Question about milestone progression in older published hardcovers... I'm thinking about running Sunless Citadell as a AL-legal play-by-post game.
The hardcover itself doesn't have leveling guidance beyond saying (players should get to levels 2 or 3 by the end). I think it assumes the DM is using XP progression... and the AL adaptation guide doesn't offer anything different. How would you all handle AL-legal milestone leveling in that situation?
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DM - Origins - A Level Zero Adventure
DM - Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
The Forge of Fury - Lehmani (L3 Tiefling Cleric, Forge Domain)
Wild Beyond the Witchlight - Fa'amae(L2 Shadar-kai Druid, Circle of the Spores)
Greyhawk -Tilliman Treewick Toadswaddler the First (L1 Gnome Rogue)
Well, obviously you start at level 1. They should definitely be level 2 by the time they get to the Twilight Grove. If they did a really good job at the end, boost them to level 3.
Question about milestone progression in older published hardcovers... I'm thinking about running Sunless Citadell as a AL-legal play-by-post game.
The hardcover itself doesn't have leveling guidance beyond saying (players should get to levels 2 or 3 by the end). I think it assumes the DM is using XP progression... and the AL adaptation guide doesn't offer anything different. How would you all handle AL-legal milestone leveling in that situation?
It is important to note that the adventure does NOT say level 2 or 3 by the end.
"They should advance through 2nd level to 3rd level before the finale."
This says BEFORE the finale the party should be level 3. So the DM should promote the party to 3rd level before the final boss encounter.
However, since it is a hardcover the DM has a lot of leveling options available to them that are all AL legal. The adaptation guide has nothing to say about leveling when running Sunless Citadel.
The ALPG assigns levels the following way:
"You gain a level at the end of each play session that completes an Adventurers League adventure or a part of an official D&D adventure, at your discretion." (Your in this context is the player - not the DM).
Sunless Citadel is an official D&D adventure so the characters are allowed to level up at the end of every session.
When running hardcovers, I usually ask the table to level up at the pace the DM sets even though they have the option to level after every session. Since levels can always be refused there is no issue with this approach. However, if a player doesn't agree, the DM is also under no obligation to seat them at the table if they'd prefer not to follow the suggested table rules. On the other hand, the DM could also choose to run the adventure by allowing the characters to level up after every session if they wish and just adjust the encounter difficulty by adding thematically appropriate monsters to the encounters.
There is a great deal of flexibility for the DM in running AL legal hardcover adventures.
In addition, Sunless Citadel is a tier 1 adventure, so it is possible to start play of this adventure with any tier 1 characters. The characters could advance to tier 2 and the only constraint is that if they play an adventure outside of Sunless Citadel when they are tier 2 or reach tier 2 then they can't return. If they continue to play the hardcover without mixing in other adventures, there is no limit to the level the characters may reach. (Some of this info is in the ALFAQ that hasn't yet been added or merged with the current documentation).
All of those options are AL legal.
So, as a DM running Sunless Citadel for an AL group that wants to experience the module as close to as written as possible, I would ask everyone to bring a level 1 character, I would advance the party to level 2 by the end of the first floor and to level 3 just before or the final encounter.
If the party seems very strong, I could leave them at level 2 before the finale and advance them to level 3 afterward. On the other hand, if they are really struggling, I can advance them to level 3 sooner and make them level 4 before the final encounter. (as long as it takes at least 3 sessions to play - which it likely will). Alternatively, I can stick to the suggested progression of level 2 -> 3 just before the finale and adjust the encounter difficulty by adding or removing thematically appropriate monsters. In this case, I could add or remove some minions, or adjust monster hit points up or down, to help balance the encounters better.
However, if you plan to play Forge of Fury next then I would keep the party at level 3 at the end of Sunless Citadel whether you level them before or after the final encounter.
Question about milestone progression in older published hardcovers... I'm thinking about running Sunless Citadell as a AL-legal play-by-post game.
The hardcover itself doesn't have leveling guidance beyond saying (players should get to levels 2 or 3 by the end). I think it assumes the DM is using XP progression... and the AL adaptation guide doesn't offer anything different. How would you all handle AL-legal milestone leveling in that situation?
DM - Origins - A Level Zero Adventure
DM - Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
The Forge of Fury - Lehmani (L3 Tiefling Cleric, Forge Domain)
Wild Beyond the Witchlight - Fa'amae (L2 Shadar-kai Druid, Circle of the Spores)
Greyhawk - Tilliman Treewick Toadswaddler the First (L1 Gnome Rogue)
Well, obviously you start at level 1. They should definitely be level 2 by the time they get to the Twilight Grove. If they did a really good job at the end, boost them to level 3.
It is important to note that the adventure does NOT say level 2 or 3 by the end.
"They should advance through 2nd level to 3rd level before the finale."
This says BEFORE the finale the party should be level 3. So the DM should promote the party to 3rd level before the final boss encounter.
However, since it is a hardcover the DM has a lot of leveling options available to them that are all AL legal. The adaptation guide has nothing to say about leveling when running Sunless Citadel.
The ALPG assigns levels the following way:
"You gain a level at the end of each play session that completes an Adventurers League adventure or a part of an official D&D adventure, at your discretion." (Your in this context is the player - not the DM).
Sunless Citadel is an official D&D adventure so the characters are allowed to level up at the end of every session.
When running hardcovers, I usually ask the table to level up at the pace the DM sets even though they have the option to level after every session. Since levels can always be refused there is no issue with this approach. However, if a player doesn't agree, the DM is also under no obligation to seat them at the table if they'd prefer not to follow the suggested table rules. On the other hand, the DM could also choose to run the adventure by allowing the characters to level up after every session if they wish and just adjust the encounter difficulty by adding thematically appropriate monsters to the encounters.
There is a great deal of flexibility for the DM in running AL legal hardcover adventures.
In addition, Sunless Citadel is a tier 1 adventure, so it is possible to start play of this adventure with any tier 1 characters. The characters could advance to tier 2 and the only constraint is that if they play an adventure outside of Sunless Citadel when they are tier 2 or reach tier 2 then they can't return. If they continue to play the hardcover without mixing in other adventures, there is no limit to the level the characters may reach. (Some of this info is in the ALFAQ that hasn't yet been added or merged with the current documentation).
All of those options are AL legal.
So, as a DM running Sunless Citadel for an AL group that wants to experience the module as close to as written as possible, I would ask everyone to bring a level 1 character, I would advance the party to level 2 by the end of the first floor and to level 3 just before or the final encounter.
If the party seems very strong, I could leave them at level 2 before the finale and advance them to level 3 afterward. On the other hand, if they are really struggling, I can advance them to level 3 sooner and make them level 4 before the final encounter. (as long as it takes at least 3 sessions to play - which it likely will). Alternatively, I can stick to the suggested progression of level 2 -> 3 just before the finale and adjust the encounter difficulty by adding or removing thematically appropriate monsters. In this case, I could add or remove some minions, or adjust monster hit points up or down, to help balance the encounters better.
However, if you plan to play Forge of Fury next then I would keep the party at level 3 at the end of Sunless Citadel whether you level them before or after the final encounter.