Does anyone have any guidelines for PC advancement? I was thinking of doing it totally abstract and just telling my players when they unlock new abilities (level up).
I think an outline would be most useful here, but organic breaks in the story make more sense and so far the PCs really like it. They just reached 2nd level after a Wrecks Ashore prequel and most of There is No Honor (before getting trapped in Parrot Island).
Thanks for all the great contributors on this older AP and thanks in advance for some advice on this one.
-Ian
The first step is to look at the last paragraph of each chapter's introduction, they give you a general guideline.
"The PCs should be 7th level when they begin "Here There Be Monsters." They should gain enough experience to advance to 8th level by the time they reach the shrine of Demogorgon in Part Four, and to 9th by the end of the adventure."
I would use this to give xp organically.
Thanks again. I think this was a situation of me looking everywhere for a solution except the introduction texts where it usually is.
Something else to consider is the number of PC's you are going to have. If there are more than four, you will need to make adjustments to the encounters (above adjustments you are already making), otherwise 5 or 6 PCs have an advantage and will mop up the encounters fairly easily. You may also consider having them lag by one level, so that for a level 7, 8 and 9 chapter, have them level to 6, 7, and 8 instead.