Third Level Modules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Third Level Modules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DoveArrow
07-01-05, 06:26 PM I haven't had a chance to look one of these modules over yet, but if an RPGA module is designed for 3rd level adventurers, what happens if all the players are playing 1st evel characters? Are there level adjustments so that the adventure can be run for 1st level adventurers, do the players get a temporary level adjustment for the session, or are they simply not allowed to play in the adventure? Also, what happens if, you have a mix of character levels (say a 1st level, a 3rd level, and a 4th level character)? Can they all play in the same module? It was just something I was wondering about.
EberronArtificer
07-01-05, 07:38 PM If you read an adventure then you can never play in that adventure.

You always play the level that you character is. The only time that you would play at a level you haven't earned is if you didn't beat the level bump prior to GenCon Indy and either GenCon SoCal or Winter Fantasy (which makes that bump happen I don't know).

Each MoH adventure that I've GMed (and I'll be the first to say that's not very many) has a section called something like, "Scaling the Encounter" where different tactics, quantities of enemies and the like are presented for the DM to give the proper level of challange to each group. The problem is that many DM's just use what's written into the mod.

If you have a 1st level PC, a 3rd level PC and a fourth level PC then determining the party level is easy: there is none. 4 players must play in an adventure to allow it to be ran and reported as an official game. Now if you had 4 players, levels: 1, 2, 3, and 4 the DM should probably go with encounters for a 2nd or 3rd level party - but it's there decision.

Can PCs of different level play at the same table - sure. Is it suggested - no. When you get mixed tables the lower level PCs are usually the spectators that are just along for the ride. That said if all you have is 5 players and there are no other tables of that game running than you gotta play with whoever and deal.
IceV2
07-01-05, 10:28 PM If the adventure says: "This module is for 4th level characters" that means every encounter is created for them. Like EberronArtificer says there's a section called Scaling The Encounter witch gives you (the GM) an alternative stats for the encounter, but, since the 4th level is the lowtest levet all the stats are for higher levels than this. And yes, you can scale the encounters to any level if you want.
You can have a party with PCs of different levels, if the Average Party Level is 4 you can take the risk. Example: If you have 2 PCs Lv. 2 and 2 PCs Lv. 6 your Average Party Level is 4, so you can expect survive a 4th Level adventure.
See the Dungeon Master's Guide to see how to scale an encounter.
DoveArrow
07-02-05, 02:46 AM If you have a 1st level PC, a 3rd level PC and a fourth level PC then determining the party level is easy: there is none. 4 players must play in an adventure to allow it to be ran and reported as an official game.

Yeah yeah, so I'm an idiot. Shut up. :P
DoveArrow
07-02-05, 02:47 AM If you read an adventure then you can never play in that adventure.

What if you're the GM? :)
IceV2
07-02-05, 08:45 AM You can master the same adventure multiple times, but play it only once. :D
Frobi-Wan Kenobi
07-02-05, 11:12 AM Here's a couple examples of how RPGA games work:

Bobby goes to play EMH-3 No Ticket with his Changling Rogue Nox. Next month he's asked to DM it for another gaming gorup. He can run that game as a DM as many times as he can fit in. This is fine.

Now, if Jimmy DMs EMH-5 at Origins he cannot ever play in EMH-5 as a player. This is called "eating the module."

The only exception to this is the DM's Mark games that were designed so that you could DM one version of the Mark then play in another; however, the RPGA system has yet to be fixed to allow this to occur.
DoveArrow
07-02-05, 12:12 PM Oh, so you can DM the same adventure multiple times? That is really good to know. I thought, for some reason, that you could only DM an adventure once, which seemed kind've silly to me, but whatever. Thank you guys for clearing that up.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DoveArrow 07-01-05, 06:26 PM	I haven't had a chance to look one of these modules over yet, but if an RPGA module is designed for 3rd level adventurers, what happens if all the players are playing 1st evel characters? Are there level adjustments so that the adventure can be run for 1st level adventurers, do the players get a temporary level adjustment for the session, or are they simply not allowed to play in the adventure? Also, what happens if, you have a mix of character levels (say a 1st level, a 3rd level, and a 4th level character)? Can they all play in the same module? It was just something I was wondering about.
EberronArtificer 07-01-05, 07:38 PM	If you read an adventure then you can never play in that adventure. You always play the level that you character is. The only time that you would play at a level you haven't earned is if you didn't beat the level bump prior to GenCon Indy and either GenCon SoCal or Winter Fantasy (which makes that bump happen I don't know). Each MoH adventure that I've GMed (and I'll be the first to say that's not very many) has a section called something like, "Scaling the Encounter" where different tactics, quantities of enemies and the like are presented for the DM to give the proper level of challange to each group. The problem is that many DM's just use what's written into the mod. If you have a 1st level PC, a 3rd level PC and a fourth level PC then determining the party level is easy: there is none. 4 players must play in an adventure to allow it to be ran and reported as an official game. Now if you had 4 players, levels: 1, 2, 3, and 4 the DM should probably go with encounters for a 2nd or 3rd level party - but it's there decision. Can PCs of different level play at the same table - sure. Is it suggested - no. When you get mixed tables the lower level PCs are usually the spectators that are just along for the ride. That said if all you have is 5 players and there are no other tables of that game running than you gotta play with whoever and deal.
IceV2 07-01-05, 10:28 PM	If the adventure says: "This module is for 4th level characters" that means every encounter is created for them. Like EberronArtificer says there's a section called Scaling The Encounter witch gives you (the GM) an alternative stats for the encounter, but, since the 4th level is the lowtest levet all the stats are for higher levels than this. And yes, you can scale the encounters to any level if you want. You can have a party with PCs of different levels, if the Average Party Level is 4 you can take the risk. Example: If you have 2 PCs Lv. 2 and 2 PCs Lv. 6 your Average Party Level is 4, so you can expect survive a 4th Level adventure. See the Dungeon Master's Guide to see how to scale an encounter.
DoveArrow 07-02-05, 02:46 AM	If you have a 1st level PC, a 3rd level PC and a fourth level PC then determining the party level is easy: there is none. 4 players must play in an adventure to allow it to be ran and reported as an official game. Yeah yeah, so I'm an idiot. Shut up. :P
DoveArrow 07-02-05, 02:47 AM	If you read an adventure then you can never play in that adventure. What if you're the GM? :)
IceV2 07-02-05, 08:45 AM	You can master the same adventure multiple times, but play it only once. :D
Frobi-Wan Kenobi 07-02-05, 11:12 AM	Here's a couple examples of how RPGA games work: Bobby goes to play EMH-3 No Ticket with his Changling Rogue Nox. Next month he's asked to DM it for another gaming gorup. He can run that game as a DM as many times as he can fit in. This is fine. Now, if Jimmy DMs EMH-5 at Origins he cannot ever play in EMH-5 as a player. This is called "eating the module." The only exception to this is the DM's Mark games that were designed so that you could DM one version of the Mark then play in another; however, the RPGA system has yet to be fixed to allow this to occur.
DoveArrow 07-02-05, 12:12 PM	Oh, so you can DM the same adventure multiple times? That is really good to know. I thought, for some reason, that you could only DM an adventure once, which seemed kind've silly to me, but whatever. Thank you guys for clearing that up.