I searched the forum for a post on this. Sorry in advance for dups if it is.
The default "Advancement Type" should be XP NOT Milestone. The VAST majority of players use XP and, like me, will have to change this every time we create a character. Please make XP as the default. Any +1s out there?
I agree as well, And just to add on, I know the XP system Mike Mearls talked about in August's Unearthed Arcana was just shown to us, I hope it also gets implemented as an option as well if it catches on.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM - Storm King's Thunder - Final Session this weekend
I'm curious where you got the idea more people use XP to level. Everyone I know uses milestone leveling, which means my anecdotal evidence suggest that's what most people use.
I prefer milestone myself, but can see the need to be able to toggle the default to XP and be able to leave it there. Honestly, I feel like DnD Beyond should allow you to toggle many settings to a new default (and just have it stay there until it's changed) via settings.
The nice thing is you can go in and edit that at any point. Character just hit level 5 and DM decided to change how XP is being given out (like my DM did)? You can go in and change it. As long as you pay attention to what it's set at when you create the character, know what your DM is using, and set it as such, it's not an issue. It's not even an issue if you set it incorrectly. Just go in and edit it.
Okay, I love honesty! So I'll be honest. Something like this is low, and I mean really low, on the priority list. There's a lot of different features and functionality being worked on right now. So, the suggestion might sit here for a long time, it might even feel like it's being ignored. However, the developers are wonderful about reading threads like this, so there is always hope.
I would to add that when you're mass-producing stuff, that even one toggle you always have to change every time really puts a damper on your speed and workflow. Don't get me wrong. I love Milestone based leveling and prefer to use it by default (I always felt traditional XP was too restricting, and didn't allow you to level up fast enough and/or at appropriate feeling times, or get credit for doing stuff besides fighting monsters and other dungeon-y stuff) but I can see how a thing like this could be really be a stick in the mud for XP-users who have to make a lot of characters (particularly DM's).
That said, I do like to use XP rewards and level-up tiers to kind of "get the gist" of what players need to do to reach the next tier of capability. It helps me make sure the milestones I set aren't too high or too low. Like when I realized the 300xp for level 2 was basically just solo-killing 6 goblins in 5e, it made me realize that getting to level 2 (and even 3) wasn't necessarily something that was going to take a long time.
Perhaps it is default because it is new and they want to push it :)
You could be right! It's old at my table; I think we started going by milestone around 2003 or 2004; my DM had played a lot of Fallouts 1 and 2, and many old text-adventures and PC RPGs, so he had a strong opinion about rewarding tactical retreats when the going was too tough, thoughtfully circumventing a problem nonviolently, developing valuable contacts throughout the world, etc. For leveling up, my DM would sometimes have it be, "Alright, you averted catastrophe and the dark army is receding from the bucolic Druid's grove. When's the last time you leveled up? Right, okay, everybody gains three levels." 3rd edition had a lot of spikes and plateaus on character progression though, so it often felt pretty justified to do a few at a time, especially given that it would coincide with a more restful period where we could be training or visiting people. I'm really glad that the progression curve is a bit steadier in 5e, with less front-loading than there was, and I'm excited that Milestone is being given official credence. It can require a more seasoned DM to feel when the time is right (or merely a very sensitive one with a good sense for empowerment and drama), so playing with an XP system for a good while can be good, so everyone at the table develops a similar perspective, but in my humble opinion, the most important part of the rules is maintaining balance among the PCs so they can all have their moments to shine; trusting monster design is 2nd. After that, hard and fast XP progression seems too restrictive for good drama, and if a DM wants to value "success" in different forms with some consistency, doing it by feel within a given campaign saves a lot of time versus trying to standardize it (I'm operating under the assumption that the outcome of the sessions will still be fun for all parties involved by coming close to the same outcome that a carefully calculated "This much XP for circumventing the conflict with diplomacy, but THIS MUCH XP for doing it with deceit, and this much for using poison in the kitchen, and this much for finding the mcguffin without murdering anyone, etc., etc."-system would have given you anyway, since so much of it is subjective evaluation (either at the table, in the moment, OR at the drawing board, in preparation), and any system, no matter how long you work on it, will have its flaws or imbalances, or holes, or merely pros and cons).
I use XP at my table and most of my players are new to D&D. It's just one more thing to add to the list of how to transfer their paper character sheets over. If it was the default (or if I could set the default for my campaign), I could just tell them to skip that whole page, as we keep all of the other defaults.
