We’re about to wrap up Stormwreck Isle and still finding our feet. I see theres obviously loads of books to carry on with. I know some are Level 1-11 etc, how do we know what to do with the enemies etc if we choose a book and are coming in at level 3 for instance. Does the book specifically say “if you are level 4 then add 2 more zombies’ for instance.
No. It assumes that you're at the correct level for the adventure. Some offer adjustments for party size, but pretty much all just assume you're at the correct level.
What you can do is use the guides in The Dungeon Master's Guide or Xanathar's Guide to Everything to figure out the difficulty of each encounter and then scale them up to the equivalent at your level. That would be a fair amount of work, though.
Alternatives are to just play it - might a bit easy until you catch up (don't level up your characters), but even published adventures have quests that could be played at any time between levels 1 through 3. Otherwise, you can buy adventures that start later (like Light of Xaryxis), that have flexible starts (like Rime of the Frostmaiden, Dragon of Icespire Peak) orbone of the anthologies (like Candlekeep Mysteries, Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel) and just start with the adventures rated for your level.
Or you could just start new characters, which is what they think is what you'll do.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
So if I found an adventure that starts at level 7, and the current characters are level 4, could I just think of some magical way they start at level 7?
So if I found an adventure that starts at level 7, and the current characters are level 4, could I just think of some magical way they start at level 7?
You can have the characters be any level you want them to without any justification other than it being what you want. The players may or may not choose to describe the off-screen adventures that got them from level 4 to level 7 on their own or you could ask them to if you like. Neither is strictly necessary though. They can just add three levels to their character sheets and go from there. As you guys see fit.
One thing to consider as very new players, though, is that the mechanical difference between level 4 and level 7 for most characters is fairly significant. It may help to find an adventure that starts at a level where you can play through rather than skip some levels.
You could quickly put them into Phandelver and Below at 3rd level, and things would go just fine. That will get them all the way to level 11 (IIRC) and is still geared toward people who are new to it.
You could also cherry-pick from the anthology books that are a collection of adventures: Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Yawning Portal, Candlekeep, etc.
We’re about to wrap up Stormwreck Isle and still finding our feet. I see theres obviously loads of books to carry on with. I know some are Level 1-11 etc, how do we know what to do with the enemies etc if we choose a book and are coming in at level 3 for instance. Does the book specifically say “if you are level 4 then add 2 more zombies’ for instance.
Is there a specific adventure you’re thinking of going into? Several of the published adventures have the opening chapter designed to ease you in gently with almost a mini adventure to get you to level 2 or 3 before the main story starts. It’s fairly easy to just skip that part and start with the characters you’ve already got
I quite fancy Dungeons of Drakkenheim I must admit
Job done then, I’ve been reading it to run it myself and there’s exactly that sort of short intro scene to get you to level 3 before you enter the city. It has the players travelling to the city and meeting other adventurers who are leaving. Just cut that out and have them already on the outskirts of the city at level 3. It was one of the Dungeon Dude’s stretch goals when they did the original Kickstarter so there’s nothing there that is vital to the rest of the campaign, it just gives the players an early example of how the city can mutate you which you could even argue spoils the mystery and surprise a bit
We’re about to wrap up Stormwreck Isle and still finding our feet. I see theres obviously loads of books to carry on with. I know some are Level 1-11 etc, how do we know what to do with the enemies etc if we choose a book and are coming in at level 3 for instance. Does the book specifically say “if you are level 4 then add 2 more zombies’ for instance.
No. It assumes that you're at the correct level for the adventure. Some offer adjustments for party size, but pretty much all just assume you're at the correct level.
What you can do is use the guides in The Dungeon Master's Guide or Xanathar's Guide to Everything to figure out the difficulty of each encounter and then scale them up to the equivalent at your level. That would be a fair amount of work, though.
Alternatives are to just play it - might a bit easy until you catch up (don't level up your characters), but even published adventures have quests that could be played at any time between levels 1 through 3. Otherwise, you can buy adventures that start later (like Light of Xaryxis), that have flexible starts (like Rime of the Frostmaiden, Dragon of Icespire Peak) orbone of the anthologies (like Candlekeep Mysteries, Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel) and just start with the adventures rated for your level.
Or you could just start new characters, which is what they think is what you'll do.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
So if I found an adventure that starts at level 7, and the current characters are level 4, could I just think of some magical way they start at level 7?
You can have the characters be any level you want them to without any justification other than it being what you want. The players may or may not choose to describe the off-screen adventures that got them from level 4 to level 7 on their own or you could ask them to if you like. Neither is strictly necessary though. They can just add three levels to their character sheets and go from there. As you guys see fit.
One thing to consider as very new players, though, is that the mechanical difference between level 4 and level 7 for most characters is fairly significant. It may help to find an adventure that starts at a level where you can play through rather than skip some levels.
You could quickly put them into Phandelver and Below at 3rd level, and things would go just fine. That will get them all the way to level 11 (IIRC) and is still geared toward people who are new to it.
You could also cherry-pick from the anthology books that are a collection of adventures: Ghosts of Saltmarsh, Yawning Portal, Candlekeep, etc.
There's a lot of opportunity!
Is there a specific adventure you’re thinking of going into? Several of the published adventures have the opening chapter designed to ease you in gently with almost a mini adventure to get you to level 2 or 3 before the main story starts. It’s fairly easy to just skip that part and start with the characters you’ve already got
I quite fancy Dungeons of Drakkenheim I must admit
Job done then, I’ve been reading it to run it myself and there’s exactly that sort of short intro scene to get you to level 3 before you enter the city. It has the players travelling to the city and meeting other adventurers who are leaving. Just cut that out and have them already on the outskirts of the city at level 3. It was one of the Dungeon Dude’s stretch goals when they did the original Kickstarter so there’s nothing there that is vital to the rest of the campaign, it just gives the players an early example of how the city can mutate you which you could even argue spoils the mystery and surprise a bit