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Mordakay of Thay
Acolyte
Romania
33 Posts |
 Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 13:49:11
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Hey.To all u experienced DMs out there.How much time do you have ur players spend to lvl up(in training etc.).
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William Yeats |
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Chosen of Bane
Senior Scribe
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 13:54:16
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In our games we level up on the fly. We really don't make PC's train, their training is everything they do while adventuring.
I know that sometimes it doesn't really make sense to do it that way but it's a fantasy world so a lot of stuff isn't going to make sense.
If you don't level up on the fly it becomes very difficult to run long adventures like City of the Spider Queen. The PC's are in the Underdark from levels 10-18 and really don't have time to train. |
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 14:17:13
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We level up on the fly too in the campaign Reefy is running. We usually don't get exp until we break for lunch (real time) or the end of the session, so rarely have anyone fiddling with their character sheet mid adventure.
In my campaign I'm running characters level up on the fly too (though no one has yet), but they don't get awarded exp until they've had a decent nights rest in civilisation (or some other type of dwelling, such as a druids grove or cave dwelling), i.e. time for them to reflect upon their experiences and learn :)
Edit: If you're looking for some hard and fast rules on it though I'm pretty confident there is a section in the DMG |
Edited by - Kaladorm on 19 Apr 2006 14:17:53 |
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Beirnadri Magranth
Senior Scribe
USA
720 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 15:29:35
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requiring training time can be a great advantage to a DM it lets the players take more control over their characters... instead of just taking feats atc they think about their choices and are required to roleplay out their character options. this makes really wholesome characters and a good roleplaying experience. Ive only played one real game where we had to train and that was in a midnight campaign setting but ive thought alot about training so heres what i thought.
training should take usually at least 3 weeks in game time although this could be lesss than one session. This helps characters become interested in what their characters do in the down time. This also draws out your campaign so your campaign doesnt have to rely on earth shattering events... requiring training favors spellcasters and rogues since these charcters benefit from long term planning and manuevering more so than fighters. Wizards develop more spells up to their gp amount whereas fighters only can improve skills and feats which have a set number per xp....
i have even played campaigns where years passed before players met again and took arms together but that makes sense for more epic level fighters or parties consisting of characters that dont very well get along. |
"You came here to be a martyr in a great big bang of glory... instead you will die with a whimper."
::moussaoui tries to interrupt::
"You will never get a chance to speak again and that's an appropriate ending."
-Judge Brinkema |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 17:08:15
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My current email group game, the players are going to level up a little slow in game and even slower out of game. :) They got about another tenday or two before they can advance thier knowledge but I'm not sure how long that'll be out of game. :)
They are probably going to start cursing at me pretty soon or asking, hey, come on, can we level yet? hehe. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Kaladorm
Master of Realmslore
United Kingdom
1176 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 17:10:19
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Should mention, my Paladin is a fairly accomplished horse rider, and on levelling up our Cleric of Torm wanted to take some ranks in ride for a prestige class.
Since we had about a tenday to kill, my Paladin decided to teach him a little how to ride in that time.
Not something that was enforced by the DM but it seemed suitable and a bit of fun |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 18:22:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
My current email group game, the players are going to level up a little slow in game and even slower out of game. :) They got about another tenday or two before they can advance thier knowledge but I'm not sure how long that'll be out of game. :)
They are probably going to start cursing at me pretty soon or asking, hey, come on, can we level yet? hehe.
The ironic bit about that statement is that I felt we gained XP quite fast at the beginning
*curses Kuje in Swedish, English, Finnish, Arabic, Bosnian, Russian, French, Spanish, and German* |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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Purple Dragon Knight
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1796 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 18:25:31
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I have the PCs train only when they take a class that they don't already have. A Ftr1 can go up forever without training, but if he decides on a rogue level, he will have to hit the local cutpurse guild to get some pointers.
