New regularly starting low level campaign idea...

[StephenUmpf]

I have an idea... I shared it on Chat yesterday (yes, I was on chat for more than two minutes)

Lets start 1 new low level campaign every 2-3 months (for a min of 4 a year)

We should revolve the play time of each of the four campaigns through different time zones. Perhaps, hit the major play-times (Euro Weekend Days, Euro Weekend Nights, US Weekend Days, Euro Weekend Nights). Technically, the Euro Weekend Nights and the US Weekend Days could be combined if wanted.

We should revolve the servers.

The campaigns should last no less than 4 months - 12 to 16 sessions. From there, the group and the DM can make decisions about the future...

Where ever possible for RP sake, if a high level PC is interested and he can work with the DM, their toon can lead/employ/guide/help the group. For example, Drake in MS could easily employ toons. Sam on BG could easily guide a group with the goal of ending some hectic orc tribes bothersome behavior. There are many others high level toons that this might interest (and without the commitment to DM). This would help the DM if they wanted it, involve more players, and add more RP... which is cool.

The two toon rule makes this work and lets players try out a new concept regularly. Personally, I find the creation side of a toon very cool as well as new interactions. It also helps the DMs with balancing party levels.

And if adopted, I will put my foot in and volunteer to start a Northman Raider/Pirate session on MS on Tuesday Nights US EST at 10 PM.

Sincerely,

Me

Add... just noticed Ronan's new adventure post has 120 replies...

[FoamBats4All]

Massive kudos for kudos for considering the use of higher level PCs.

[Zelknolf]

We already have most of this.

Campaigns don't usually last, 'course. Life happens, and stable availability over several months while life continues to happen is a hard thing to maintain. But I'd be surprised if the new campaigns for lowbies were actually as few as 4/yr. In the last few months we've had announced Ronan (planning now), Dusk (planning now), and HEEGZ (few in progress right now-- though granted those who were once lowbies probably aren't any more). I ran a low-level campaign in the spring until my players had to start "working" for "money" to pay "rent." Rumple's reaching (reached?) the end of a lowbie campaign this year. It's not particularly atypical.

Though I don't know why the "get a highbie to play the role of support, employer, and/or sage" thing never took root. It's happened before (I've seen T-Eyes and Jayde do it), but have no idea why it doesn't play out so much.

[Ronan]

Though I don't know why the "get a highbie to play the role of support, employer, and/or sage" thing never took root. It's happened before (I've seen T-Eyes and Jayde do it), but have no idea why it doesn't play out so much.

Its harder, because the DM has less control over the PC than he would a NPC. NPC employers or advisers (e.g. Dina in Rumple's campaign) are great because they add predictability, letting the DM spend more time preparing. When PCs largely work for themselves (e.g., Sword's Edge), I often have no idea what the PCs are going to do (and therefore how to prepare) until the session actually starts.

Then there's the problem of what happens when the lowbies are in serious danger; is their highbie friend really not going to help?

Yeah the DM can find ways around all problems, but I'd find it easier to entertain more people by adding more like-leveled PCs to the party.

[HEEGZ]

I'm 100% on board with this, and will be DMing lowbie groups on a regular basis going forward. I DM during US evenings starting around 10pm CST.

I'm currently working out some scheduling things with existing groups, but looks like I'll be starting things off on TSM with new PCs being restricted to dwarves.