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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
747 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 01:11:02
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I was wondering how you have been handling leveling up in your campaigns. In particular, when druids gain wildshaping. I'd like to role play something meaningful with the player, rather than just "hey you get to wild shape now". I've glossed over other classes in the past ie fighters training etc.
Also, have you ever used a pay for training system in your campaigns? I'm considering leveling PCs up as normal, but to get the special abilities like evasion, they need to get training somehow.
Any thoughts on how you've handled this in a RP fashion is much appreciated. Thanks.
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 01:50:26
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I've had characters suddenly strike a heroic pose, numinous in a shaft of divine radiance shining down from yonder, while the rest of the world momentarily pauses in this dazzling spectacle. Instant and tangible rewards from your deity, it's been said.
I've had characters go through training, demonstrating consistent effort and practice over a considerable time ... and paying dearly for the services of a more accomplished peer, perhaps in gold and silver, perhaps with spells or magical items, perhaps through quests and missions and (worst of all!) special "favours" reserved for future use.
A variant on this was to force characters to earn XP at half their normal rate unless under the tutelage of a trainer, and this really hurts high-level PCs who seek to earn levels when no trainer is affordable or available. While, of course, characters who afford to spent time and resources can "buy XP" by constantly training and training without any actual adventure or risk, if the DM allows.
Most times, I have characters who are awarded XP from the last session at the beginning of the next session, so they kinda end of just levelling up while "idle" in town and guzzling cheap ale at the ubiquitous tavern. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 01:57:08
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| I've been doing it like you where the just level up during down time. My problem is, a druid doesn't just sit around a tavern and then EUERKA I CAN WILDSHAPE. I'm thinking of having her go back to her grove in the Moonwood, seek a mentor....something meaningful to do and role play to experience getting the ability as a character, not just a paper exercise. |
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Kris the Grey
Senior Scribe
USA
422 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 02:08:32
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Cards,
I'm with you. Although it isn't 'fair' to make players pay over and above XP costs and training times in order to gain new level based special abilities their class entitles them to, there still has to be some rational relationship to events in the world and their sudden gain of heroic/magical/divine powers. Otherwise you might as well just be playing WoW... So, I usually require some training time with someone else who has/can do the ability in question along with a rational explanation as to why the PC has been selected to acquire it (if it isn't just a trainable power). To keep it from being too burdensome I never charge too much more than standard training costs and times, you don't want lengthy special quests putting them at a disadvantage vis a vis other character classes. Your mentor plan sounds solid. |
Kris the Grey - Member in Good Standing of the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors, the Arcane Guild of Silverymoon, and the Connecticut Bar Association |
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Cards77
Senior Scribe
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 02:15:26
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I think especially the way the Pathfinder rules really beef up the core classes, that it doesn't hurt anyone at all to have a special role playing session to make the player feel invested in the character, and to make the ability to wild shape feel "special" because it IS. And more so than probably any other class ability. I'm not above doing a short special solo quest for something like this. I've done it before for players trying to get into a certain PrC or whatever.
The training method is also a good way to make sure the PCs don't get too much gold especially my group is only 3 PCs.
I'm just looking for some cool ideas on how other DM's have done it in the past. |
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 09:07:31
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Have an event occure. Primal spirits crossing paths with the druid during some undertaking, have them reason and talk and after some task for them they agrees to "blend in" with the druid and thus he gains the ability to shift to the form of the spirits. (This may be more suited for a shaman though....)
Have indeed a mentor of a druid grove calling on his inner instincts and his observation of nature around him and have him meditate until he manages through selfreflection and emotions to shift.
Short simple route, have him contract a weredisease  |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6405 Posts |
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Gary Dallison
Great Reader
United Kingdom
6405 Posts |
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Diffan
Great Reader
USA
4471 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 15:29:20
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| In my 3rd Edition games I'd allow for mechanical increases to be instantaneous such as HP, Saving Throws, BAB, lay on hands, and Skill points to name a few. Class features that might require special training (gaining another spell level, wild shape, a particular feat, a prestige class feature) often requires a bit more work in the roleplay department. As such they usually gain these effects when they're not in immediate danger. They might be able to aquire this positon while inside a dungeon if it's well fortified and they expect to spend a few days there or perhaps there's a stronghold of allies nearby they can hole up for a few days. In that loose timeframe it's easier to narrate how one gains these abilities instead of just saying "Ok, *poof* you now know that you have a Celestial Steed at your beck and call". |
Diffan's NPG Generator: FR NPC Generator |
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idilippy
Senior Scribe
USA
417 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 16:26:06
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| I do pretty much the exact same thing as Diffan. Hit dice, BAB, saving throws all immediately are the new number. New spells, feats, and class abilities require that the party be in a safe place out of immediate danger to rest and reflect on their experiences. This works in my preferred semi- or full on sandbox games where the party can decide to take a break after an immediate threat is ended and there is no driving plot that requires them to immediately charge ahead into the next situation. If I were running a linked adventure path where the party wouldn't get a chance for much, or any, downtime after gaining a level (some published adventures might have the party gain 2 or more levels between rest stops) I would probably ignore this preference and have the party learn everything they need to when they rest for a night or something. |
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sleyvas
Skilled Spell Strategist
USA
12096 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 16:46:05
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| I make this loud DING sound and then say "YOU HAVE LEVELED" in a deep baritone :-) |
Alavairthae, may your skill prevail
Phillip aka Sleyvas |
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Lord Bane
Senior Scribe
Germany
479 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2013 : 17:04:28
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Involve the "leveling up" with roleplay. Come up with ideas how you can describe how a character gained the new level and some flavor on the feats/spells he got.
For example a fighter was involved in a battle and saw someone do heavier blows with more power and he decided to do the same, if the one doing the heavy blows survived the fighter approached and asked about how he did it followed by a short lesson in which he leanrs the feat Powerstrike. This means you need to be in touch with the player and he has to inform you what he intends to get upon the next level. That way you can weave it into the story and it feels much more immersive than the instant "You got level! Weeeeeeeeeeeee" Game mechanics can be blended into the story if one just puts enough effort into it. |
The driving force in the multiverse is evil, for it forces good to act. |
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Ideas for role playing when PCs "level up"