My training requirement is usually: 5 days per newly achieved character level. Why? because I decided that it was harder for a 15th-level fighter to take a level of wizard than it was for a 1st-level fighter... The former has too many 'bad habits' to unlearn/circumvent.
The fee is 1000gp for each tenday of training (rounded up) (i.e. 500gp per 5 days of training) |
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Kes_Alanadel
Learned Scribe
USA
326 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 21:20:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Kajehase
quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
My current email group game, the players are going to level up a little slow in game and even slower out of game. :) They got about another tenday or two before they can advance thier knowledge but I'm not sure how long that'll be out of game. :)
They are probably going to start cursing at me pretty soon or asking, hey, come on, can we level yet? hehe.
The ironic bit about that statement is that I felt we gained XP quite fast at the beginning
*curses Kuje in Swedish, English, Finnish, Arabic, Bosnian, Russian, French, Spanish, and German*
In said game, my archer saw that there was a decided lack in a specific area (rogue type), and when they had some downtime, she sought out someone who could train her to find traps, etc. When we do finally get to level up *shoots a look at Kuje*, she will take a level in scout. To me it never made any sense to be able to go "Hey we leveled up, I'm gonna take a level in 'X', so that I can do all this neat stuff", but not have any reason/background to be able to preform those neat things.
~Kes (who can only speak English  ) |
Ack! I seem to have too much blood in my coffee stream!
When did 'common sense' cease to be common? |
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Fletcher
Learned Scribe
USA
299 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 21:44:59
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I have my players level on the fly if it is in an existing character class, or get training for 3 months if it is in a new class yet related class(including prestige classes). Training takes at least 1 year if it is in a completely unrelated class, such as fighter going to wizard etc.
Longer if the class change is cultural...like becoming a barbarian.
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Run faster! The Kobolds are catching up! |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 22:08:51
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quote:
Originally posted by Kes_Alanadel
In said game, my archer saw that there was a decided lack in a specific area (rogue type), and when they had some downtime, she sought out someone who could train her to find traps, etc. When we do finally get to level up *shoots a look at Kuje*, she will take a level in scout. To me it never made any sense to be able to go "Hey we leveled up, I'm gonna take a level in 'X', so that I can do all this neat stuff", but not have any reason/background to be able to preform those neat things.
~Kes (who can only speak English )
It never made sense to me either and my chars are usually always level up in skills, classes, feats, etc, if they tie into thier backgrounds or my mental ideas that I have in mind. :) |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Mordakay of Thay
Acolyte
Romania
33 Posts |
Posted - 19 Apr 2006 : 22:44:52
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| Yes,but what if its a timetrial campaign like War of the Spider Queen?What then?I like the idea of training in 3 weeks or more,but in situations like in War of the Spider Queen what am I to do :(? |
William Yeats |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2006 : 00:57:43
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Just in case any of you don't think I am a geek (from my campaign standards document):
8.House Rules; Training/Gaining Class Benefits: This house rule is similar to the optional rule listed on page 198 of the 3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide, but the entire rule, as it pertains to the campaign, will be resummarized here.
In order to gain the benefits of new class abilities upon gaining enough experience points for a new level, a character must train. This can happen in one of the following ways.
These ways are:
1.Train with a tutor. This option takes 7 days/2 character
levels, rounded up, and costs 1000 gp per 7 days in training.
A character training for 5th level would spend 21 days in
training, and spend 3000 gp on his tutor and training supplies.
2.Train without a tutor, but with suitable supplies available.
A character using this option trains themselves, essentially, but still needs supplies, information, etc. in order to advance. The character spends 7 days/character level, and 1000 gp for each week in training. So a character training for 5th level using this option would take 35 days in training, and spend 5000 gp.
3.Train without a tutor or sufficient resources available. This
option is the cheapest option, and the only one available in some areas (for example, a wizard training himself in a rural area with no libraries or labratories available). This option costs no gold (although upkeep/living expenses still apply), but takes 14 days/character level to attain. So a character that is 5th level using this option would take 70 (!) days to train, though it would only cost him his normal living expenses.
