jj@rabbit.UUCP (11/02/84)
/* Mini-flame. If you con't want to read it, skip six lines. */ Let's ALL bloody well remember that we're talking about a FANTASY Role Playing GAME here. Please notice the emphasized words! If your fantasy doesn't seem to be the same as somebody else's, then give that person some credit for their OWN fantasy, and don't make scatological comments about them. If you think that fantasies have to be in one particular vein, then why don't you get MZB in a debate with John Norman? <If you do, I wanna watch, I do, I do!> /* EOF (end of flame) */ I guess I must be weird or something. My low level campaigns evolve over a few years or five into high level campaigns. My campaigns (even at low level) are based on complete plots and histories that will eventually make the presence of BLOODY HIGH LEVEL characters necessary, and the players d**m well better notice, and they do, since it's more fun that way. (Fun. An important word to remember, eh? ) Currently, I have 1.5 universes running. The .5 universe is now about 7 years or a bit more old, but hasn't been played too much for the last two, due to 200 miles separation between the players and the dm. It contains the following characters: a 21 level Wizard (or mage, or what have you) He currently thinks he's Sgt. Rock, too... funny thing happened... a 23 level Thief, with truly remarkable arching skills a few fighters of level 12-20 a few mages of level 5-15 a cleric of level 19 a few more clerics who mostly follow the one above (PC's) a fighter of level 19, currently an avitar of Thor (whew...:-) (who's in deep .... right now, too) What happens in this universe? Well, I'm not about to give away the plot or anything like that, but there's something ripping up the universe, and it seems to have something to do with these seven WEIRD jewels (it took a heal and a restoration to get the l21 mage concious again when he did a legend lore on one of them...), a system of hexes that seem to be propigating across the landscape (I hear Jack Chalker fans say, "Aha!"), a few exploding stars, an invasion of chaotic deities from other ?somewheres? <snicker>, and a number of other things. There is currently a LOT of magic available in the campaign, a lot of it made by the mages and clerics. <oh, I forgot the druid... there's also a ranger.> The characters own a stronghold and get along quite well with each other (as they have to), and are currently the champions of the world (not a really comfortable position, given that supernova coming up...). (Given the world situation, the Ranger and the Druid have no problems working with so many levels of Chaotic Good...) ??Is it fun? Well, people seem to have a lot of fun playing, and seriously playing, when we get a chance to meet. From the way that the games go, it's clear that there are many hours of planning going into each session on the Player's part. <They NEED it, believe me!> In my other campaign, which is using Rolemaster system and Character law, the highest level character is level five, and lucky to be that. That campaign is a little over a year old (and I should point out that level five Rolemaster isn't quite like level five AD&D, it's easier, and less moby) and is progressing nicely. The plot isn't far enough advanced (to the pc's, some of whom READ this newsgroup) to explain. I guess the point is that there are legimate first level campaigns that are fun. There are ALSO legitimate world level campaigns that are fun, and they often are more deadly and harder for the player. While there is no point in running a L20 mage up against a dragon, there's no reason that a L20 mage would CARE about a silly dragon, unless the dragon undertook to be a nuisance. <Would that the dragon trying to breath at me at this instant instantly become lawful good in nature.> Exeunt dragon... at least for a while. (Well, that's not a really good example, but...) Of course, a ARMY of dragons, lead by one who is not to be named, is another story altogether.... There are also SILLY first level campaigns, and boring Monty Haul campaigns that are mostly remarkable by how much a mage with a 7 Str can carry on his person and access in six seconds... That's not a good reason to damn either all low level campaigns or all high level campaigns. Remember these three words: FUN FANTASY GAME They go a LONG way. If you don't see what's fun, maybe you aren't looking hard enough, and you might consider learning another style (to use when appropriate). -- BE KIND TO SOFT FURRY CREATURES, THEY OFTEN HAVE LARGE, WHITE, TEETH. "And it's 1, 2, 3, ..." (allegra,ihnp4,ulysses)!rabbit!jj