I started played d&d about 4 years ago with 5e and have since played 1e and 2e as well.
I've recently been asked to be dm for a 5e group and have really noticed a couple of things I dislike about the 5e system, most of these have already been addressed in the dms guide or supplements.
However the one thing I don't like is that all the classes level up at the same time, where as they level up at different rates in 1e, 2e.
Why? 5E is certainly not a perfectly balanced game but what little modicum of balance it does have is assuming equal levels. 5e has a concept of ‘bounded accuracy’ that previous editions did not.
When trying to balance a ‘linear fighter’ with a ‘quadratic wizard’, one way to solve the problem is to let the fighter level faster. 5e essentially has linear wizards as well as linear fighters. Making the wizard level more slowly just makes him worse.
Agree that it’s not a desirable house rule. But if your heart is set, just use the milestone system and tell certain players they aren’t allowed to level up with the rest of the party to enforce some sort of tiered progression, I guess.
I've grown very fond of 1e in recent years even though I would have not been so back in the 80s when I was more in love with other systems (RoleMaster, Champions, etc.). But in all my nostalgia for 1e, one thing I do not have any love for is the different leveling speeds. That's one of the worst ideas Gygax had. I would not try to reintroduce that one to a 5e universe. It wasn't really balanced correctly in 1e, and it absolutely would not be so in 5e.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
I started played d&d about 4 years ago with 5e and have since played 1e and 2e as well.
I've recently been asked to be dm for a 5e group and have really noticed a couple of things I dislike about the 5e system, most of these have already been addressed in the dms guide or supplements.
However the one thing I don't like is that all the classes level up at the same time, where as they level up at different rates in 1e, 2e.
Has anybody come across some alternate rules?
Yes.
besides milestones...
give EXP based on role play interactions, and not just murderhobo exp rewards for killing things.
Everyone has chances to earn. Some earn more than others. Sometimes you get more exp talking a fight out of happening. Than just killing 3 thief’s in a bar fight.
Why? 5E is certainly not a perfectly balanced game but what little modicum of balance it does have is assuming equal levels. 5e has a concept of ‘bounded accuracy’ that previous editions did not.
When trying to balance a ‘linear fighter’ with a ‘quadratic wizard’, one way to solve the problem is to let the fighter level faster. 5e essentially has linear wizards as well as linear fighters. Making the wizard level more slowly just makes him worse.
equal levels?
you clearly have never sat at an AL table. You have varying degrees of levels within a 4 level range.
level 5 and 8 together
1 and 4 together,
9 and 12
etc.
It’s also common in westward March campaigns to have various levels within a range.
I started played d&d about 4 years ago with 5e and have since played 1e and 2e as well.
I've recently been asked to be dm for a 5e group and have really noticed a couple of things I dislike about the 5e system, most of these have already been addressed in the dms guide or supplements.
However the one thing I don't like is that all the classes level up at the same time, where as they level up at different rates in 1e, 2e.
Has anybody come across some alternate rules?
Yes.
besides milestones...
give EXP based on role play interactions, and not just murderhobo exp rewards for killing things.
Everyone has chances to earn. Some earn more than others. Sometimes you get more exp talking a fight out of happening. Than just killing 3 thief’s in a bar fight.
etc.
additionally: I know everyone’s all “NEVER SPLIT THE PARTY” but when parties are split, such as in towns, or by whatever other means. Good chances for unequal things that can be worth exp, or not.
edit: I’d rather give you alternatives for you for your question. Vs try and force you to play how I feel it should be played or jump down your throat for having a different idea.
I started played d&d about 4 years ago with 5e and have since played 1e and 2e as well.
I've recently been asked to be dm for a 5e group and have really noticed a couple of things I dislike about the 5e system, most of these have already been addressed in the dms guide or supplements.
However the one thing I don't like is that all the classes level up at the same time, where as they level up at different rates in 1e, 2e.
Has anybody come across some alternate rules?
Why? 5E is certainly not a perfectly balanced game but what little modicum of balance it does have is assuming equal levels. 5e has a concept of ‘bounded accuracy’ that previous editions did not.
When trying to balance a ‘linear fighter’ with a ‘quadratic wizard’, one way to solve the problem is to let the fighter level faster. 5e essentially has linear wizards as well as linear fighters. Making the wizard level more slowly just makes him worse.
Why do you want characters to level up at different rates? That could help us point you in the direction of the appropriate alternate rules.
Agree that it’s not a desirable house rule. But if your heart is set, just use the milestone system and tell certain players they aren’t allowed to level up with the rest of the party to enforce some sort of tiered progression, I guess.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
... but then be prepared for those players to be super pissed that you're nerfing their players unfairly for no good reason.
I've grown very fond of 1e in recent years even though I would have not been so back in the 80s when I was more in love with other systems (RoleMaster, Champions, etc.). But in all my nostalgia for 1e, one thing I do not have any love for is the different leveling speeds. That's one of the worst ideas Gygax had. I would not try to reintroduce that one to a 5e universe. It wasn't really balanced correctly in 1e, and it absolutely would not be so in 5e.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
Yes.
besides milestones...
give EXP based on role play interactions, and not just murderhobo exp rewards for killing things.
Everyone has chances to earn. Some earn more than others. Sometimes you get more exp talking a fight out of happening. Than just killing 3 thief’s in a bar fight.
etc.
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equal levels?
you clearly have never sat at an AL table. You have varying degrees of levels within a 4 level range.
level 5 and 8 together
1 and 4 together,
9 and 12
etc.
It’s also common in westward March campaigns to have various levels within a range.
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additionally: I know everyone’s all “NEVER SPLIT THE PARTY” but when parties are split, such as in towns, or by whatever other means. Good chances for unequal things that can be worth exp, or not.
edit: I’d rather give you alternatives for you for your question. Vs try and force you to play how I feel it should be played or jump down your throat for having a different idea.
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