Being even in an odd world [Archive] - Wizards Community

Being even in an odd world [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Mithrus
03-07-07, 07:21 AM All this APL discussion has me thinking. Why are we using even APL numbers when many classes get significant power bumps at the odd levels...specifically casters, who typically are in the most danger when "playing up". Personally, using an odd APL system would actually fix some of the problems inherently. APL 1 is easy, thats the intro mods. APL 3 would still allow level 1s to tag along if you want, etc. then you have APL 13 at the highest that would allow the level 15s to play without penalty (I realize some might like slowing down their character's retirement, but is that an intentional consequence to the current system?).
Maesto
03-07-07, 07:48 AM Surely if you wanted to change things, you could go to APL 15 ;-) And for the sadistic bunch of 6 level 15 characters who get the +1 bump, they could go to APL 17? ;-) People play APL 16 as is, remember ;-)

I know that Living Arcanis introduced odd APLs, although I have no experience with them whatsoever.
katrick
03-07-07, 10:08 AM Living Kingdoms of Kalamar has odd APL's and it works fine
katrick
MatteBlack
03-07-07, 10:33 AM I don't have too much problem with the APL system. You have may have a point about casters getting their bumps on the odds but, there are alot of multiclassed characters and classes that do better on the evens. I might argue that APL 3(and possibly 5) should be offered because those early APL jumps can be a much bigger stretch. An APL3 group playing up to 4 can be a much bigger stretch than an APL9 group playing up to 10.
Timlagor
03-07-07, 12:12 PM Seems like a good idea to me.

It wouldn't even need to be retro-fitted to the old modules (they can keep their APLs and this could be done for the new ones.
Jay_Ibero_911
03-07-07, 12:36 PM They would have to go and recalculate XP and GP for odd APL's though...that could be difficult and require some testing to balance...
pedr
03-07-07, 12:50 PM Well as mentioned upthread, Arcanis did it - and changed at the start of a new year from an even-based system to an odd-based one. I imagine that the Arcanis campaign staff would be quite willing to discuss the process with the LG Circle, if it was considered something that was worth considering.

Now, I've never played Arcanis so I don't know how it works, but having two tiers which first level characters can play without GP/XP penalties seems very sensible.
Mattastrophic
03-07-07, 02:49 PM They would have to go and recalculate XP and GP for odd APL's though...that could be difficult and require some testing to balance...

Not really, just a few clicks of a calculator, just like they decided on Hellspike Prison's APL 9 rewards.

-Matt
Rerednaw
03-07-07, 04:13 PM I don't have too much problem with the APL system. You have may have a point about casters getting their bumps on the odds but, there are alot of multiclassed characters and classes that do better on the evens. I might argue that APL 3(and possibly 5) should be offered because those early APL jumps can be a much bigger stretch. An APL3 group playing up to 4 can be a much bigger stretch than an APL9 group playing up to 10.

Yup. Sorcerors, Favored Souls, all full BAB classes (iteratives on evens.)

Considering level 16 is retirement age, I do like the idea of APL15 mods instead of APL16.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mithrus 03-07-07, 07:21 AM	All this APL discussion has me thinking. Why are we using even APL numbers when many classes get significant power bumps at the odd levels...specifically casters, who typically are in the most danger when "playing up". Personally, using an odd APL system would actually fix some of the problems inherently. APL 1 is easy, thats the intro mods. APL 3 would still allow level 1s to tag along if you want, etc. then you have APL 13 at the highest that would allow the level 15s to play without penalty (I realize some might like slowing down their character's retirement, but is that an intentional consequence to the current system?).
Maesto 03-07-07, 07:48 AM	Surely if you wanted to change things, you could go to APL 15 ;-) And for the sadistic bunch of 6 level 15 characters who get the +1 bump, they could go to APL 17? ;-) People play APL 16 as is, remember ;-) I know that Living Arcanis introduced odd APLs, although I have no experience with them whatsoever.
katrick 03-07-07, 10:08 AM	Living Kingdoms of Kalamar has odd APL's and it works fine katrick
MatteBlack 03-07-07, 10:33 AM	I don't have too much problem with the APL system. You have may have a point about casters getting their bumps on the odds but, there are alot of multiclassed characters and classes that do better on the evens. I might argue that APL 3(and possibly 5) should be offered because those early APL jumps can be a much bigger stretch. An APL3 group playing up to 4 can be a much bigger stretch than an APL9 group playing up to 10.
Timlagor 03-07-07, 12:12 PM	Seems like a good idea to me. It wouldn't even need to be retro-fitted to the old modules (they can keep their APLs and this could be done for the new ones.
Jay_Ibero_911 03-07-07, 12:36 PM	They would have to go and recalculate XP and GP for odd APL's though...that could be difficult and require some testing to balance...
pedr 03-07-07, 12:50 PM	Well as mentioned upthread, Arcanis did it - and changed at the start of a new year from an even-based system to an odd-based one. I imagine that the Arcanis campaign staff would be quite willing to discuss the process with the LG Circle, if it was considered something that was worth considering. Now, I've never played Arcanis so I don't know how it works, but having two tiers which first level characters can play without GP/XP penalties seems very sensible.
Mattastrophic 03-07-07, 02:49 PM	They would have to go and recalculate XP and GP for odd APL's though...that could be difficult and require some testing to balance... Not really, just a few clicks of a calculator, just like they decided on Hellspike Prison's APL 9 rewards. -Matt
Rerednaw 03-07-07, 04:13 PM	I don't have too much problem with the APL system. You have may have a point about casters getting their bumps on the odds but, there are alot of multiclassed characters and classes that do better on the evens. I might argue that APL 3(and possibly 5) should be offered because those early APL jumps can be a much bigger stretch. An APL3 group playing up to 4 can be a much bigger stretch than an APL9 group playing up to 10. Yup. Sorcerors, Favored Souls, all full BAB classes (iteratives on evens.) Considering level 16 is retirement age, I do like the idea of APL15 mods instead of APL16.