So our group started the CoS hardback about a month ago. We just finished the Death House and moved down the road some.
It has taken 4 sessions so far. My friend and I started this at level 4 since these characters had been through a couple of smaller modules already.
A couple other players started level 1. Our DM has asked us not to level up to allow the other players to get to our level and stay there till the hardback suggests leveling up.
The DM has stated we do get the usual 10 hours downtime per session so based on the speed of this hardback we are going to have some large amounts of downtime when finished...like hundreds of hours.
So my question is that this is correct? We could basically finish CoS and jump straight to any level we want afterwards with this amount of downtime?
Also I think we've been doing the smaller modules wrong in that we have only taken a level and downtime when the module was completed even if it took 2-3 sessions instead of the one. We should have taken 10 downtime hours credit even on those smaller modules correct?
yes, but its not as interesting as it sounds. Regardless of what type of group you're in, your tier needs to match the adventure, which is why the DM is saying don't level. If you jump your AL character to level 11, you're effectively retiring it (so to your question, when you finish CoS, no, you're probably not going to want to level your character ever again if you want to keep playing AL with it). For AL, you're just not going to find public high-level groups (in my experience), so the ability to level up by not actually doing anything is pretty pointless. The only real effect of that rule is that you'll almost always be playing at the max level for that table (which does have its merits from an 'omg I'm awesome' perspective)...you'll be able to get to level 4 after 2 sessions and you'll stay at that level until the DM is ready to switch the entire table to tier 2 (if ever). Same for tier 2...you create (or come in with) a level 5 character and 3 sessions later, you're level 10 and you'll stay there forever.
Now, all that is for public AL games....if you're a private game with a consistent DM and a set group of players, there's no real point in AL rules at all.
They might as well just say 'okay, create a level 4 character and a level 10 character and go find a table and play whichever one matches the table'....and just get rid of the leveling system in AL. Alls they needed was that rule that you can start at level 5, which opens up 95% of game tables to all AL players walking in the door - this other rule that you can effectively just keep leveling whenever you want is just disappointing imo as it defeats the whole 'experience' concept.
Public high-level games might be hard to find in FLGS or local communities, but at gaming conventions, virtual D&D weekends, and online Discord communities, tier 3 and 4 play is not uncommon at all. Being mostly an online AL player myself, I have about 8 level 20 characters.
That's the nice thing about AL. Because you can take your character anywhere, you are not restricted to games in your local community. Therefore, their adventure doesn't end at level 10.
Plus OP's question was about downtime, not leveling or high-level play. So this is entirely irrelevant.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat On - Mod Hat Off
Most hardcovers are mixed-tier adventures. I think the only ones that aren't are Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and the anthology hardcovers like Ghosts of Salt Marsh and Tales from the Yawning Portal where each chapter is its own adventure. In mixed-tier adventures, the party is not required to all be at the same tier. Though, it is a common preference for DM's to want to have the players all at the same tier for balance reasons.
From the AL FAQ:
MIXED-TIER PARTIES
Provided they’re able to play in the adventure, characters of different tiers can adventure together. Some DMs choose to avoid mixing tiers in order to maximize ease of play—restricting play to a specific tier within the adventure’s level range.
When adventuring in a mixed-tier party, be careful to avoid overwhelming lower-level characters while still providing a challenge for their higher-level groupmates. If a character falls within 1 or 2 levels of the Average Party Level (APL), they should have no problem fitting into a group, but characters of different tiers may find the adventure too difficult or may make it too easy for their companions.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat On - Mod Hat Off
PLEASE NOTE, NO SPOILERS PLEASE
So our group started the CoS hardback about a month ago. We just finished the Death House and moved down the road some.
It has taken 4 sessions so far. My friend and I started this at level 4 since these characters had been through a couple of smaller modules already.
A couple other players started level 1. Our DM has asked us not to level up to allow the other players to get to our level and stay there till the hardback suggests leveling up.
