For people new to DnD

[Micheal Hunt]

Hi

So not everyone who is listening will be familiar with the ins and outs of DnD I expect So I wanted to ask some clarifying questions:
1) How quickly do people level up? Almost every episode it's mentioned that "you're still level 1" so was just wondering when it would start to pick up in that sense.
2) In a similar vain, what is the expected power growth? Do we hit level 4 and suddenly are killing dudes left right and centre? Is there a point where we make Bertys dream amount of money?

That was it really but if I think of more I shall post more

[Brave Sir Robin]

So, although incredibly similar to the 3.5 edition of D&D the system we play in is called Pathfinder.

There are very minor spoilers below. Though nothing plot relevant, some people might like to be warned.







(1) Partly this is due to the interaction of the play schedule and the release schedule. We record 3 or 4 episodes during a single play session, and typically level 1 would last 3 or 4 play sessions. In terms of the podcast that is anything between 10 and 16 episodes. In the game we are now level 2, but I'm afraid you won't hear that for another few weeks (I don't remember exactly what episode it happens in).

Level progress tends to gradually slow down, so each subsequent level is likely to take a little longer to achieve.

(2) Not every level increase is equal, the difference between level 1 and level 2 is very very small, except we suddenly all have enough hit points to survive more than one attack most of the time.

Level 3 and Level 4 are certainly bigger increases in power but I don't think there's any individual level where things change dramatically. Obviously in terms of character builds, there may be times when a character takes a specific feat which ends up working really well with their existing build and making them suddenly feel much more powerful. Unlocking new spells for the casters may occasionally have a similar effect.

Money is not necessarily related to level, though this may be more of a GM question, that Alex Newall or Oneiros could answer better, as I believe there are guidelines. It tends to be more plot based, and I certainly get the feeling it will be in this campaign. Given what I know of Bertie's background I don't think we will ever earn enough money for him to be satisfied.

[Oneiros]

As Brave Sir Robin said, there are guidelines. For Pathfinder, you can see them on the character advancement table here: www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/character-advancement

The main thing to note is that character wealth is supposed to represent both cash and assets, so for many adventurers most of their wealth is tied up in their armour/weapons/worn magic items. Also, the table is a guideline to what the system expects an average character to be worth at those points. How often treasure is given out (be it in the form of found loot that is instantly usable or stuff to be sold) can be a more significant limiting factor to advancement than encounters faced. For example, a level 5 character using equipment equivalent to that of a level 3 character is probably going to find it harder/takes longer to get to level 6 than one with a level-appropriate amount of gear.

Obviously I can't answer for Alex and the specifics of this campaign but, broadly, I try and keep characters at or around their expected wealth levels in my games. Variance will occur naturally, though, and past a certain level it often becomes somewhat irrelevant (the 'adventurers destroy economies syndrome'). I've tended to use the stated wealth levels when asking folk to create characters above 1st level. And later on use judgement calls to say whether or not PCs can buy/sell their items in a given locale and whether there are any penalties. As a general rule of thumb, PCs in one of my D&D games can sell stuff for 90% of list price in most cities.

[Alex Newall]

I will not comment on this right now as it will spoil some stuff but I would go so far as to say both Oneiros and Brave Sir Robin are correct.

[Jonny]

Also remember that the episodes are only an hour long - in my experience, levelling up is generally to be expected once every three sessions or so to begin with, and less frequently as time goes on. Given that a "normal" game session is usually 3-4 hours, hitting level 2 around the 12 episode mark makes complete sense to me.

It feels a bit longer, because we only get an hour a week, so to us it's been twelve weeks between levels 1 and 2, but it makes sense given it's been just shy of 12 hours or actual game time (AKA about 3 sessions)

[Alex Newall]

On the bright side, since I hope at least one character might make it to level 20 the podcast could run for YEARS. Although by that point podcasts may be extinct in which case I'll edit the episodes just for me.

[Brave Sir Robin]

Dibs on being the character that survives. Hamid is gonna be so awesome at level 20.

[Oneiros]

Once a spellcaster gets their hands on 6th level spells they become a real DM headache... *remembers Derenn'ai and Kareema*

[Jonny]

Sept 14, 2015 13:39:53 GMT Alex Newall said:

Although by that point podcasts may be extinct in which case I'll edit the episodes just for me

The year is The Future. A blasted, post-apocalyptic wasteland. Alex is huddled in the corner of a corrugated iron hut, surrounded by bloodstained and bullet-holed pathfinder books. The other side of the GM screen is James' bleached skeleton, moustache and hair still inexplicably intact. There is no sound other than the periodic clatter of a twenty-sided dice. Finally, the silence is broken as Alex cries out "Level 20!" in exhalation. He leans his starved frame over the the computer and mic that have been faithfully recording all this time. He cleans up the background noise, sets it playing, and lies down. A smile plays across his lips, as the words echo, looped across the end of humanity. "Level 20!"... "Level 20!"... "Level 20!"...




...Sorry, that one got away from me