4.Challenge a more skilled opponent. In order to make use of this training option, the character must find an NPC that has at least one more level in the class they wish to gain the class benefits of, and must be at least one character
level higher than the challenger.
The challenge must be made and accepted, so a character cannot ambush or surprise a prospective opponent, unless of course the duel is arranged at a different time and is agreed upon as part of the challenge.
If the character defeats the higher level opponent, they may then advance to their desired level. So long as the stipulation
of the challenge does not call for secrecy, the challenging
character gains a point of reputation as well. If the character looses the challenge, they must train for their level in another way, and they loose a point of reputation.
A character cannot advance in this manner in subsequent levels gained. In other words, if a character challenges to gain 4th level, their 5th level training must be by some other method, but when they gain enough experience to train for 6th level, they may challenge an opponent again.
A character may challenge the same NPC more than once, as long as they are high enough level to provide an adequate challenge, but they cannot gain more than one point of reputation in this manner from the same NPC again.
5.Heroic epiphany. A character may elect to spend an action point in order to advance to the next level upon gaining enough experience points to do so. They must take one day of down time for each level the character will have after they have gained their level, so a 7th level character using this option must take 7 days off in order to gain their level.
A character that uses this option to advance a level must use
method 1-3 to gain a level before using this method again.
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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2006 : 06:39:50
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Hello-
I quite like what I see there KEJR!
I have only one question.....
Originally by KEJR:
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Just in case any of you don't think I am a geek (from my campaign standards document):
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What campaign standards document?  Sounds like the sort of thing that *I* certainly could use a peek at to steal whole sections from get some good ideas from.
Any chance of your sharing? 
Dhomal
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I am collecting the D&D Minis. I would be more than willing to trade with people. You can send me a PM here with your email listed - and I can send you my minis list. Thanks!
Successfully traded with Xysma! |
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Mordakay of Thay
Acolyte
Romania
33 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2006 : 10:23:57
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For KnightErrantJR:
I like those methods,but aren't they kinda expensive :)(i could easely adapt them to the players wealth ofc).But still,how would these methods work in a campaign like War of the Spider Queen,where there is no time to tarry.The dueling method might work,but even so,where can u find an NPC suitable for that in a campaign like that :).Well,i'll think of something eventually.Anyway i'd like to see more ppl post their leveling up methods here(really helps).Cheers. |
William Yeats |
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Dargoth
Great Reader
Australia
4607 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2006 : 10:31:41
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In the campaign Im currently running I let the the players level up on the fly
In the next campaign Im running players will have to go to their mentors to level up in addition if they want to take PrC they will have to find a NPC who has the PrC and is willing to train them |
“I am the King of Rome, and above grammar”
Emperor Sigismund
"Its good to be the King!"
Mel Brooks |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2006 : 12:49:23
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| As Kaladorm said, I do it on the fly, unless something doesn't make a lot of sense. On the whole, I've not really been in a situation where I've had to stop, I like to think of the PCs as training as they adventure, and the new level represents them putting all they have learned into some tangible benefits. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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Mordakay of Thay
Acolyte
Romania
33 Posts |
Posted - 20 Apr 2006 : 16:38:46
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| I came up with this.More of a combination.To learn new feats and new spells a player has to spend 1 week per feat or per spell.(+the material cost for the trainer,spell components,lab etc.)If he whants to advance a skill in something he uses often like hiding ,moving silently for a rogue he doesn't need to train.He used it often in the adventure so he can increase it.As for increasing knowledge skills wich need researching and studying or a new skill,where he needs to learn the basics,training is required.Furthermore PCs can teach each other so if the rogue whants to learn riding,he can ask the fighter to teach her.What do you think? |
William Yeats |
Edited by - Mordakay of Thay on 20 Apr 2006 16:40:07 |
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Time to lvl up