The DM has stated we do get the usual 10 hours downtime per session so based on the speed of this hardback we are going to have some large amounts of downtime when finished...like hundreds of hours.
So my question is that this is correct? We could basically finish CoS and jump straight to any level we want afterwards with this amount of downtime?
Also I think we've been doing the smaller modules wrong in that we have only taken a level and downtime when the module was completed even if it took 2-3 sessions instead of the one. We should have taken 10 downtime hours credit even on those smaller modules correct?
I have used this for reference: https://media.wizards.com/2022/dnd/downloads/DDAL_PlayersGuidev12_1.pdf
Thanks for your answers.
You earn 10 downtime days between each session of play. This is true regardless of whether or not you level up.
Feature Requests || Homebrew FAQ || Pricing FAQ || Hardcovers FAQ || Snippet Codes || Tooltips
DDB Guides & FAQs, Class Guides, Character Builds, Game Guides, Useful Websites, and WOTC Resources
yes, but its not as interesting as it sounds. Regardless of what type of group you're in, your tier needs to match the adventure, which is why the DM is saying don't level. If you jump your AL character to level 11, you're effectively retiring it (so to your question, when you finish CoS, no, you're probably not going to want to level your character ever again if you want to keep playing AL with it). For AL, you're just not going to find public high-level groups (in my experience), so the ability to level up by not actually doing anything is pretty pointless. The only real effect of that rule is that you'll almost always be playing at the max level for that table (which does have its merits from an 'omg I'm awesome' perspective)...you'll be able to get to level 4 after 2 sessions and you'll stay at that level until the DM is ready to switch the entire table to tier 2 (if ever). Same for tier 2...you create (or come in with) a level 5 character and 3 sessions later, you're level 10 and you'll stay there forever.
Now, all that is for public AL games....if you're a private game with a consistent DM and a set group of players, there's no real point in AL rules at all.
They might as well just say 'okay, create a level 4 character and a level 10 character and go find a table and play whichever one matches the table'....and just get rid of the leveling system in AL. Alls they needed was that rule that you can start at level 5, which opens up 95% of game tables to all AL players walking in the door - this other rule that you can effectively just keep leveling whenever you want is just disappointing imo as it defeats the whole 'experience' concept.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
A rather comprehensive list of free WotC D&D resources
Deck of Decks
Public high-level games might be hard to find in FLGS or local communities, but at gaming conventions, virtual D&D weekends, and online Discord communities, tier 3 and 4 play is not uncommon at all. Being mostly an online AL player myself, I have about 8 level 20 characters.
That's the nice thing about AL. Because you can take your character anywhere, you are not restricted to games in your local community. Therefore, their adventure doesn't end at level 10.
Plus OP's question was about downtime, not leveling or high-level play. So this is entirely irrelevant.
Feature Requests || Homebrew FAQ || Pricing FAQ || Hardcovers FAQ || Snippet Codes || Tooltips
DDB Guides & FAQs, Class Guides, Character Builds, Game Guides, Useful Websites, and WOTC Resources
It seems CoS is unique in that it is for levels 1-10...so it is technically tier1 and 2 in a single hard back.
I've actually played all the way up in tier 4 with our local gaming store group.
So it seems the downtime earned is correct and my character will have a crap ton...lol.
Most hardcovers are mixed-tier adventures. I think the only ones that aren't are Waterdeep: Dragon Heist and the anthology hardcovers like Ghosts of Salt Marsh and Tales from the Yawning Portal where each chapter is its own adventure. In mixed-tier adventures, the party is not required to all be at the same tier. Though, it is a common preference for DM's to want to have the players all at the same tier for balance reasons.
From the AL FAQ:
Feature Requests || Homebrew FAQ || Pricing FAQ || Hardcovers FAQ || Snippet Codes || Tooltips
DDB Guides & FAQs, Class Guides, Character Builds, Game Guides, Useful Websites, and WOTC Resources