Characters above level 20

[bobpartdeux]

What with prior histories and all, it seems like it is really easy to get characters to really high level.

What are the official ways to deal with Characters above level 20?

Jon Miller

 

[Straybow]

I've never played D20, but in the old AD&D days treasure and really nasty monsters made advancing in high levels somewhat faster than in "human only" type campaigns.

In T20 you are only going to get to high levels if you don't multiclass. The system makes a single class character somewhat limited.

I wonder what kind of Epic Feats T20 might have?

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

I've been pondering this ever since the groups last experience reward. Some are crowding 15th, all told (most are multiclassed)... I know from playing D& D that that is a lot of livin' to get to that point, in most cases.

I plan to handle it with Old Age. Dependent upon science of course, most high level types are in thier sunset years if they are humans... not doddering nonagenarians by any stretch, but approaching infinity nonetheless. Most NPCs in the game are always thinking of retirement in some manner. I think this gives both Referee and Player a good amount of design freedom in character creation.

From a Game mechanic stance, it makes the Lifeblood concept a welcome one indeed! It negates the need to throw an entire army or Demogorgon to oppose the PCs... and makes the game have more depth than just a contest of might.

 

[veltyen]

I have been thinking about this. Extreme levels are in some ways more appropriate for oponents rather then players.

A 2000 year old corrupt noble (with a very reliable source(s) of ana-gathics) makes a very powerful adversary. From character generation an entity can expect approximately 1000XP per year, if they play it safe. This approximation makes the adversary approximately 62nd level. However this immortal can still be shredded by a handful of 14year old punks with machine pistols.

Age certainly brings down the curtain. Keeping anagathics away from players (except for the occasional cache) makes living forever a very unreliable proposition. Except if the players are getting excessive rewards, 20th level should require an age reaching at least the low 100's, making it very likely to not be seen except by geriatric vilani. The only way arround this is if the players are existing in extremely dangerous conditions, which justifies much higher rewards, but also allows the occasional random shot to kill the players (when in doubt give "Dumb Luck" to oponents), enough to keep level creep in check, or convince the players to stop being quite as dangerous.

 

[savage]

We were discussing this subject in T5 thread sometime ago.
I'm actually pro zero progression (aka improvement
through education).

I put together some XP values for achieving certain goals in T20 and I came to a realization. Without a T20 standard its difficult to judge.

The concept of making a character older because they get experience moves the timeline quicker.

So I "de-power" the D20 Levels. I introduce the CT instruction skill, and state that characters improve by either
1. skill improvement through education
2. If a level is reached skills can be purchased if they've been used during the last adventure.

I don't emphasis level as anything other than Education and Experience. In traveller a new
character could participate in a battle against a great evil (the 5th frontier war for example).

Savage

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

I always enforce a rational and realistic methodololgy about this, Making PCs submit a "time sheet" dealing with what they are training on, etc. Learning new skills ALWAYS requires an instructor of some sort. But doesnt necessarily need to be a human. IE, you could learn a Robot or Computer's skill if it can Instruct. Also, Practical experience can act as an instructor, in some circumstances, but this must be Role Played, of course...

 

[bobpartdeux]

yah

and research can also work

JM

 

[bobpartdeux]

yah

and research can also work

JM

 

[Flynn]

You'd be surprised at how long it might take to get to Epic levels using just the prior history. Assuming that each term of service gives you something like 6000xp, and it takes 32 terms to reach 20th level, and 35 terms to make it to 21st.

The game is set up to take about four adventures a level before advancement occurs, so it'd take four months (assuming one completed adventure a month) to bring a character up a level. Assuming that the characters generated out in prior history to a max of 10th level (which is the highest I've seen rolled in my games), that's still almost three years of gameplay before you hit Epic Levels. That sounds great!

Now, of course, other gamers have other experiences with advancement, etc, so it might be sooner or later than that.

Once a character makes 21st level, I'd suggest using the basic Epic rules as available in the SRD. For taking class levels over 20th, I'd suggest another class feat every three levels, build some Epic Feats if you need them, and let it go at that.

Hope this helps,
Flynn

 

[Shadowdancer]

/ mode engaged

Aidan at Epic Levels

<shudder>

/ mode disengaged

 

[jasper]

if I remember right. The BAB does not increase. Stamina increase, skills increase as normal and additional feats follow one every four. I would urge you NOT to use the EPIC srd.

 

[Pagan priest]

On the WotC board, in the d20 Modern section, there was a discussion of Epic rules for the Modern game. If I can find it, I'll post a link, there were some good ideas in there.