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Thread: Levels of PCs

  1. #1
    Ed Stark
    Guest

    Levels of PCs

    I have an important question for all of you, and I'd REALLY appreciate as
    many accurate responses as I can get. What level PCs are participating in
    your current or recently-past campaigns? If you have multiple campaigns, or
    if you are playing in one and running one, please include as much detailed
    information as possible. There's no need to clog up the mailing list on
    this one (if you don't want to); you can simply e-mail your answers to me
    (if you would be so kind).

    Please make the subject line "BR PC Levels" or something similar, and
    include the level information in the body of the text. You can provide more
    interesting details if you wish (like whether or not your characters have
    few, or lots, of magical items, or what percentage of the PCs are regents),
    but that's secondary.

    Thanks very much.

    -- ->-- ->-- ->--@
    Ed Stark
    Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
    Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
    TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
    (soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

  2. #2
    nick yates
    Guest

    Levels of PCs

    At 09:52 AM 1/8/98 -0800, you wrote:
    >I have an important question for all of you, and I'd REALLY appreciate as
    >many accurate responses as I can get. What level PCs are participating in
    >your current or recently-past campaigns? If you have multiple campaigns, or
    >if you are playing in one and running one, please include as much detailed
    >information as possible. There's no need to clog up the mailing list on
    >this one (if you don't want to); you can simply e-mail your answers to me
    >(if you would be so kind).
    >
    >Please make the subject line "BR PC Levels" or something similar, and
    >include the level information in the body of the text. You can provide more
    >interesting details if you wish (like whether or not your characters have
    >few, or lots, of magical items, or what percentage of the PCs are regents),
    >but that's secondary.
    >
    >Thanks very much.
    >
    > -- ->-- ->-- ->--@
    >Ed Stark

    In our current campaign, we only have one regent character 2/3
    Mage/Fighter regent of Roesone, a 3/3 priest of Haelyn and my character a
    boring 4th level vanilla fighter. We all started at second level and
    thanks to a bit of GM laziness we haven't played for a little while. I
    think we all got one randomly generated magic item, but they weren't too
    unbalancing, like a scroll of Neutralise poison, nice for when you live
    right next door to Tal-Qazar!

    Nick
    Nick Yates,
    nyates@std.iae.univ-poitiers.fr

  3. #3
    Simon Graindorge
    Guest

    Levels of PCs

    This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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    >I have an important question for all of you, and I'd REALLY appreciate =
    as
    >many accurate responses as I can get. What level PCs are participating =
    in
    >your current or recently-past campaigns? If you have multiple =
    campaigns,
    or
    >if you are playing in one and running one, please include as much =
    detailed
    >information as possible.



    I know you asked for this not to be sent to the mailing list, but I =
    would
    be interested to hear other people's opinions and thoughts on this =
    subject.
    In particular, I would like to hear the opinions of other DM's =
    (especially
    those who have run several BR campaigns) on the effect that PC (regent)
    levels has on the campaign.

    My campaign has only two PC's, both of whom are regents. They are (very)
    high level, mainly because we don't get a chance to play that often, and
    building a character up a long way and developing their 'life' is very
    satisfying for players. There is (was) also a second reason - creating
    adventures for two characters is difficult, which is partly how and why =
    the
    characters developed as they have. The characters came from another
    campaign. details are as follows:

    1. human dual-classed ranger/mage (level 9/10); regent of Ilien

    2. human dual-classed thief/cleric (level 10/11) - interesting story
    behind this one!!!; regent of Medoere

    The characters work well, especially in BR. The main reason for this is
    that the players are very familiar with their characters and their
    ideals/morals. The choice of domains is partly to dampen their power.
    Naturally though, being such high level (for BR anyway), I have had to =
    make
    some changes to the other regents. Generally I bump their levels up
    significantly, so that the relative strengths of the regents (compared =
    to
    each other) remains the same as in the Ruins of Empire booklet. The
    characters don't have many magic items, which reduces their potency a
    little.