It's a single click, so any argument that it's so difficult seems odd to me, BUT as I read the PHB, XP is the default method, and it is for Adventurer's League as well. Just seems odd that DDB made MIlestone the default in the CB. <shrugs>
Right ow I am running my group through the playtest adventire Dragonspear Castle... it does not have a very even Xp flow... but it does have recommendations for what level is expected as you go along in parts 1-4, so that is by bench mark... it has been very handy doing xp this way
It's not really difficult, but my players are mostly newbs, so any steps I can cut out when walking them through the process is nice. I'll admit, this is what I would consider a luxury request, and not something I would have posted on my own, but I saw it here and figured it wouldn't hurt to chime in. If they implement it, cool. If not, I'll survive.
It's not really difficult, but my players are mostly newbs, so any steps I can cut out when walking them through the process is nice. I'll admit, this is what I would consider a luxury request, and not something I would have posted on my own, but I saw it here and figured it wouldn't hurt to chime in. If they implement it, cool. If not, I'll survive.
Exactly! This is an insignificant luxury, but it would be kind of nice.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
I searched the forum for a post on this. Sorry in advance for dups if it is.
The default "Advancement Type" should be XP NOT Milestone. The VAST majority of players use XP and, like me, will have to change this every time we create a character. Please make XP as the default. Any +1s out there?
I second this motion.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
I agree as well, And just to add on, I know the XP system Mike Mearls talked about in August's Unearthed Arcana was just shown to us, I hope it also gets implemented as an option as well if it catches on.
DM - Storm King's Thunder - Final Session this weekend
DM - Tomb of Annihilation - Prep work
I'm curious where you got the idea more people use XP to level. Everyone I know uses milestone leveling, which means my anecdotal evidence suggest that's what most people use.
DM for the Adventures in Erylia Podcast
Where five friends sit around the table and record themselves playing Dungeons and Dragons
I prefer milestone myself, but can see the need to be able to toggle the default to XP and be able to leave it there. Honestly, I feel like DnD Beyond should allow you to toggle many settings to a new default (and just have it stay there until it's changed) via settings.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
InsidersThe nice thing is you can go in and edit that at any point. Character just hit level 5 and DM decided to change how XP is being given out (like my DM did)? You can go in and change it. As long as you pay attention to what it's set at when you create the character, know what your DM is using, and set it as such, it's not an issue. It's not even an issue if you set it incorrectly. Just go in and edit it.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
XP still seems like it ought to be the default method, because it's the one presented as the default in the PHB.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
InsidersI guess I don't understand why a change needs made when it is such a simple thing to change between?
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
We're lazy.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
InsidersA dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
I would to add that when you're mass-producing stuff, that even one toggle you always have to change every time really puts a damper on your speed and workflow. Don't get me wrong. I love Milestone based leveling and prefer to use it by default (I always felt traditional XP was too restricting, and didn't allow you to level up fast enough and/or at appropriate feeling times, or get credit for doing stuff besides fighting monsters and other dungeon-y stuff) but I can see how a thing like this could be really be a stick in the mud for XP-users who have to make a lot of characters (particularly DM's).
That said, I do like to use XP rewards and level-up tiers to kind of "get the gist" of what players need to do to reach the next tier of capability. It helps me make sure the milestones I set aren't too high or too low. Like when I realized the 300xp for level 2 was basically just solo-killing 6 goblins in 5e, it made me realize that getting to level 2 (and even 3) wasn't necessarily something that was going to take a long time.
I think it makes sense to have the default for selections in the builder be what the rule books present as default.
So let's put XP rather than Milestone - but not before we switch the ability score generation method to the default rule of 4d6 drop lowest!
(he said, knowing that a boat load of people would be aggravated by that because they don't use rolled ability scores)
I don't think it is a big deal. I use milestone rewards, but I will say I was surprised that it was the default value..
Perhaps it is default because it is new and they want to push it :)
"It was not our plot to betray you!"
Just adding my voice to the crowd for XP default.
I use XP at my table and most of my players are new to D&D. It's just one more thing to add to the list of how to transfer their paper character sheets over. If it was the default (or if I could set the default for my campaign), I could just tell them to skip that whole page, as we keep all of the other defaults.
It's a single click, so any argument that it's so difficult seems odd to me, BUT as I read the PHB, XP is the default method, and it is for Adventurer's League as well. Just seems odd that DDB made MIlestone the default in the CB. <shrugs>
I agree about 3rd edition spikes...
Right ow I am running my group through the playtest adventire Dragonspear Castle... it does not have a very even Xp flow... but it does have recommendations for what level is expected as you go along in parts 1-4, so that is by bench mark... it has been very handy doing xp this way
It's not really difficult, but my players are mostly newbs, so any steps I can cut out when walking them through the process is nice. I'll admit, this is what I would consider a luxury request, and not something I would have posted on my own, but I saw it here and figured it wouldn't hurt to chime in. If they implement it, cool. If not, I'll survive.
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)