Progression of levels

[JediOre]

Joseph, Harley, et. al.,

Hey guys, I'm curious about the anticipated rate of leveling in DCC RPG. Roughly how many of your DCC modules would you expect a party of PCs to venture through before moving up a level?

For example, let's say a party of six 1st level PCs enter into DCC #1, Idylls of the Rat King. Following that they venture to Wildsgate in DCC #28, Into the Wilds, and finally finish their journeys in DCC #45, Malice of the Medusa.

Assuming all the PCs survive, what level should they be? In AD&D and/or Castles & Crusades, I would figure they would be a mix of levels two and three. In 3.X, I would guess most would be at or near 4th or 5th level.

Thoughts?

[finarvyn]

My guess is that switching a 0-5 game scale to a 0-10 game scale has messed up any of Joseph's original rate of advancement. If he has a new one, I've not heard about it.

[CinderellaManJJ]

Is DCC only planned for 10 levels? If so, what would the breakdown of low, medium and high levels be considered? Everybody's been talking about 0-5 and 6-10; mostly a low/high situation if 10 is a cap.

[meinvt]

It is planned for levels 0-10. It was originally planned to be levels 0-5 initially, but customer feedback prompted Joseph to go to 10 levels. I'm not sure what the low/med/high question means. If it means, is there a point where play is intended to dramatically shift because you've reached a particular level, like it does in modern versions of D&D, I haven't heard any indication that is the case.

[CinderellaManJJ]

I'm not sure what the low/med/high question means. If it means, is there a point where play is intended to dramatically shift because you've reached a particular level, like it does in modern versions of D&D, I haven't heard any indication that is the case.

Yes, even with Basic D&D there were distinct level-based thresholds that were crossed by the characters: moving from dungeons to wilderness adventures, taking control of territories, seeking immortality. 10 levels doesn't leave much room for that so that was my reason for asking.

It does sound like Joseph is looking at the larger progression of characters from adventurers to movers and shakers, but that may have to wait for one of the annuals.

[Black Dougal]

Joseph once said on the forums that he expected a character to require one full year playing every week, that is 52 sessions to get to 5th level.

I hope that helps.

[CinderellaManJJ]

Certainly seems to be designed for long term play; I like that. Looking forward to see how it plays out

This made me think, it's easy to imagine what low level characters would be like, but what about the pinnacle? Would a 10th level character be like Conan at the end of his career, mortal, but still very knowledgeable and powerful based on his years of experience?

[Ogrepuppy]

It is planned for levels 0-10.

Does that mean we'll get DLC that adds a crummy map, 5 hours of game play and raises the level cap, too?



(sorry--video game humor =/= RPG humor)

[finarvyn]

it's easy to imagine what low level characters would be like, but what about the pinnacle? Would a 10th level character be like Conan at the end of his career, mortal, but still very knowledgeable and powerful based on his years of experience?

YYou might look at some old "level" threads, as this has been discussed several times already.

Joseph's original plan was for levels 0-5 and so far I don't think anyone has seen anything official for 6-10.

Using the 1974 OD&D rules as a baseline, level 4 was "hero" and level 8 "super hero." I suspect we're looking at a similar level range here. In my mind a "hero" might be part of a group (like the Fellowship in LotR) but a "super hero" would be more of a loner (like Conan).

[CinderellaManJJ]

Using the 1974 OD&D rules as a baseline, level 4 was "hero" and level 8 "super hero." I suspect we're looking at a similar level range here. In my mind a "hero" might be part of a group (like the Fellowship in LotR) but a "super hero" would be more of a loner (like Conan).

Ok, that makes sense. I'll go back and look at my OD&D books for a frame of reference. I haven't work my way thru all the older threads yet. I'll make the level ones my first stop. Thanks.

[Black Dougal]

Using the 1974 OD&D rules as a baseline, level 4 was "hero" and level 8 "super hero." I suspect we're looking at a similar level range here. In my mind a "hero" might be part of a group (like the Fellowship in LotR) but a "super hero" would be more of a loner (like Conan).

Ok, that makes sense. I'll go back and look at my OD&D books for a frame of reference. I haven't work my way thru all the older threads yet. I'll make the level ones my first stop. Thanks.

You might start here:
http://www.goodman-games.com/forums/vie ... 83&start=0

I linked a couple of related threads in that one.

[CinderellaManJJ]

You might start here:
http://www.goodman-games.com/forums/vie ... 83&start=0

I linked a couple of related threads in that one.

Many thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

[fjw70]

Is this game planning to use a standard XP progression for all classes like 3/4e?

[finarvyn]

Is this game planning to use a standard XP progression for all classes like 3/4e?

No, although it has been suggested and some of us prefer a standard XP chart. I think that the majority like the idea that each class is different and so each class should have its own XP progression.

[JediOre]

Joseph once said on the forums that he expected a character to require one full year playing every week, that is 52 sessions to get to 5th level.

I hope that helps.

That hints at an answer to my original question. Does anyone know where on the boards Joseph wrote this?

[fjw70]

Is this game planning to use a standard XP progression for all classes like 3/4e?

No, although it has been suggested and some of us prefer a standard XP chart. I think that the majority like the idea that each class is different and so each class should have its own XP progression.

Ah, I see the XP table in the rules now. I missed it the first time through.