Role-playing Games

Questions tagged [character-advancement]

Ask Question

For questions about character advancement, the process by which a character gains competence upward or laterally.

286 questions
Newest
Active
Bountied
Unanswered
Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
16
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
914 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
331 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
129 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
2k 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
186 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
215 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
122 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
273 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
599 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
405 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
766 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
168 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
37 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
302 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
2k 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
115 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 ...
9
votes
4answers
447 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
143 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
128 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
198 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
503 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
46 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
401 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
330 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
318 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
198 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
1k 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
410 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
164 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
423 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 ...
16
votes
5answers
4k views

Are there any rules on how characters go from 0th to 1st level in a class?

One group I played with some years ago, back in 2nd edition, had, as part of their character generation/background process, an explanation of what event caused that character to gain the experience ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views

In Call of Cthulhu 7e, how does one increase their HP Max?

I’m recently starting to play Call of Cthulhu 7e, and really enjoying it. My Investigator is also enjoying it so yay, this Keeper is happy. However, we just finished our first Scenario and she asked ...
1
vote
1answer
155 views

Is there a starting class that has all the necessary skills for the Shadowsmith prestige class?

I am looking into making a character that will go into the Shadowsmith prestige class from Tome of Magic page 132. I want to get into it as soon as I can so I am looking mainly for a class that has ...
-1
votes
1answer
624 views

When leveling up, how do you determine your new HP?

I’ve been playing D&D for 3 years, and recently I started to seriously look into it to become a better DM. I noticed that it would make sense for the HP to go up every time you level up, but how ...
2
votes
3answers
380 views

How many prestige class levels can one take?

The maximum level for any base class is 20. However, it is possible to go beyond this into the epic levels. Now I wonder; Is the same essentially true for prestige classes? Take for example the ...
0
votes
1answer
935 views

Can a Tomelock swap the Book of Ancient Secrets invocation with itself upon level-up, and gain more than two ritual spells that way?

Eldritch Invocations (PHB, p. 107): ...Additionally, when you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the invocations you know and replace it with another invocation that you could learn at ...
11
votes
1answer
565 views

When can a Barbarian, who has just levelled up, use the additional Rage gained from that level?

At certain levels, Barbarians gain additional Rages to use between Long Rests. My question is, when can these additional Rages be used? The PHB seems a little unclear on this. PHB pg.48 Once you ...
10
votes
1answer
1k views

Can a wizard delay learning new spells from leveling up, and instead learn different spells later?

Can a wizard delay learning new spells from leveling up, and instead learn different spells later? For example, can a 2nd-level wizard choose to skip adding two new spells to their spellbook from ...
1
vote
3answers
388 views

Besides a rebuild, how can you become native to Toril if you currently aren't?

The sarrukh possesses the supernatural ability manipulate form. The ability is one of the game's most powerful and versatile and it's essential for the overpowered kobold Pun-pun. However, the special ...
4
votes
3answers
297 views

Where can I find mechanics to manage a character's career/advancement within an organization?

I run a game where characters apart of their mechanical advancement can become part of various organizations to gain standing and influence. At the moment the barbarian became chief of a small tribe, ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views

Which rules apply for Non-Career Skill and Characteristic advances?

On p.48 of the Rulebook, under Non-Career Advances, it says (emphasis mine): Characters will inevitably want to advance Characteristics and Skills not listed in their Careers. That’s fine, if ...
1
vote
0answers
142 views

Why do some classes gain additional class features when they get an ability score increase but others don't? [closed]

Some classes, when they reach a level that gives an ability score increase, don't usually gain any other class-specific benefits when they reach that level. (Examples: Barbarian, Fighter, Rogue.) ...
4
votes
2answers
203 views

How do I level up an animal?

My elf sorcerer 3 has a Handle Animal skill modifier of +10. How can my sorcerer level up his dogs and warhorse so that they're not extremely weak in future fights?
3
votes
1answer
132 views

Can I get more than one level from a single action/encounter?

I have similar situation to described in here Can a character gain two levels with the same encounter? albeit in another system, as we are playing Pathfinder instead of D&D. My character is 4th ...
14
votes
3answers
6k views

What do characters need to do to level up?

I'm a new DM with a group of very new players. I've read through the rules and some of the Player's Handbook (I just haven't finished it yet). We are still within the first arc of the campaign and ...
41
votes
14answers
12k views

My players want to grind XP but we're using milestone advancement

I've been running a D&D 5e campaign where the levelling up has been done at certain landmark points or milestones. Regardless of your opinion on that specific system, it's reached a point where ...
17
votes
3answers
2k views

What is the effect of the Feeblemind spell on Ability Score Improvements?

Our Bard had the Feeblemind spell cast on him and failed his save. The battle ended and we gained a level. Feeblemind states that: On a failed save, the creature's Intelligence and Charisma scores ...

1
2 3 4 5 6