hope she leaves RHoD this year at level 9. Next year, she may make it to level 14, but I will invest less energy in it than working up my main character. Have hope, you can still have fun with your characters in just one year.
bhale187 08-23-07, 11:43 AM	I hit 7th in 52 TUs some time around march I think and I started the character in january. I played up alot and did adaptables, but also did some crafting. I am fairly certain I would have been into 8th level had I not crafted.
clannagh 08-26-07, 07:51 PM	Assuming they do actually abandon time units next year and you are prepared to travel an incredible amount and visit as many regions as you can you can clearly retire as you will have all year 7 and year 8 regionals and metaregionals "available".
ankhwearer 08-28-07, 01:28 PM	And, if we assume that travel is NOT an option, what numbers do we get then?
clannagh 08-28-07, 07:32 PM	And, if we assume that travel is NOT an option, what numbers do we get then? That depends on three things - what year 6 and 7 mods including adaptables you have not played - whether you have the opportunity to play all the available mods at the optimal time for your PC (needs a willing GM and legal table) - how much time you are prepared to devote to playing LG If TU were wiped starting next week and the player has not yet played Red Hand or Hellspike you could pretty much get to level 11 or so by christmas meaning retirement at level 15 would be possible by the end. In reality that is highly unlikely .... new characters tend to make it to somewhere between 6 and 10 in a bit over a year.
control freak 08-31-07, 05:14 PM	heres a list of mods in order to get you to level 16 scourge of the howling horde barrows of the forgotten king fane of the drow pits of azak zil rise of the spider queen part 1 of frostfell diminion over brightsands Red Hand of Doom (between parts play feilds of ruin) Dragon down grotto Expidition to pits of demon web Hellspike prison APL 12 version frostfell part 2 thats the bare bones which will take you to 15 or 14, not 16 though since theres no TUs
DerekSTheRed 08-31-07, 09:00 PM	I think its very possible to start a character and retire by the end of 2008. It also helps that few of the ADPs overlap. Play the first two parts of Greyhawk Ruins followed by Scourge. Play all the other Greyhawk mods before Barrow of the Forgotten King and Fane of the Drow. Keep playing core and regional mods until you get your guy up to 6th. Play him in RHoD to get him to 9. Play him in EtGR and get him to 11 or 12. Play him in EtDWP and your at 13 or 14. I'm estimating on the last two. After playing high level regionals and meta-regionals even with not traveling, I think 14 is realistic with an outside chance at 15. You really have to play the ADPs though. I am also assuming they're still going to adapt EtGR. There might be more ADPs (they got to sell them somehow) like Sinister Spire and Fortress of the Yuan-Ti. You still have to get a party and a dm willing to run all that for you by the end of next year. It's possible though. Good Luck, Derek