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Ozzalum
Learned Scribe
USA
277 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 15:44:30
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Is there a general rule of thumb for how long it takes to advance in levels in the Realms? As far as I can see it is pretty random except for epic characters who do tend to be pretty old.
For instance, is it unreasonable to have a 10 level character who is in his early 20's?
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 15:57:45
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quote:
Originally posted by Ozzalum
Is there a general rule of thumb for how long it takes to advance in levels in the Realms? As far as I can see it is pretty random except for epic characters who do tend to be pretty old.
I don't think age should have that much to do with how high in levels someone is--it has more to do with how active they are in their adventuring career (or how "active" they are in general).
That being said, making high-level characters too young can stretch belief (like having a character reach lvl 20 before reaching age 20). |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 15:59:06
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I'm going to say that there really isn't a clear cut answer to this. :)
Is it unreasonable? Nah, I don't think so. Maybe the character did a lot of killing, learning, etc.
Of course, there is also the exp chart changes from edition to edition. It took longer to level in 2e then it does in 3/3.5e, but a lot of the characters just had their levels carried over except for a few that were modified, and some of those modifications were strange.
Also, in 2e there was no starting age by profession. Humans all had the same starting age die roll, repeat for elves, etc. So you could have started adventuring at around 13 and during those 7 years, maybe the character did a lot of different things that netted him the ten levels.
However, my main argument about age vs level in D&D, going back to 2e when I started DMing, is that a lot of characters and NPC's just seem to shoot up in levels and only a few years have passed, which is why I try to advance the years before PC's get to high of a level. In my email games, I've noticed that that is a real pain to do because the players get a little bored. :) |
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 17:06:59
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Not that I'm an expert or anything, but this is something to which I've given thought and would offer my opinion.
Character levels are really just an expression of how powerful a character is. A fighter's level is a measure of how well the fighter fights. Some people just have incredible natural talent and might be "high level fighters" without a whole lot of background experience (perhaps a lot of training), while some might train for years and years and never really advance.
Wizard levels represent primarily the spells that a character can cast (how many and which ones), and apprentices can emerge from towers able to cast fireballs who've never actually fought even a single goblin. All their xp, I guess, comes from research and practice.
It's also possible to be invested with an uncanny amount of power at any age, and depending on your DM, this could take the form of levels. You could be a non-descript 65 year old woman and suddenly you get blasted with some serious magical mojo that turns you into a 20th level sorcerer. (Of course, there are serious consequences to having that much power, etc., etc., but it can indeed happen.)
When it comes down to it, levels are really just a game mechanic, so that your characters develop and gain power in a consistent and fair way.
As for a typical "pace" of power accumulation, again, that depends on your DM. Some DMs take their characters from level 1 to level 20 in basically a year or two of game time. Some DMs (like Ed for instance) have been playing with the same group for 30+ years and haven't hit 12+ level. It's all a matter of your group and your gaming style.
Remember also that high level people are very, very rare--increasingly rare as they get higher. And that makes sense. Unless the world throws challenges of a perfect level in your way (like in a D&D game), you're liable to advance slower every level--you get less xp for fighting the same monsters and require more to go up in level. People probably gain levels fairly quickly 1-7, slow down in the 8-15 range, and very gradually advance through 16-20.
As for the novels, characters gain power when they need it, as they need it, as the story demands. Generally, there is a certain amount of adventuring/practice/duelling/etc. involved, depicted in the novels or noted in the past, because that's how the game works and the novels reflect the game. That said, all different characters have different paces and power at differen ages.
In my books, for instance, Arya Venkyr is about 24 years of age, has been adventuring for around 8 years, and is 7th-ish level. The ghostwalker has been doing his thing for 15 years and is 14-15th level (or so). Sounds fairly even at a rate of 1 level a year.
Meanwhile, the Fox-at-Twilight is around 16th level, I should think, and she's pretty young for an elf (somewhere between 80-120 years of age). Then again, she's also been adventuring for quite some time in her past, probably 3 times as long as the ghostwalker, who is of comparable level. Her situation is somewhat like that of Drizzt, who has been adventuring/training basically all his life and at age 80 is 17-18th level.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4692 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 17:38:15
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A level a month *wink*
No there are no guidelines at all, experience IRL depends on what a person has to deal with. The same applies to PCs.
As far as Ed's game going for 30 years, this does not need to mean the characters are 30 years older. Depending on style of play one game sesion could reflect a single day in the life of the PCs. More often a week (sometimes a month can be covered when party is in safe place to heal, reseach etc.). |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 17:42:42
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| It would be nearly impossible to make a rule for this, as it would depend on the individual characters background. One could give an estimate in a rulebook, but I have a feeling that it would be seen as an ideal or a rule by many people. It is better to just let each player/group find this out for them selves. |
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riot the outsider
Learned Scribe
USA
121 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 17:59:01
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| how do you know when your chracters can level up is there a point value on each monster (meaning if iam at 995 exp.and i need to reach a thousand to reach my next level,and i kill a monster thats worth 5 exp does this mean i level up to my next level. is this how leveling up works. |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 18:16:12
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quote:
Originally posted by riot the outsider
how do you know when your chracters can level up is there a point value on each monster (meaning if iam at 995 exp.and i need to reach a thousand to reach my next level,and i kill a monster thats worth 5 exp does this mean i level up to my next level. is this how leveling up works.
It really depends on your DM. Most DMs I know award the XP after a play session, so that is where you would find out that you obtained enough CP to level and that is when you would level up. But other DMs might do it different. |
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Erik Scott de Bie
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
4598 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 20:14:50
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quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal
As far as Ed's game going for 30 years, this does not need to mean the characters are 30 years older. Depending on style of play one game sesion could reflect a single day in the life of the PCs. More often a week (sometimes a month can be covered when party is in safe place to heal, reseach etc.).
Indeed! For the sake of clarification, what I meant was that some groups spend a year or two taking a group of PCs from level 1 to 20 (or beyond) and some groups spend 30 years taking them to level 10 or so.
It's all about the pace of the game and xp awards should be wedded to the progression that works out best for everyone.
Cheers |
Erik Scott de Bie
'Tis easier to destroy than to create.
Author of a number of Realms novels (GHOSTWALKER, DEPTHS OF MADNESS, and the SHADOWBANE series), contributor to the NEVERWINTER CAMPAIGN GUIDE and SHADOWFELL: GLOOMWROUGHT AND BEYOND, Twitch DM of the Dungeon Scrawlers, currently playing "The Westgate Irregulars" |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2007 : 23:36:35
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| I came to give my two cents in this matter, but Erik have said all, IMO. One example that age donīt count in power level is Raistlin, of Dragonlance - his desire of power and his personal quest put him as a great mage, even as a young. |
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Character Age and Levels
