Questions tagged [character-advancement]
For questions about character advancement, the process by which a character gains competence upward or laterally.
306
questions
46
votes
3answers
6k views
Mechanically speaking, why does level 1 seem so different from level 2?
I find that the survivability and general performance of my party increases massively from levels 1 to 2. At times, level 1 feels like a completely different game from level 2. However, I can't fathom ...
10
votes
1answer
147 views
Are backgrounds important after character creation?
I'm currently running a W:TA game using the 1st edition rulebook. Several of my characters have backgrounds. As we play, do those backgrounds increase, or do they only determine what the character has ...
12
votes
1answer
491 views
How to get from 3rd to 5th level in "The Forge of Fury" using XP?
I am a DM who has started my campaign with new 3rd level characters running The Forge of Fury as published in Tales from the Yawning Portal. The synopsis contains the line
It is designed for four 3rd-...
11
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I upgrade my party's weapons?
I am a newish GM. Me and my party had about 5 sessions and I think it is the time to give them better weapons, but I could no find any tables for lvl 4 characters or anything similar. Is there a need ...
3
votes
1answer
606 views
What levels of spells can a Profane Soul Blood Hunter have at 11th level?
The Spells Known column of the Profane Soul table shows when you learn more warlock spells of your choice of 1st level and higher. A spell you choose must be of a level no higher than what’s shown in ...
-11
votes
1answer
384 views
How do I gain magic as a Ranger? [closed]
I heard there was a way to give your ranger Magic, not by weapons and armor. Is that true? If so how do I gain it? What level and what types of magic can a ranger get? The book I've been reading for ...
4
votes
1answer
822 views
Leveling up of Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
I'm currently working on a clockwork soul sorceror in D&D 5e, which uses clockwork magic. There seems to be a discrepancy between how I understand it and how some sample builds I found in various ...
9
votes
1answer
484 views
Can I add my skills before checking for feat requirement?
So, when I level up my character in PF1, I choose a new class, add its feature, then skills and feats. But what if I want to add Signature Skill Feat as my level 5 feat. It requires 5 skill ranks in ...
2
votes
2answers
157 views
Monk Level Advancement Combat Competitive Advantage
Question
Is there a fair way to give a character monk an advantage in the monk's combat to advance a level in AD&D 1st edition? What has worked for you?
Definition
A Fair Competitive Advantage ...
3
votes
1answer
43 views
How much does it cost to add a specialization to an A.I.?
Per the manual:
Skill Improvement: Unlike most characters, your skills are only improved by spending Company Resources (see page 98). With
permission from the group, the Company
Resources may be ...
11
votes
4answers
2k views
How can a GM subtly guide characters into making campaign-specific character choices?
Note: the example I'm giving is D&D focussed, but the question is system-agnostic.
We're in the early days of a new D&D group. If it keeps running, I'm planning to transition the players into ...
7
votes
1answer
555 views
Can a player's character become a god / powerful celestial?
This recent question seemed to be received well (Can a PC become a Devil?), so I thought I’d ask this one which I’ve been wondering about for a while.
Is it possible for a player's character to ascend ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Are cleric domain spells from higher levels added to the previously gained ones or they replace them?
When you gain new cleric domain spells at higher levels, do they replace the domain spells you gained at an earlier level? Or do you keep the old spells?
For example, when a cleric is 3rd level, will ...
2
votes
1answer
273 views
Can Sidekicks take the average on the Hit Die to determine the max HP increase when they level up?
Reading through the new rules for Sidekicks in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything (p. 142), it seems like they must roll for HP when they level up. Am I understanding this right? Or can I use Monster ...
2
votes
1answer
3k views
Is there a way to increase a character's STATs with improvement points?
I've just been checking the new Cyberpunk RED rules. The improvement points section (page 411) describes how your character skills (normal and x2) and your Role Ability Rank can be improved. However, ...
1
vote
0answers
94 views
What happens when a creature with Racial Hit Dice changes creature type?
The specific example I'm working with is a creature with RHD who takes the Human Heritage feat... and then advances by HD.
The creature retains all the traits of its previous type (so far so good), ...
17
votes
5answers
4k views
Can I defer levelling up after reaching the XP threshold?
