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#1 icefractal Jan 07, 2007 20:31:42

On more than one occasion, I've heard complaints that high-level play in D&D "isn't realistic". Usually, a prime point of contention is that high-level characters are too "invulnerable" to normal threats. For instance, if the town guard surrounds a level 15 character and points crossbows at him, he can pretty much laugh it off. This is, for the most part, true. However, that doesn't mean D&D isn't realistic about high-levels - it means that high levels aren't to everybody's taste. And I'll explain why. Level 10. When the PCs are level 10, they're each CR 10. Guess what else is CR 10? An 11-headed Hydra. A scorpion as big as a house. An even bigger animated colossus. An adult white dragon. A fire giant. A huge spider demon (Bebelith). And the legendary clay golem. Should any of those things be frightened of regular town guards with crossbows? If so, why do you even need adventurers? Level 15. At level 15, the PCs are the equals of some pretty tough creatures. A mummy lord, for instance. An adult red dragon. An extraplanar guardian of life and death (Marut). In fact, they're more powerful than an iron golem or a twelve headed firebreathing hydra. Would any of those creatures be seriously wounded because someone knifed it while it was eating? Level 20. At level 20, the PCs - in fact, each PC individually - is the equal of the Tarrasque. Or a Pit Fiend. Or some of the greatest dragons. Together as a group, they can match the greatest celestial warriors (Solar), or the might of a Titan. Now would you really expect a Titan to get mugged in an alley, intimidated by some thugs, or starve in the desert? D&D, in fact, has - incorporated into the core rules - a system for grim-n-gritty adventures where starvation, cutthroats, thugs, and disease are major threats to anyone. A system where you mock a guardsman at your own peril. And that system is called "low levels". Grim-n-Gritty is realistic for low-mid level characters, but equally so, legendary status is realistic for high level characters. If you want to stick to a certain style of play, just stay in the appropriate level range. No "fixing" required.