So, I've only played DnD one time before with a friend and I really enjoyed it. Took a small break to get my life together and now I have a husband who wants to play with me, and I'm all for that. There's just a LOT of questions we have that, may seem obvious to players that have been playing for a while, but we just started.
We both created our characters on this site. I also have a copy of my level 7 version of my character on my Google Docs.
Do we start over from Level 1 each game we play? Lets say we play a game with a DM and reach level 7 or 8 by the time the game is over, do we start over when we play a new game or do we keep our leveled character? Or, does it depend on if we stay with the same DM?
That's entirely up to you and your DM. Traditionally, new DMs mean new campaigns mean new characters, and often those characters begin at level one.
But there's no rule for that, and if your DM is happy continuing the adventures of previous characters of yours then you certainly can continue to use them.
For the most part, it depends on staying with the GM. Very rarely you might have a character you played in a previous campaign that just happens to be the right level to join in on a different campaign that is already underway, at which point an already leveled character with a play history might be welcome. This would be quite unusual.
Normally characters are created to play in a particular campaign. Usually they start at level one (not always, the GM may have decided they want to start at a higher level). Each time you return to play in that same game with the same character, they retain any accumulated experience and levels, so they will grow over time. They continue to grow until the game ends.
Some games end prematurely due to players losing interest or having other commitments come up. Sometimes games run their course, often when the GM's story plot has concluded. Some games can run for years, with characters getting very advanced indeed. Almost always, any characters you played in those games are essentially retired. Were you to join a new game, you most likely would start with new characters. Though it is of course entirely possible to simply start over with a very similar or even identical character.
Bookworm, martial artist, repentant psychic, dried out drug addict, paramedic, pseudo-apostate libertarian, debater, knife maker, SCA basher, professional gamer, speculator, pornographer, and nascent social commentator. ...and I want an uncomplicated life.
So, it is our understanding to talk to the DM/GM before the game and ask if we can keep the leveled character or if they'd prefer the character to be level one? I like my character, I have a very elaborate background (it took forever to come up with lol,) so I likely will recycle her.
If you are new players I strongly recommend you both start all characters at 1st level. DnD 5th edition does a really good job of scaling complexity as you go up levels. Just make sure the game you play also starts small scale. You won't be saving the world from giant dragons but instead will facing small weaker opponents. Maybe sneaking around a goblin hideout trying to rescue someone while occasionally facing a few of them.
After a game or two to get used to what your character can do go to second level stay there a a game or two then go to third. Then what happens is choice points start to come up that affect the overall path your character takes. Most of these happen at 2nd or 3rd level (mostly 3rd) then within that path things start moving in the complexity and choice points.
So, it is our understanding to talk to the DM/GM before the game and ask if we can keep the leveled character or if they'd prefer the character to be level one? I like my character, I have a very elaborate background (it took forever to come up with lol,) so I likely will recycle her.
One of my players had a character concept already from a previous campaign that was never completed. He asked if he could revert that character to level one, convert it to 5e rules, but otherwise keep the same character and backstory.
I allowed it, because it wasn't as if it was a cheese build or anything. The player just had unfinished business with the character he wanted a chance to resolve. Perfectly okay in my opinion, even though I'd opt for a new character every time.
That might be something you can do too. You might not have to start at the previous level, or act as if it's the same character on a new, different path. Maybe its the same character whose clock has been reset. A reimagining rather than a straight replanting.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So, I've only played DnD one time before with a friend and I really enjoyed it. Took a small break to get my life together and now I have a husband who wants to play with me, and I'm all for that. There's just a LOT of questions we have that, may seem obvious to players that have been playing for a while, but we just started.
We both created our characters on this site. I also have a copy of my level 7 version of my character on my Google Docs.
Do we start over from Level 1 each game we play? Lets say we play a game with a DM and reach level 7 or 8 by the time the game is over, do we start over when we play a new game or do we keep our leveled character? Or, does it depend on if we stay with the same DM?
Please help with this.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
ModeratorThat's entirely up to you and your DM. Traditionally, new DMs mean new campaigns mean new characters, and often those characters begin at level one.
But there's no rule for that, and if your DM is happy continuing the adventures of previous characters of yours then you certainly can continue to use them.
For the most part, it depends on staying with the GM. Very rarely you might have a character you played in a previous campaign that just happens to be the right level to join in on a different campaign that is already underway, at which point an already leveled character with a play history might be welcome. This would be quite unusual.
Normally characters are created to play in a particular campaign. Usually they start at level one (not always, the GM may have decided they want to start at a higher level). Each time you return to play in that same game with the same character, they retain any accumulated experience and levels, so they will grow over time. They continue to grow until the game ends.
Some games end prematurely due to players losing interest or having other commitments come up. Sometimes games run their course, often when the GM's story plot has concluded. Some games can run for years, with characters getting very advanced indeed. Almost always, any characters you played in those games are essentially retired. Were you to join a new game, you most likely would start with new characters. Though it is of course entirely possible to simply start over with a very similar or even identical character.
Bookworm, martial artist, repentant psychic, dried out drug addict, paramedic, pseudo-apostate libertarian, debater, knife maker, SCA basher, professional gamer, speculator, pornographer, and nascent social commentator. ...and I want an uncomplicated life.
So, it is our understanding to talk to the DM/GM before the game and ask if we can keep the leveled character or if they'd prefer the character to be level one? I like my character, I have a very elaborate background (it took forever to come up with lol,) so I likely will recycle her.
If you are new players I strongly recommend you both start all characters at 1st level. DnD 5th edition does a really good job of scaling complexity as you go up levels. Just make sure the game you play also starts small scale. You won't be saving the world from giant dragons but instead will facing small weaker opponents. Maybe sneaking around a goblin hideout trying to rescue someone while occasionally facing a few of them.
After a game or two to get used to what your character can do go to second level stay there a a game or two then go to third. Then what happens is choice points start to come up that affect the overall path your character takes. Most of these happen at 2nd or 3rd level (mostly 3rd) then within that path things start moving in the complexity and choice points.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
ModeratorOne of my players had a character concept already from a previous campaign that was never completed. He asked if he could revert that character to level one, convert it to 5e rules, but otherwise keep the same character and backstory.
I allowed it, because it wasn't as if it was a cheese build or anything. The player just had unfinished business with the character he wanted a chance to resolve. Perfectly okay in my opinion, even though I'd opt for a new character every time.
That might be something you can do too. You might not have to start at the previous level, or act as if it's the same character on a new, different path. Maybe its the same character whose clock has been reset. A reimagining rather than a straight replanting.