I'm very excited to DM the first adventure (The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces) from Candlekeep Mysteries for four Level 1 players.
As a new DM, I have a few questions:
1. Should I calculate XP or assume the players reach Level 2 by the end of the adventure?
2. After the players complete The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces, can I then take them through the Level 2 adventure (Mazfroth's Mighty Digressions), then the Level 3 adventure (Book of the Raven), and so on - with the players gaining XP during each adventure or gaining a level after completing each adventure?
I guess what I really want to know is can I run the adventures in consecutive order (especially the lower level adventures, Levels 1-5) for the same group of characters? Or do the characters need to have other encounters or side quests to gain enough XP, money, magic items, etc. to level up?
Looking for guidance from more experienced DMs! Thank you!
There are two "official" methods of leveling up. XP is one, and it is purely a maths exercise..."party kills x creature, they get y XP (divided amongst the party)." you can award additional XP as a DM, but once you get enough to trigger a level up, it happens (some DMs will rule that it happens on your next long rest rather than immediately, so you don't stop the game to do the level up modifications).
The other method is Milestone leveling, where the DM awards a level increase at the end of a particular segment of the story, or after a boss fight, etc, regardless of any XP. You don't really need to track XP at all using this method, and it works really well with modules and stories, where they are designed for a certain "level" and you don't want the players to just grind through and get the level early (and removing the challenge of the game). Since each level of Candlekeep is designed for a certain level, I'd say this method would work well there.
One thing I have noticed when running pre-written modules and campaigns is that a "chapter" that is intended for players of a certain level often have far more encounters/creatures in them than are required to advance the level, meaning that it is possible to start "overshooting" levels over time. I prefer Milestone leveling for this reason. But it is really up to you as DM which one you choose to use.
I agree with the above - use Milestone leveling. Let each book represent a milestone, that way they level in accordance to the level for the next book. In my experience pre written adventures always have holes to fill in. Find those and fill them. For example - what are the reasons they are going from book to book? if they have to travel from candlekeep to another location, maybe several days away, how is that handled? food, drink and sleep how is that handled? random encounters? other small towns etc! How much money they need depends on these things together with what happens in the books. Take a look at "the next book" to see if the group need anything special, make sure they can get that before they need it. Keep an eye on the group and their classes. Do a specifik character need anything special? any class that might want something that isnt alredy in the books? For example a wizard might have a wish to find spells related to the book they investigate so they can add it to their spellbook, add such things as you see fit. An artificer probably want a gem worth 100gp for their homunuculus servant at level 2 etc. In short, use milestone leveling, each book representing a milestone/level, and then don't be afraid to add, fill and deepen content you feel need more "something". As you go you will get a better feel of how much you think you need to add in order to have a smooth experience.
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I'm very excited to DM the first adventure (The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces) from Candlekeep Mysteries for four Level 1 players.
As a new DM, I have a few questions:
1. Should I calculate XP or assume the players reach Level 2 by the end of the adventure?
2. After the players complete The Joy of Extradimensional Spaces, can I then take them through the Level 2 adventure (Mazfroth's Mighty Digressions), then the Level 3 adventure (Book of the Raven), and so on - with the players gaining XP during each adventure or gaining a level after completing each adventure?
I guess what I really want to know is can I run the adventures in consecutive order (especially the lower level adventures, Levels 1-5) for the same group of characters? Or do the characters need to have other encounters or side quests to gain enough XP, money, magic items, etc. to level up?
Looking for guidance from more experienced DMs! Thank you!
There are two "official" methods of leveling up. XP is one, and it is purely a maths exercise..."party kills x creature, they get y XP (divided amongst the party)." you can award additional XP as a DM, but once you get enough to trigger a level up, it happens (some DMs will rule that it happens on your next long rest rather than immediately, so you don't stop the game to do the level up modifications).
The other method is Milestone leveling, where the DM awards a level increase at the end of a particular segment of the story, or after a boss fight, etc, regardless of any XP. You don't really need to track XP at all using this method, and it works really well with modules and stories, where they are designed for a certain "level" and you don't want the players to just grind through and get the level early (and removing the challenge of the game). Since each level of Candlekeep is designed for a certain level, I'd say this method would work well there.
One thing I have noticed when running pre-written modules and campaigns is that a "chapter" that is intended for players of a certain level often have far more encounters/creatures in them than are required to advance the level, meaning that it is possible to start "overshooting" levels over time. I prefer Milestone leveling for this reason. But it is really up to you as DM which one you choose to use.
I agree with the above - use Milestone leveling. Let each book represent a milestone, that way they level in accordance to the level for the next book. In my experience pre written adventures always have holes to fill in. Find those and fill them. For example - what are the reasons they are going from book to book? if they have to travel from candlekeep to another location, maybe several days away, how is that handled? food, drink and sleep how is that handled? random encounters? other small towns etc! How much money they need depends on these things together with what happens in the books. Take a look at "the next book" to see if the group need anything special, make sure they can get that before they need it. Keep an eye on the group and their classes. Do a specifik character need anything special? any class that might want something that isnt alredy in the books? For example a wizard might have a wish to find spells related to the book they investigate so they can add it to their spellbook, add such things as you see fit. An artificer probably want a gem worth 100gp for their homunuculus servant at level 2 etc. In short, use milestone leveling, each book representing a milestone/level, and then don't be afraid to add, fill and deepen content you feel need more "something". As you go you will get a better feel of how much you think you need to add in order to have a smooth experience.