    The only two really negative aspects, which have become slowly apparent,
    with characters of this level. Firstly, being of such high level, they
    don't have that 'fear' that a first level character might have when
    confronted by one of the more powerful regents of Aniure. It's difficult =
    to
    threaten the regents because they are so powerful in themselves. The =
    second
    factor is that the number of spells each character has at his disposal =
    are
    very great. This tends to create situations where things are done with
    magic that a low level character might have to think very seriously =
    about.
    A good example is things such as monster (or bandit) incursions -
    characters of this level can go in and almost single-handedly beat them =
    all
    up.

    Looking back now, I can say that characters of this level are not really
    suited to the BR campaign. In fact, having low level characters being
    bullied about by other more powerful, higher level regents simply =
    doesn't
    happen. The magic factor is especially difficult to overcome. My advice =
    to
    other DM's considering such high level PC regents (I think as travelling
    heroes such level PC's would work fine) would be that it will work IF =
    the
    characters are of classes which are not very magical (ie, warrior, =
    thief).

    Anyway, just my thoughts on the issue. Hopefully it evokes some =
    interesting
    responses.

    Cheers,

    Simon Graindorge
    slg@nw.com.au

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    >I have an important question for all of you, and I'd REALLY =
    appreciate=20
    as>many accurate responses as I can get. What level PCs are =
    participating=20
    in>your current or recently-past campaigns? If you have multiple=20
    campaigns,or>if you are playing in one and running one, =
    please=20
    include as much detailed>information as=20
    possible.<snip>I know you asked for this not to be =
    sent to=20
    the mailing list, but I wouldbe interested to hear other people's =
    opinions=20
    and thoughts on this subject.In particular, I would like to hear the =

    opinions of other DM's (especiallythose who have run several BR =
    campaigns)=20
    on the effect that PC (regent)levels has on the campaign.My =
    campaign=20
    has only two PC's, both of whom are regents. They are (very)high =
    level,=20
    mainly because we don't get a chance to play that often, andbuilding =
    a=20
    character up a long way and developing their 'life' is =
    verysatisfying for=20
    players. There is (was) also a second reason - creatingadventures =
    for two=20
    characters is difficult, which is partly how and why thecharacters =
    developed=20
    as they have. The characters came from anothercampaign. details are =
    as=20
    follows:1.  human dual-classed ranger/mage (level 9/10); =
    regent of=20
    Ilien2.  human dual-classed thief/cleric (level 10/11) -=20
    interesting storybehind this one!!!; regent of MedoereThe =
    characters=20
    work well, especially in BR. The main reason for this isthat the =
    players are=20
    very familiar with their characters and theirideals/morals. The =
    choice of=20
    domains is partly to dampen their power.Naturally though, being such =
    high=20
    level (for BR anyway), I have had to makesome changes to the other =
    regents.=20
    Generally I bump their levels upsignificantly, so that the relative=20
    strengths of the regents (compared toeach other) remains the same as =
    in the=20
    Ruins of Empire booklet. Thecharacters don't have many magic items, =
    which=20
    reduces their potency alittle.The only two really negative =
    aspects,=20
    which have become slowly apparent,with characters of this level. =
    Firstly,=20
    being of such high level, theydon't have that 'fear' that a first =
    level=20
    character might have whenconfronted by one of the more powerful =
    regents of=20
    Aniure. It's difficult tothreaten the regents because they are so =
    powerful=20
    in themselves. The secondfactor is that the number of spells each =
    character=20
    has at his disposal arevery great. This tends to create situations =
    where=20
    things are done withmagic that a low level character might have to =
    think=20
    very seriously about.A good example is things such as monster (or =
    bandit)=20
    incursions -characters of this level can go in and almost =
    single-handedly=20
    beat them allup.Looking back now, I can say that characters =
    of this=20
    level are not reallysuited to the BR campaign. In fact, having low =
    level=20
    characters beingbullied about by other more powerful, higher level =
    regents=20
    simply doesn'thappen. The magic factor is especially difficult to =
    overcome.=20
    My advice toother DM's considering such high level PC regents (I =
    think as=20
    travellingheroes such level PC's would work fine) would be that it =
    will work=20
    IF thecharacters are of classes which are not very magical (ie, =
    warrior,=20
    thief).Anyway, just my thoughts on the issue. Hopefully it =
    evokes some=20
    interestingresponses.Cheers,   &nbs p;&=
    nbsp;  =20
    Simon =
    Graindorge      &nbs p;   slg@nw.com.au