As a rogue, I've gained enough XP to level up to level 3. However, I'm not yet ready to pick what archetype would fit best for me.
Despite having gained enough XP, can I wait until later to level up ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Applying XP to a pre-created adventure with milestones?
I have bought my first DnD adventure, Dragon of Icespire Peak, mainly because I wanted a good opening adventure to introduce some new players to the game.
However the module uses milestone leveling ...
5
votes
2answers
355 views
What does point-cost difference mean?
The wording of this rule is just confusing me.
To improve one of your basic attributes, you must spend character points equal to the point-cost difference between the old score and the new one.
What,...
3
votes
2answers
268 views
What are the ticks for when advancing skills?
In Troika! the numinous edition in chapter 11 Getting Better the rules suggest a tick next to the advanced skill on every successful skill roll (roll under) on the character sheet. After rolling for ...
20
votes
2answers
3k views
Does a Wizard copying a spell count as one of their two new spells for a level?
In D&D 5E Wizards get an additional two spells per level to add to their spellbook:
Each time you gain a wizard level, you can add two wizard spells of your choice to your spellbook.
If a Wizard ...
18
votes
1answer
2k views
If a feature gives proficiency in a skill you are proficient with, can you always choose any skill to replace that proficiency?
Page 125 of the PHB in the rules for backgrounds we have this statement:
If a character would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, he or she can choose a different proficiency of ...
5
votes
2answers
207 views
Can a PC take a utility skill power before level 6?
Having just reached level 4, I want my battlemind PC that's just taken the feat Hero of the Faith (Divine Power 144)—picking the skill Streetwise—to retrain his level 2 battlemind utility power ...
10
votes
2answers
271 views
When you change entirely to a new class after the 10th level, do you get the new class's damage die?
When you have enough XP to go to 11th level, the book says that you can "change entirely to a new class."
The book says this about what that means (in this section, under "Beyond 10th Level"):
...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
What are reasonable age expectations for levels? [closed]
This is not a question about enforced limits but about plausible NPC reactions, to the PCs and how they explain other NPCs to the players. (Minimums more than maximums, since all a character has to ...
5
votes
2answers
337 views
Opening a skill with B1 stat as root
Suppose a character has perception B1 (maybe they are a young troll or something). If they open their observation skill, either in character burning or through play (testing, practice, instruction), ...
13
votes
3answers
667 views
When in game does gaining a level happen?
We are fairly new to D&D and we are not really sure about how to handle one thing as provided by the rules. It's about the point in time when you level up in-game.
The rules tell us this:
As your ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Do characters ever gain new skills/proficiencies?
Do player characters ever freely learn new skills/proficiencies? From what I can see, most classes get two or four proficiency skills to start, and backgrounds provide two more. Some class ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
Understanding the Proficiency bump on Level Up for untrained skills
I'm experienced with DnD3.0, DnD3.5, and PF1e, but I am just starting to delve into Pathfinder 2e and I have a question on Proficiency for Skills.
It says when you Level Up your character, you "...
17
votes
6answers
2k views
As a DM, how can I manage a group with different amounts of free time?
I've started playing D&D 5e with a group of friends recently. I'm the DM and there are four players. One is still working and is only available during weekends, while the other three (and I) have ...
9
votes
3answers
182 views
What labels should be used when moves referencing playbook-specific features are taken as a move from another playbook?
A few playbook moves reference Labels connected to playbook-specific features - for example the Protege's Venting Frustration, allowing the character to roll the Label their mentor denies to directly ...
3
votes
0answers
41 views
Is there an option to circumvent creating an entry in the character advancement log in Genesis 6.1.2 when creating a hero rank >1 character?
When creating Splittermond player characters with Genesis 6.1.2, how do I create characters with a higher hero rank than 1? Currently, it looks like I have to create an event after regular hero rank 1 ...
15
votes
3answers
2k views
How does AC scale with character level?
In D&D 3.5, I know that base attack bonus scales with level. How does AC increase over levels to meet it? I know saves do, so there should be some kind of AC thing? Is it done more with HP, or is ...
11
votes
2answers
628 views
Is there a cap on experience for Ironsworn?
