Character with too much experience [Archive] - Wizards Community

Character with too much experience [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
OmiKapSi
03-26-04, 07:03 AM Ok, this probably won't be an issue any more, but I don't want it to be a problem in the future.

The situation is that I have one player who shows up to every game session and fully participates, while the attendance of my other players is spotty at best, I just happen to have enough of them to scrape together a game on a reasonably regular basis.

However, the regular player is rapidly outstripping the other players in experience, and the fact that he's doing character prodjects for bonus xp (a system I advised all players of at the beginning) isn't helping. I got him to take a break on the prodjects, but he's still way ahead of anyone else, and his regular attendance is going to gaurantee that he's not going to even out any time soon. I don't want him dominating the game, but I don't want to penalize him for essentially being a model player.

Suggestions?
Winsome
03-26-04, 07:53 AM Why are the others players not turning up as regularly?

If it's a scheduling problem then can you change the game time to encompass more players at once?

If they simply can't be bothered then don't change anything. The one good player will be their punishment. He'll be able to save them from reasonable CR monsters, he can handle things that the rest put together struggle with.
His char should notice that his companions aren't improving. Encourage him to berate them in character and mock their lack of ability.
Polymorph
03-26-04, 08:14 AM The experience system of d&d favors characters with levels lower than the rest of the party by granting them more xp. Also you need more and more xp for a single level up.
You'll be surprised how quickly these factors can even the odds.
I think you should try to give the players who do not come regulary some significant importance. For example, you could implement an NPC from one of these players' background into your storyline or just let a meaningful item fall into the problemplayer's hands. (Note that this item doesn't even have to be very "strong") Maybe this would make the game more interesting for them and motivate them to come more often.

Mocking the players who don't come that often or penalizing them would not improve anything for sure. At least that's how I see things...
beavis123
03-26-04, 09:15 AM Lousy players are the curse of all games.

Take them aside and try to motivate them postively to play. If not, then just tell them there's the door.

Find better players.
Sucineri
03-26-04, 09:25 AM If this model player shows up on time (or early) every time, and goes out of his way constantly to do the character projects that you were talking about..then let him keep doing it and make sure it shows..shouldn't just say "Hey, it's good that you are going above and beyond..but I can't reward you anymore if the OTHERS don't follow your example"..all that may lead to is the model player kicking the crap out of everyone else..actually that might be entertaining! :behold:
Brand Finbuck
03-26-04, 11:28 AM It's fine if he is higher in level. He'll be stronger in encounters and out of combat situations, but that doesn't mean that the encounters shouldn't account for that. Remember to balance fights against the whole party, not the whole party excluding him. This is going to provide an incentive for the other groupers to show up more often, so they can get stronger.

This will put your good player into a combat leadership role as well.

However, it seems you have a player whose truly invested in your game and that's a good thing. If he's always skipping ahead and showing up early, give him a chance to do something constructive that will impede him from gaining to many levels. Try starting a tangent campaign where he can play a villain, or a solo character that will become relevant in the primary game and make cameos. This way you burn off the time when he's the only player that's showed up.

Another suggestion is recursive experience for players that do not show up. Give them 1/2 of what present players earn. This keeps them from falling significantly behind, but their characters will be weaker if they don't consistently show up. I usually do not give out recursive treasure.

A minimum rule can also be effective. Automatically level up other players to be 1 or 2 levels behind the highest level party member.
Kiva
03-30-04, 01:04 PM I agree that you don't want to discourage a player that's going out of their way to participate, but I can see how if this player is getting far ahead of everyone else it can be a problem.

I had a similar situation, so I changed my rule on bonus xp for extra projects -- now only players who are behind and need to "catch up" in xp can earn extra in between games. It's become more of a tool for people who have lives ;) and just can't attend every game to not get too far behind.

Do these other players participate when they do show up? If so, you might try awarding xp during your games for roleplay related things (in addition to combat), to give them another opportunity to earn more. Of course, that opens it up for Model Player, too.
NiGrJo
03-30-04, 08:03 PM Wouldn't it be great if we, die-hard players and DMs, could get together in virtual-freaking reality or something and play?

Then we might not all have the same problem. These fair-weather players who waste our time being superficially interested in the game with pseudo-intention of benefitting the campaign and then disappearing because they can't commit a single day toward it?

Yours is an all-too-common problem that, unfortunately, there is no ideal answer to.

Find better, more committed players. Don't penalize your most true pc just because he actually cares about the commitment that you have made.

I don't know otherwise. There are shallow methods. Offer more cookies and carrots. I don't like this one, personally.

At any rate, try to meet some new DD players, cause the ones you seem to have are just like mine. Not worth a .:censored:

[Edited for masked vulgarity. -Pony]
OmiKapSi
03-31-04, 05:53 AM I think that the best part is that the other players just stopped showing up. No warning, no phone calls, just no presence. So now the campaign is officially ended, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna go to the trouble of contacting them to say so. Half of them don't have phone numbers, and the other half never answer.

Not that I'm bitter. :D
Brand Finbuck
03-31-04, 09:14 AM Take your devoted player and start a one on one campaign. Let other people slowly filter into the game, but allow the game to hinge on the involved player, not on the stragglers.