    - ------=_NextPart_000_0026_01BD200E.B90CD9A0--

  4. #4

    Levels of PCs

    In a message dated 98-01-12 22:28:26 EST, you write:
    >I have an important question for all of you, and I'd REALLY appreciate as
    >many accurate responses as I can get. What level PCs are participating in
    >your current or recently-past campaigns? If you have multiple campaigns,
    or
    >if you are playing in one and running one, please include as much detailed
    >information as possible.



    Well, I've run one campaign and am currently running another, so I'll throw
    in my two cents worth.
    Both campaigns have involved the characters starting out as 1st level non-
    regents who are slowly brought into the realm game. In my first campaign the
    characters didn't even become regents until they were about 4th level. This
    seems to be how my current campaign is heading as well. In the first campaign
    I had a Paladine Law regent, a thief regent, Priest and Mage, all in Medeore.
    They were about 7th through 9th level when the campaign ended.
    To tell the truth, I never had a problem with the character's level. I found
    that when you are factoring in such things as political threats and war, even
    high level characters could be frightened. I actually had MUCH more problems
    dealing with the high bloodlines that I mistakenly allowed the characters to
    have. Level just doesn't mean as much as Bloodline strength when it comes to
    realm actions.
    I guess my overall opinion would be that mid-level characters make the best,
    and most fun, regents.
    Hope that helps,
    Blastin

  5. #5
    prtr02@scorpion.nspco.co
    Guest

    Levels of PCs

    Blastin is here! aawwlllright!

    I'd agree with mid-level seems to be the best. Tough enough to fight, not
    tough enough to be fearless/indestructable.

    Level doesn't seem to matter that much for regents of larger countries,
    bloodline strength is more important.

    Magic strength and availability seem to be the key to a BR campaign. I'm
    toying with the idea of making realm magic harder and perhaps eliminating
    higher level spells. For an excellent discussion of this subject see
    Player's Option: Spells and magic. Magic is rare on Cerilia, but its power is
    great. I don't know if I like the feel this has given the campaigns I've DM'd
    and played in. How do I describe it??

    little bit o' magic.
    little bit o' magic.
    hey! a +2 sword.
    little bit o' magic.
    not many wizards around here...
    lot of priests though.
    and some of them are pretty tough.
    little bit o' magic.
    WHAM! BLAST! KERBLOOWY! BIG MAGIC!

    I don't know. Does anyone else like or dislike this "feeling"? It revolves
    around the power of wizardly magic vs its rarity.

    Randax

  6. #6

    Levels of PCs

    >>I don't know. Does anyone else like or dislike this "feeling"? It revolves
    around the power of wizardly magic vs its rarity.

    Randax
    Heh...Good ta be back Randax ;)
    Blastin

  7. #7
    Ed Stark
    Guest

    Levels of PCs

    If my previous message didn't get through, thanks to everyone who responded
    regarding the levels and abilities of their PCs. I've input the information
    and it's really been very helpful to think about.


    -- ->-- ->-- ->--@
    Ed Stark
    Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
    Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
    TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
    (soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

  8. #8
    Darkstar
    Guest

    Levels of PCs

    jonathan.w.ingram@exgate.tek.com wrote:
    >
    > One good way to do this is to put a limit on the number of mages on the
    > continent and stick to it! If your PC mage dies off, you're not going to
    > get another one. Henchman/lieutenant mages should be even more rare.

    This is what I have done in my pbem campaign. I basically set out that
    there are around 150 blooded mages in all of Cerilia, not counting
    Elves. So if someone is looking for a mage lieutenant and all the
    current mages already have employers then they will not get one. It also
    means that mages are an important resource and regents must pay for
    their alliegence.



    - --
    Ian Hoskins

    e-Mail: hoss@box.net.au
    ICQ: 2938300
    Home Page: http://www.box.net.au/~hoss/birth.html

    From the Darkness we came,
    and to the Darkness we will return.

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