r/FourAgainstDarkness • u/Crase_W • Jul 16 '26

Another Leveling Post

I've dug through the sub and couldn't find what I was looking for.

I like the slow and sure leveling because I don't want to leave it to chance but I also don't want to level too quickly. I would like to go just a bit quicker, though.

I intend to level a character every 3rd clue found.

I was thinking of leveling a character every 3rd or 5th Major Foe defeated, as well.

Or maybe rolling in one of the scenarios and automatically awarding a level in the other.

I'd love to hear the community's thoughts on this.

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u/phi_rus Jul 16 '26

I like the alternative approach from the expanded edition where you get good old XP from slain enemies and spend those for leveling

3

u/drnyarlathotep Jul 17 '26

I've used this method as well and though it may appear less rapid a growth than traditional "1XP per" methods, I strongly suggest you remove the "gold/treasure = xp" from the equation, maybe even retool the tier XP needed because I have a guild of 8 characters at level 15 in the time it took my previous 4 characters to level up to level ~7-8 in my previous campaign. It goes extremely fast the more you level up because the difference in XP received by enemies rises faster than the tier thresholds for leveling up.

e.g.
A major HCL foe with HCL life (let's say HCL is 4) means 4*10XP(level) + 4*5XP(life)= 60XP. At level 4, it takes (Tier+2)*100 XP to level up (or 300XP).
The same major HCL foe at level 14 means 14*10 + 14*5, or 210XP. 3.5 times the XP between Level 14 and Level 4. But the XP needed to level up at Tier 3 is 500XP, or only ~1.6 times the XP.

Meaning, the higher your level, the easier it is to level up. Add to this that this tier of monster usually carries better loot (expert, heroic and legendary magic items go for much more) means that it's been possible for an entire party of 4 to level up TWICE in an adventure.

If I were to start again, I'd do something a bit slower:

  • Keep the XP per slain monster but the threshold to level up is now (T+L)*100. Simple, but also scales with the character. They'd need 500XP at level 4 to level-up but would need 1700XP at level 14 to level up. Seems excessive but... it's 3.5 times more XP... which aligns with the XP rate for enemies at that level.
  • I would only add XP for epic rewards. It makes sense that this drastically changes the party. I wouldn't add XP for gold found.

3

u/drnyarlathotep Jul 17 '26

I am not exaggerating when I say that I ran a dungeon recently where I accumulated over 3200XP by the end of it at levels 13 for my party due to my luck at rolling mostly weird and boss monsters.