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What happens when the characters reach max level? I’ve played campaigns that lasted a little over a year and once we reached 16th level or so, combat rounds in
by fermentation 4y ago
What happens when the characters reach max level? I’ve played campaigns that lasted a little over a year and once we reached 16th level or so, combat rounds in 5e became excruciatingly slow. I imagine it is very difficult for the DM to balance that, and even more so for them to provide the feeling of increasing power to folks who have been in the game for some time.
- cperciva 4y agoFirst Edition had guidelines for high level characters literally becoming gods. IIRC one of the paths involved being reincarnated (without memories of past lives) as a level 1 character in each of the different classes and needing to reach high level in each of them in turn -- no easy feat considering that the attributes which make for a great fighter will make for a lousy wizard, but of course becoming gods shouldn't be easy.
- ScarletEmerald 4y agoThat wasn't First Edition, it was the parallel Basic, Expert, Companion, Masters, Immortals (aka BECMI) D&D line that had 36 levels and came out between about 1980 and wrapped up in the mid-90s. AD&D First Edition did have a few paragraphs on divine ascension, noting that it was "remotely possible" and removed the character from play. BECMI, in contrast, had multiple defined pathways to divinity/immortality, along with rules for playing immortal characters. Of the BECMI paths for immortality, the one you mentioned is the polymath. There are others. The epic hero quests after legendary artifacts of good and evil, accomplishes great deeds and leaves behind a successor. The paragon creates a unique artifact of power, recruits and train powerful minions, reshapes the landscape, and vanquishes any potential equals. The dynast founds a mighty empire and ensures it withstands the tests of time.
- cperciva 4y agoThanks for correcting my memory -- it's been a while!