Goodman Games

Just a quick question, esp. to those who have done more playtesting in the Beta.

I really like the 0-lvl funnel, but I am curious what the design idea is for when part of a party dies (as will happen!) -- are new characters brought in at 0-lvl? Does the player make 4 nobodies, or is he intended to create a character at the current party level?

Just curious what the intent of the design is, and what various Judges are doing in their games.

Thanks,

RC

For my home games / playtests we've been introducing new PCs of like-level.

//H

It really depends on the DM.

Some like to add 0 Lvl PCs.

Others like to add PCs of at least 1st Level (so they're not utterly useless)

Others allow a PC at the current party level, or at the same XP of the deceased one.

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I read some people have the player create four 0-lvl PCs, then randomly kill 3 of them (or just let the Player pick), then level up the remaining PC.

Two guys showed up the session after the funnel and we all agreed they make 4, 0 level "door openers". I give a party lowest -1 level rule. This way you're punished for dying. That rule gets easier with 4 players playing two characters each.

I've found bringing in zeroes to a first level party is clumsy. Alsomst universally, they get equipped and bankrolled by the higher level pcs, but are still really vulnerable, and outshines way too much. When everyone is zero level, it's a different vibe. The funnel really is a different style of play, and it didn't seem to mix well.

shadewest wrote:I've found bringing in zeroes to a first level party is clumsy. Alsomst universally, they get equipped and bankrolled by the higher level pcs, but are still really vulnerable, and outshines way too much. When everyone is zero level, it's a different vibe. The funnel really is a different style of play, and it didn't seem to mix well.

Hmmm. That is interesting. As a player, I personally would not risk giving to another Player Character any form of monetary investment due to thier frailty/lack of class abilities. Too much liability for little reward in return. They are there, to do the things, that I don't want to do, as a higher level PC. Part of the appeal of playing a 0 level character, is earning your first stripe, so to speak. Anyone who has ever joined the Armed Forces should know what I mean.

As an example, when one person leaves civilian life, (as a 0 level toon) and enters "Boot Camp" of the service of thier choice mind you. They may or may not get the training they need to serve as a respective member of the armed forces branch they choose to enlist into, (eg. Sailor, Soldier, Airman, or Marine.) Once that person completes Basic Training or "Boot Camp" as I like to call it, they then go on to thier role in the Armed service that they chose, (ie. thier M.O.S. Military Occupational Specialty.) Only by making it through "Boot Camp" does the Character earn the right to have a Class.
The example of "Boot Camp" is the Character Funnel for a full party of 0 level characters. Or a character's first adventure with a regular party of adventurers. Yes, even in a regular party of half 1st level PCs and half 0 level "Boots", those 0 level FNGs, are going to be more useless than help in a party. This is mainly because they don't have a class to begin with. But they are there for bodies, (aka, cannon fodder.)
I look at it like, until those "Boots" earn thier place within the party, (complete an adventure, hense gaining the experience needed to choose a class/role in the party,) they will be nothing more than arrow/spell/melee attack fodder. Yet another target for the opponents of the party to roll thier dice against. So that the professionals of the party, (ie. those with a Class and level above 0,) can handle the situation at hand, mainly defeating the opposition.
This is not to say that 0 level "Boots" can not have moments of brilliance. Anyone can get lucky in this game. On the flip side of that equation, is anyone can also be unlucky can cause the death of themselves or another member of the party. DMs just live for fumbles/ monster Crits!

Given the above example, which I think is spot on, think of 0 levels travelling with 1st or 2nd levels as kind of an ROTC program.

I go with the "similar level" concept. As others noted, the funnel is great when everyone is the same but doesn't quite feel the same when you mix higher characters in with the zeroes.

I've had several Total Party Kills, it was a wake-up call to my players with bad habits (being used to balanced encounters.)

I let the players decide. They still have to roll 3 or 4 0-level characters like normal (so Occupation and starting equipment is random as usual.) The I let them level one character, of their choosing, to match the level of the lowest leveled character (above 0).

I lost two PCs in the last session, and a new player joining the next, so I've decided to give the players some options. They can either roll a herd of peasants, balancing the risk of low stat rolls with numbers, but being more or less ablative armor for the rest of the party, or they can roll a level 1 character as risk fate. We'll only have a few characters at second level anyway, so the disparity shouldn't be too keenly felt.