[TML] Leveling (was NEW SFRPG - Thousand Suns)

[Richard Aiken]

On Feb 8, 2008 2:51 AM, Stuart Frew <stuart at frew.net.nz> wrote:
> But does it get asked by the same players?

I'm not sure.  The kind of players who ask the level of NPCs in D&D
aren't usually the sort who like to play under other systems.  At
least, that's been my experience.

> The players need some way to guess the threat or opportunity a NPC
> represents.

In-game descriptions are much better for this, in my opinion.  Did you
see my post a while back about the black coach (black velvet curtains
drawn tight) pulled by several pairs of matched black horses, flying a
dead black banner, escorted by two-dozen men-at-arms in
black-lacquered armor?  The DM didn't *have* to tell us any
out-of-game stats.  We instantly understood that it would be a good
idea to be very, very meek . . .

> Levels can be an easy way to do it. If the NPC is a 0th commoner I normally
> tell the players that, a short cut to say that they are just extras. Lazy
> yeah, but we only have a 2 or 3hrs each week, so you need to help keep the
> players focused.

He's a farmer.  How's he destroying focus?  Unless your players are
used to *everyone* you describe having an impact on the story.

> It also helps keep the PC's alive when they get cocky "Nah man hes like 15th
> level or so, you sure you want to mess with him?". If they still do, fine;
> I've been surprised before.

Cocky players/PCs should also be dealt with in-game, in my opinion.

Maybe that's early training on my part, though.  I remember a paladin
who became obsessed with wanting to fight a dragon . . . when our
party was 4th level.  The rest of us were a bit nervious, but we
needn't have worried.  The GM had his horse throw a shoe and then
winked at us while the player was figuring out whether his character
had the skill to deal with it.  Our caller (this was a *long* time ago
. . .) said, "You'll be alright?  We're almost to town and the rest of
us want to keep on going."  The would-be dragon-killer said, "Sure.
See you there."

When his terrified, still-shoeless horse caught up to us a bit later,
we went back to the charred scene of the very short fight - which we
as silent players had witnessed - and buried the body . . . what was
left of it.

Once in town, we put up a notice that we needed another fighter-type
in our party.  The next morning, a newly-minted, very subdued
2nd-level paladin showed up.  Imagine that?

> But for the interesting bits in between the players have to interact with
> the NPC to get a feel for them.

So you're saying that only those NPCs which you bother to describe in
detail always have something to do with the story.  No wonder you have
to give out the levels of all the rest.

-- 
Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein