|
Scenarios are sorted by tier, and further broken into sub-tiers, so a 1-5 could be 1-2 and 4-5. If a level 1 character is at a table full of lvl 4 and 5 characters, they play up since they're a stronger party.
Rule of thumb is to protect the lvl 1 as if they were a squishy, because even a fighter wouldn't have enough hit points to stand up against most of the BBEGs at the end. Ranged characters tend to do better since they're out of the way. But then, your experiences may be different.
|
In seasons Zero through Three, you need to have an average party level of at least 1.5 to play up to 4-5.
If you have six players, three at 2nd level, and three at 1st level, you’d have an APL of 1.5, then add +1 for 6 players, for a 2.5. Round up to 3, and you could legally play a 4-5. Highly not recommended. But you could.
In Season 4, you need to have an APL of 2.5 normally. Which means you’d need to have three 3rd level and three 2nd level to make APL 2.5, round up to 3, then you could play 4-5. Very highly not recommended. But you could if you wanted.
So as long as the mix of levels of each character added together and divided by the total number of characters made for an Average Party Level (APL) of at least 3, then they could play up to subtier 4-5.
|
Just to add this bit: playing up or down is usually a table-wide decision. Even if you want to play up your tablemates may not. The converse may also be true, finding yourself not wanting to play up and everyone else wanting to. It's not frowned upon either way. Like John said, grater risk is greater reward. Just make sure you know that dying once costs more (5,000+ plus restorations) than the gold you get playing up.
Playing up is more common with large parties, not just because the maths works out that way but also because the scenarios become less challenging and playing up means the BBEG is still around when it gets to the 7th character's turn (after the first six and their animal companions, eidolons and familiars have all acted). That may not be true in season 4, but in season 0-3 it was.
The more a character plays up the richer they get for their level and the more they need to play up to be challenged, so it's kind of a self-fulfilling requirement. The one thing that brings them down to earth is when the written tactics at tier 6-7 are to hit the party with an empowered 9th level fireball in the surprise round. That will correct the wealth discrepancy for any 3rd and 4th level characters playing up! :-)
He also overpaid for the Mithral Chain shirt. It should be 1100gp, not 1250 since mithral is already considered masterwork.
Maybe he paid more to make it fancy!
-j
|
Having a level one at the table at a Tier 4-5 is not a good thing, at all. They are a liability.
If they're an archer or can use a wand of cure light wounds, then they can be helpful in battle. And depending on their skills, they could be helpful out of combat.
But I definitely wouldn't want to play up with a front line fighter of any type.
|
They aren't always a liability, they will just be bored. If it's a season 0-3 scenario and they are the 5th person they are simply a benefit so long as they are aware of the dangers and stay in back.
I played with a first level wizard in a 4-5 once, I handed him my wand of Magic missile and my wand of infernal healing. Then I told him to get missiling. He stayed way back and made much monies.
It's certainly possible to have a frontliner playing way up and still be effective.
But you'd likely need to be hyper optimised to do it regularly, and have as a player a good grasp of rules and tactics. There would be pretty much zero leeway for mistakes or strings of bad luck.
-j
Some 'alternate' fighting tactics rely a lot less on BAB and other numbers as well.
I recall my monk taking out a much higher level caster out with a grapple, for instance. Wizards tend not to have great defenses against that.
-k