level Cap

fluffmonster · Post by **fluffmonster** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:22 pm

lvl 6 in a couple months? filthy PGars, the lot of ya.

oh...and I love my xp. every one is filled with affection and joy and proof that god loves us.

MShady · Post by **MShady** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 6:12 pm

A monthly cap is alot better then a weekly cap. I don't particularly feel it should be hard coded though if it has to be done, but more something part of a review process.

Mike

Mulu · Post by **Mulu** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 4:22 am

Well, the game goes to level 40, so we already have a level cap at 20.

That said, for game world balance purposes, I've always thought a PW with a level cap of 9 would be just about right. At 9th level a cleric can cast raise dead, proof positive of his or her connection with divinity. In 1st edition, 9th level was typically that last level that you actually got a hit die for, after that it was just a 1 or 2 hp add per level. A 9th level fighter was called a "Lord" and would get a keep and followers. It's a powerful level, especially if the game world is balanced for about 4th - 6th level characters.

But this falls under the category of "radical idea." It would definitely work, and would be much easier for game balance purposes, but too many players are used to a high level paradigm for it to be accepted by more than a few.

Of course, I still think we should add ASC as an option in NWN2, which is the ultimate "who cares about XP?" system.

Khazar Stoneblood · Post by **Khazar Stoneblood** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:31 am

Mikayla wrote:Level Cap at 6? Soooo...we play our PCs for a couple months then just retire? I would not be interested.

While I don't really want a cap... level 6 in a couple of months Mik? And you playing an ECL class?

I must really suck at Powergaming... being that I've been here forever and only once gotten a whiff of level 6... and that PC being 6+ months old.

Hurlshot · Post by **Hurlshot** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:52 am

I like the idea of a monthly experience cap, as it allows everyone some degree of equality over time. It was always grating on me that my character developed over an entire year was way lower than many PC's who had more DM time.

But it a monthly cap possible? How would that even work with the game mechanics?

MShady · Post by **MShady** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:49 am

Why waste the time programming that when you can just look at approval dates for levels and say you need to wait a week or something? I can understand Haltoc's point and such, it'll be a factor no matter what. I wouldn't be opposed to people who get less DM time getting prorated a bit.

Mike

gribo · Post by **gribo** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:25 am

Because not all DMs know those dates and use them as intended.

fluffmonster · Post by **fluffmonster** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:13 pm

Right now the only way to get a usable RL timestamp in the game is nwnx2. SD uses it, but I don't think anybody else does. The alternative is to have a thread for each PC on the forums and manually keep track of leveling dates. The DF team is committed to doing that. If the rule is imposed alfa-wide though, a central forum with a thread for every PC would need to be maintained and all DMs would have to use it. It is technically doable, but the question is will every DM keep it up. If you get a PC that's lvl 5 asking to lvl to 6, but their validation thread says only they got validated to 4...at the very least a pain, at worst a fight.

Mikayla · Post by **Mikayla** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:19 pm

Khaz:

While I don't really want a cap... level 6 in a couple of months Mik? And you playing an ECL class?

I must really suck at Powergaming... being that I've been here forever and only once gotten a whiff of level 6... and that PC being 6+ months old.

Oooh, sarchasm. Constructive. Anyway, give me a break - its no secret I level slow - it took me around 8 months to make to level 6 if I recall correctly. That does not mean it will take others so long. Nor does it mean I wanted to be limited to characters with an 8 month lifespan. Nor does it mean some people won't make level 6 in a couple of months - not everyone plays an ECL class as is so often pointed out to me.

Racerblue · Post by **Racerblue** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:48 am

I'm with Mulu here...level 9 cap is something I'd favor.I watched a level 14 player take out a ridiculous number of monsters not long ago..he never broke a sweat. +19 to hit..I mean, what is the point..I'll never lay down monsters for him to fight.

I'd also like to see magic weaponry very, very restricted..in fact..I don't mind playing with out magic weaponry etc at all..but I feel I'm probably in the minority there..with a little juggling of the monster abilities, the higher level folks are still hard pressed to take out the tougher monsters..even the lowest "soak" on a monster makes it tough..

Smoothie · Post by **Smoothie** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:26 am

For the reasons stated above, I'd favor a 10th level cap. But, a 9th level cap would work for me as well. I agree that power levels in the double digits just get ridiculous.

fluffmonster · Post by **fluffmonster** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 6:32 am

maybe the gear contributes to some of the craziness at the upper levels. If you look at like DMG wealth guidelines, its pretty much assumed yer getting into like +4 gear by lvl 14. that wealth basis has a geometric-type progression to it, which means it gets ever more pronounced when you get to the high levels. Now, if that's a problem, the better solution is to do something about the gear, not the levels. To claim cutting off the levels, you nedd to be able to say that it is the inherent power of the high levels that makes it crazy.

Myself, i am sceptical about cutting off at lvl10. Damnit, i wanna make it past someday, even though i consider it exceptonially unlikely.

MShady · Post by **MShady** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:25 am

When you think of lower to mid level threats to a high level, yes they do kill them easily enough. Of course. There are ways to make it quite challenging, and alot of the 'challenge' ends up being more RP focused. Less is more, is a good general rule of thumb. Limiting levels to what... 6? 10? That just cuts off so many potential plots and things you just realistically deal with, plot or combat wise.

Mike

Dorn · Post by **Dorn** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:00 am

If we HAVE to have a cap....level 12 soft cap with all 12-20 levels needing approval from a HDM or other position of 'authority' who can make sure that the level 12+ is acting like a level 12+ should (ie having a serious impact on alfa) and not just:

- server hopping about jumping every DM event or finding every spawn that they can get more than 1 exp from

- not just RPing progression through beers at the tavern/good prayers/romances where it is plainly ridiculous to think that someone would improve on the skills of a level 15 (ie recieve exp) from not challenging themselves and risking all.

You dont go from college football to NFL without a lot of hard work and putting your body on the line, i dont think peopel should get the uber levels without doing the same. If someone wants to play it safe and sit in one place and talk and play house with someone thats excellent for the server and excellent for the RP story...but doesn't warrant exp/progression at that level in my mind.

One the other hand, i think i would REALLY prefer a hard cap at 20 as we have now and lets not worry about more rules. Leave it as it is.

gribo · Post by **gribo** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:24 am

Racerblue:

I'm with Mulu here...level 9 cap is something I'd favor.I watched a level 14 player take out a ridiculous number of monsters not long ago..he never broke a sweat. +19 to hit..I mean, what is the point..I'll never lay down monsters for him to fight.

And I have seen a very high level PC get so close to death, from a feeble NPC.
That is not a valid argument. we play DnD. the game is balanced (with a DM, of course) till 20th. there is no point in setting the cap to a lower level, only because the DM cant handle such characters.