The Player Character and Levels

On the Dragon’s Neck, and in Forgotten Realms in general, the Player Character is supposed to be exceptional. They are meant to stand above mundane NPCs, and are created to play a part in regional or world events. Player Characters can more easily be justified in having Good or Evil alignments because they are the focus of this story. Player Characters can more readily be less well-traveled races such as Dwarves and Elves, because they are both a minority and a staple of the setting.

While on the Dragon’s Neck we will explore very human stories, mundane conflicts, and face problems we can personally relate to..these will happen alongside acts of magic, conflicts of good and evil, and grand events. A player character’s level correlates to more than their mechanical stats. The level is a mark of a character’s presence in the world, and ability to influence events.

All PC's start at level 2.

Even at level 2, a character with class levels (Fighter, Wizard, etc) stands above the majority of the population. A level 2 fighter can leave their village, already the best swordsmen there, and seek new adventures and challenges.

At level 4, characters have come more into their own. They may have impacted some few lives, and their names may mean much to some few along the way, but they are the heroes of only small and local stories. A level 4 wizard may still be counseled by a town’s mayor for his intellect and knowledge of the arcane, and a level 4 rogue may be considered an accomplished cutpurse.

By level 8, a character has made their name. They are not peerless, but their prowess in their field is regionally known to those that have an eye for such things. Level 8 characters in the setting have led military forces, command a city’s guards, or been at the right hands of local rulers.

A level 12 character has achieved that which few in the world can even aspire to. They carry big names and growing reputations, and may find themselves on the stage of world events if fate wills it. There is always more to learn, and there are always bigger fish and greater threats, but a character that has achieved so much will rarely manage obscurity.

A level 16 character is likely to get drawn into the affairs of the world or region, one way or another. They have a well-earned reputation, prowess, experience, and power that can turn the tides of battles and politics. Only the ignorant could have trouble matching a face to a name and the deeds behind it.