Bringing in new characters to an existing campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Bringing in new characters to an existing campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Grayson
11-07-06, 09:55 PM Heyas all. I'm curious to hear what rules other DM's have for new characters joining an existing campaign. In a game I've just stopped playing, a new character brought in (through retiring an old character, new player, death of an existing character, whatever) came in at 1 level lower than the lowest member of the group, or 2 levels lower after anyone hit level 12. The game started at level 3, and is now early epic. The DM is an absolutely fantastic story-teller, and a great guy. The game is very high-powered, with the group being associated with a new god, lots of powerful NPCs, and equally tough enemies (the group is currently attempting to overthrow a gnollish empire). Current characters have far above the starting wealth guidelines.

At the beginning of the summer, we had a new player join, and they started at level 16, while the rest of the group was 18-19. They just hit 21. Three sessions ago, my character died (at level 20), and two sessions ago I came in at level 18. As of the end of last session, I was 19 (1xp short of 20, it was a -big- xp session), two or three other players were 21 (two players had used several 5000xp miracles each), and one or two were 22.

Imo, it's grossly unfair to new characters. There's never been a reasoning given, but I'm assuming the reason was to ensure players didn't just get themselves killed in order to bring in a new character (particularily if their gear was available to the party after their death).

At this point, if someone were to die permadeath, they'd come in at level 19, with other players being level 21-22. If I was still playing and someone died, they'd come in at level 17. Anything less than permadeath is recoverable, because we've got access to true ressurection.

Has anyone had a DM that used a similar system? How has it worked out?
Sildatorak
11-07-06, 10:05 PM I usually go with them coming in at the level of the lowest character or whatever your character would be if he or she was raised, whichever is lower.
Grayson
11-07-06, 10:17 PM Yeah, my rule has always been that you come in the bottom of the level of whatever the lowest level PC is.
Grayson
11-08-06, 12:33 PM Further thoughts?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Grayson 11-07-06, 09:55 PM	Heyas all. I'm curious to hear what rules other DM's have for new characters joining an existing campaign. In a game I've just stopped playing, a new character brought in (through retiring an old character, new player, death of an existing character, whatever) came in at 1 level lower than the lowest member of the group, or 2 levels lower after anyone hit level 12. The game started at level 3, and is now early epic. The DM is an absolutely fantastic story-teller, and a great guy. The game is very high-powered, with the group being associated with a new god, lots of powerful NPCs, and equally tough enemies (the group is currently attempting to overthrow a gnollish empire). Current characters have far above the starting wealth guidelines. At the beginning of the summer, we had a new player join, and they started at level 16, while the rest of the group was 18-19. They just hit 21. Three sessions ago, my character died (at level 20), and two sessions ago I came in at level 18. As of the end of last session, I was 19 (1xp short of 20, it was a -big- xp session), two or three other players were 21 (two players had used several 5000xp miracles each), and one or two were 22. Imo, it's grossly unfair to new characters. There's never been a reasoning given, but I'm assuming the reason was to ensure players didn't just get themselves killed in order to bring in a new character (particularily if their gear was available to the party after their death). At this point, if someone were to die permadeath, they'd come in at level 19, with other players being level 21-22. If I was still playing and someone died, they'd come in at level 17. Anything less than permadeath is recoverable, because we've got access to true ressurection. Has anyone had a DM that used a similar system? How has it worked out?
Sildatorak 11-07-06, 10:05 PM	I usually go with them coming in at the level of the lowest character or whatever your character would be if he or she was raised, whichever is lower.
Grayson 11-07-06, 10:17 PM	Yeah, my rule has always been that you come in the bottom of the level of whatever the lowest level PC is.
Grayson 11-08-06, 12:33 PM	Further thoughts?