The Ironsworn character sheets have bubbles for tracking the experience that you mark by fulfilling your vows. The portrait character sheet has 30 bubbles, and the more-recently-released landscape ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
If I have a maxed-out stat, can I take a half-ASI feat?
My character has 20 charisma in one of my DND games, but I want to take the Actor feat. This question kind of has two parts:
RAW, can I take it and change the stat increase to another stat?
If I take ...
6
votes
1answer
163 views
How can I better reward progression in a Mouse Guard campaign?
Mouse Guard uses a modified version of the Burning Wheel system. Within the modified rules set the players can immediately choose from a Rank and Age that both carry with them certain in game ...
10
votes
4answers
542 views
What are some possible repercussions of using story-based leveling rather than experience points?
I am the DM for a D&D 4e game. Recently, I stopped keeping track of XP, on the assumption that I could just give my players a level every time they finished a major quest. In my mind, this had a ...
3
votes
1answer
193 views
How do you go about applying a Path's discount bonus to character progression/creation?
The Beast’s Way
COST:20 KARMA
PREREQUISITES:Adept
RATING:NONE
SOURCE:SR5:SG
Adepts who follow this path are under the guidance of an animal mentor
spirit, which they refer to as their totem, similar ...
3
votes
3answers
149 views
How should you adjust Encounter Levels for underequipped PCs?
In two campaigns I play our PCs are equipped far below the guidelines given in the DMG, p. 135 ("Character Wealth by Level"). We keep getting into trouble and are overwhelmed with situations we should ...
4
votes
2answers
214 views
How to deal with lack of advantages for a character starting at low point total?
I'm currently playing a character, and just made another, in a Dungeon Fantasy/DFRPG group that starts at 75 points (+50 disads, +5 quirks). It's not all that difficult to make a viable character, ...
9
votes
1answer
718 views
Do characters level too slowly for the storyline in Adventurers League?
I might start as an Adventurers League DM soon and I'm trying to figure out how it all works. I found one page which seemed to have a list of scenarios that I could run one after the other.
Just ...
1
vote
1answer
63 views
Do bloodline ECL increases reduce how many class levels a character can get?
Say a wizard has a major bloodline. Is their maximum level wizard-17/bloodline-3(in which case they only have 17 HDs), or wizard-20/bloodline-3 (in which case their total caster level is 23)?
This ...
11
votes
2answers
509 views
Why would a combat character advance anything but weapon skill?
We might return to our campaign soon that paused for unrelated reasons.
I have not played version v3, so I can only compare the current version (v4) to v2.
Why would a combat character put their ...
6
votes
3answers
345 views
Are there any tools or tricks to quickly level characters multiple levels at once?
I'm in the process of writing a short sci-fi campaign which is based on D&D 5e, in which the player classes, weapons, and skills are effectively just sci-fi reskins of their magical counterparts. ...
8
votes
2answers
529 views
Balancing Karma rewards to be meaningful
I have a Shadowrun 5e group that sadly only comes together once or twice a month. In that group we focus most of our time on the roleplaying aspect of the game, rather than advancing the run itself. ...
2
votes
1answer
207 views
Does gaining levels accelerate?
In Pathfinder 2e, an adventurer goes up a level by earning 1000 XP.
If it always takes 1000 XP and adventurers are facing greater foes (who I presume are for more XP), then does it follow that going ...
3
votes
1answer
3k views
What is the expected damage / to hit / saving throw / DC per level?
While reading through monster stats and 1st edition adventures, I noticed that at some point, PCs should dish out 2dX instead of only 1dX damage; else, an adequate monster will become a serious threat ...
2
votes
1answer
983 views
How do you progress your familiar without taking more levels in that class?
I am playing a cleric/wizard/Mystic Theurge. I choose the familiar class feature for my wizard. MT only progresses a wizards spell casting and caster level. You do not learn new spells and the ...
4
votes
1answer
241 views
Do prestige class levels give feats and ability score improvements?
Does gaining a level in a prestige class in Pathfinder (1e) give you feats and ability score improvements? Or do you only gain those from "base" classes?
5
votes
1answer
595 views
Can you variant multiclass as your primary class?
Can you VMC into the same class you're taking as a primary class to 'focus on your class' at the expense of feats and gain increased benefit or uses from class features, or to be able to choose from ...