I've done this before, trust me that you'll enjoy it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
OmiKapSi 03-26-04, 07:03 AM	Ok, this probably won't be an issue any more, but I don't want it to be a problem in the future. The situation is that I have one player who shows up to every game session and fully participates, while the attendance of my other players is spotty at best, I just happen to have enough of them to scrape together a game on a reasonably regular basis. However, the regular player is rapidly outstripping the other players in experience, and the fact that he's doing character prodjects for bonus xp (a system I advised all players of at the beginning) isn't helping. I got him to take a break on the prodjects, but he's still way ahead of anyone else, and his regular attendance is going to gaurantee that he's not going to even out any time soon. I don't want him dominating the game, but I don't want to penalize him for essentially being a model player. Suggestions?
Winsome 03-26-04, 07:53 AM	Why are the others players not turning up as regularly? If it's a scheduling problem then can you change the game time to encompass more players at once? If they simply can't be bothered then don't change anything. The one good player will be their punishment. He'll be able to save them from reasonable CR monsters, he can handle things that the rest put together struggle with. His char should notice that his companions aren't improving. Encourage him to berate them in character and mock their lack of ability.
Polymorph 03-26-04, 08:14 AM	The experience system of d&d favors characters with levels lower than the rest of the party by granting them more xp. Also you need more and more xp for a single level up. You'll be surprised how quickly these factors can even the odds. I think you should try to give the players who do not come regulary some significant importance. For example, you could implement an NPC from one of these players' background into your storyline or just let a meaningful item fall into the problemplayer's hands. (Note that this item doesn't even have to be very "strong") Maybe this would make the game more interesting for them and motivate them to come more often. Mocking the players who don't come that often or penalizing them would not improve anything for sure. At least that's how I see things...
beavis123 03-26-04, 09:15 AM	Lousy players are the curse of all games. Take them aside and try to motivate them postively to play. If not, then just tell them there's the door. Find better players.
Sucineri 03-26-04, 09:25 AM	If this model player shows up on time (or early) every time, and goes out of his way constantly to do the character projects that you were talking about..then let him keep doing it and make sure it shows..shouldn't just say "Hey, it's good that you are going above and beyond..but I can't reward you anymore if the OTHERS don't follow your example"..all that may lead to is the model player kicking the crap out of everyone else..actually that might be entertaining! :behold:
Brand Finbuck 03-26-04, 11:28 AM	It's fine if he is higher in level. He'll be stronger in encounters and out of combat situations, but that doesn't mean that the encounters shouldn't account for that. Remember to balance fights against the whole party, not the whole party excluding him. This is going to provide an incentive for the other groupers to show up more often, so they can get stronger. This will put your good player into a combat leadership role as well. However, it seems you have a player whose truly invested in your game and that's a good thing. If he's always skipping ahead and showing up early, give him a chance to do something constructive that will impede him from gaining to many levels. Try starting a tangent campaign where he can play a villain, or a solo character that will become relevant in the primary game and make cameos. This way you burn off the time when he's the only player that's showed up. Another suggestion is recursive experience for players that do not show up. Give them 1/2 of what present players earn. This keeps them from falling significantly behind, but their characters will be weaker if they don't consistently show up. I usually do not give out recursive treasure. A minimum rule can also be effective. Automatically level up other players to be 1 or 2 levels behind the highest level party member.
Kiva 03-30-04, 01:04 PM	I agree that you don't want to discourage a player that's going out of their way to participate, but I can see how if this player is getting far ahead of everyone else it can be a problem. I had a similar situation, so I changed my rule on bonus xp for extra projects -- now only players who are behind and need to "catch up" in xp can earn extra in between games. It's become more of a tool for people who have lives ;) and just can't attend every game to not get too far behind. Do these other players participate when they do show up? If so, you might try awarding xp during your games for roleplay related things (in addition to combat), to give them another opportunity to earn more. Of course, that opens it up for Model Player, too.
NiGrJo 03-30-04, 08:03 PM	Wouldn't it be great if we, die-hard players and DMs, could get together in virtual-freaking reality or something and play? Then we might not all have the same problem. These fair-weather players who waste our time being superficially interested in the game with pseudo-intention of benefitting the campaign and then disappearing because they can't commit a single day toward it? Yours is an all-too-common problem that, unfortunately, there is no ideal answer to. Find better, more committed players. Don't penalize your most true pc just because he actually cares about the commitment that you have made. I don't know otherwise. There are shallow methods. Offer more cookies and carrots. I don't like this one, personally. At any rate, try to meet some new DD players, cause the ones you seem to have are just like mine. Not worth a .:censored: [Edited for masked vulgarity. -Pony]
OmiKapSi 03-31-04, 05:53 AM	I think that the best part is that the other players just stopped showing up. No warning, no phone calls, just no presence. So now the campaign is officially ended, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna go to the trouble of contacting them to say so. Half of them don't have phone numbers, and the other half never answer. Not that I'm bitter. :D
Brand Finbuck 03-31-04, 09:14 AM	Take your devoted player and start a one on one campaign. Let other people slowly filter into the game, but allow the game to hinge on the involved player, not on the stragglers. I've done this before, trust me that you'll enjoy it.