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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 10:25:18
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I was not around in the times of OD&D. Can someone tell me what the named levels were and how they worked? I seem to recall there was a thread about it, but I can't find it.
Would it be possible to use 'named levels' in 3e/4e/5e?
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SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
Edited by - Zireael on 06 Feb 2012 08:27:06
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 10:56:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
I was not around in the times of OD&D. Can someone tell me what the named levels were and how they worked? I seem to recall there was a thread about it, but I can't find it.
Would it be possible to use 'named levels' in 3e/4e/5e?
Wait until the 1E books come out in April -- the names are in there. As I recall, they were just titles.
You should be able to use most of them in later editions, though some of the wizard titles, such as sorcerer, are now separate classes. |
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Artemas Entreri
Great Reader
USA
3131 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 14:02:07
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| At what level would a character become a "Master of Mischief?" |
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Edited by - Artemas Entreri on 02 Feb 2012 14:02:28 |
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Wolfhound75
Learned Scribe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 14:39:08
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21,000....(post count)  |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 15:01:57
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Each level of each class has a level title associated with it, thus a F1 is a veteran, a F2 a warrior, etc., up to 'name level', the level that grants the character's final hit die and the culminating title of that class: lord for fighters, wizard for magic-users, etc. You could use level titles in any version of D&D. They fit the World of Greyhawk best, and are not supposed to be a strict thing in any case, and can be interpreted either as a general guide to the correspondence between levels and the role indicated by the title, or as a more formal hierarchy within a professional or religious society or order; for instance, Faiths & Avatars and other Realms sources give ranks in priestly hierarchies which are versions of AD&D level titles, though in practice a politically adept cleric might rise in rank faster than level. Likewise for e.g. Purple Dragon ranks; and the Realms has its own different terminology for some things (underpriest, upperpriest, mageling, mage of power, etc.).
As Wooly says, buy the books, try the game, find much inspiration therein. |
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Light
Learned Scribe
Australia
233 Posts |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 16:54:04
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| Named levels were used in AD&D, but discarded in AD&D 2E. They really served no purpose anyhow. They were also very generic and probably inapplicable in the Realms setting; a cleric might be called "High Battlepriest", "Stormlord", or "Most Watery" at any level, while "Bishop" and "Cardinal" might be nonexistant ranks within his faith's hierarchy. A fighter might call himself "Knight" or "Lord", but without being granted actual land and title as a feudal vassal such declarations would be pretentious, false, even dangerous. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 18:05:09
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Thanks for the link, Light - that brings back fond memories. 
EDIT: An odd thought just occurred to me - a lot of thse names became classes or PrCs in their own right.
What if, in 5e, they took the basic 4 (5 counting psions) and used each name as a career-path (like feat-Trees in MORPs).
So you could start life as a layman, and the take Priest, Cleric, Monk, etc as your path(s). At a certain level, you could pick a second path (and a third, if they want to also make this more like the tier system) as an option. I'd probably change it from 10 to 7 levels, though, for the tiers - people need to multi-class options earlier these days.
I think I just married 1e to 4e!  |
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Edited by - Markustay on 02 Feb 2012 18:12:56 |
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Arivia
Great Reader
Canada
2965 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 18:43:57
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| Name levels are useful for explaining things about the setting; it bears note that level progression in 1e is much more specifically tied to narrative events and specific world statuses. A Lord like you describe, Ayrik, would not have any trouble finding a title as the accrual of land is built into adventuring. Really, the name levels are far better than the flavourless detachment in 2e and later, where things just sort of meander around the levelling curve. |
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Hawkins
Great Reader
USA
2131 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 19:05:37
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| Here is a list that I found with a little search-fu. |
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Zireael
Master of Realmslore
Poland
1190 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 15:00:56
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Thanks.
On topic of OD&D, I read somewhere that OD&D had ability scores explicitly compared to RL human ability. Is this info available on net or should I look for old sourcebooks? If yes, which ones? |
SiNafay Vrinn, the daughter of Lloth, from Ched Nasad!
http://zireael07.wordpress.com/ |
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crazedventurers
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1073 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2012 : 09:31:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
Thanks.
On topic of OD&D, I read somewhere that OD&D had ability scores explicitly compared to RL human ability. Is this info available on net or should I look for old sourcebooks? If yes, which ones?
Hi Zirael
That not how I remembered it, so I went and dug out the LBB. I can't see in them any relationship to real life
Cheers
Damian |
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Candlekeep Forum 7 May 2005 |
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Bakra
Senior Scribe
628 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2012 : 16:30:04
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quote:
Originally posted by crazedventurers
quote:
Originally posted by Zireael
Thanks.
On topic of OD&D, I read somewhere that OD&D had ability scores explicitly compared to RL human ability. Is this info available on net or should I look for old sourcebooks? If yes, which ones?
Hi Zirael
That not how I remembered it, so I went and dug out the LBB. I can't see in them any relationship to real life
Cheers
Damian
It was a suggestion from an old White Wolf magazine article. I think is was WW. It was the magazine that had the Joe the Average hero in it. It took the character Joe, gave him the equivalent average stats in a game system then see how he would survive said game system. |
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Wolfhound75
Learned Scribe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2012 : 16:46:03
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If I recall correctly "Name Level" was a mechanic used to designate when your character's interests were expected to take a broader scope in the world. To put it in game terms, Wizards may take apprentices to further magical study. Fighters may spend less time adventuring and more time building their stronghold. Clerics could start a parish and attract worshipers. Rogues might have to defend themselves from rivals wishing to replace them in the thieves guild hierarchy.
It varied depending upon class which 'level' was considered the Name Level. It was a way to mark significant character progression in an era where "level 20" didn't really exist.
EDIT: Don't Misspell, Misspell. Miss Pell. *teeth grinding* |
"Firepower - if it's not working, you're not using enough." ~ Military Proverb
"If at first you do succeed, you must've rolled a natural 20!" |
Edited by - Wolfhound75 on 06 Feb 2012 16:47:21 |
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TBeholder
Great Reader
2427 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2012 : 07:47:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Wolfhound75
If I recall correctly "Name Level" was a mechanic used to designate when your character's interests were expected to take a broader scope in the world.
Not name levels, level names of OD&D.
Here they are, on Wizards' site. |
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Wolfhound75
Learned Scribe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2012 : 14:44:52
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Yes, and those came about because you couldn't call a fighter a Fighter until Name Level; so you had to have something else to call them. By knowing the background history of the information you seek, it should be easier to find it.
Good Hunting! |
"Firepower - if it's not working, you're not using enough." ~ Military Proverb
"If at first you do succeed, you must've rolled a natural 20!" |
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Named levels and other OD&D questions
