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As far as i understand it, as long as it is not a XP run and there is a decent amount of RP, then I don't see what the problem is. When I do my rounds as a GM on West and Central, I look for RP. So thats probably where you are getting the RP XP from. Not because of the way you handled the creatures. ;-).

I mean if you are getting to one place or another. . .with a higher level to RP and you fight a few creatures thats ok. But then you just run the Sinister forests 4-5 times without saying something is something I frown upon..well you get the picture. Thats my understanding of it.

And I want to make it clear, as a DM I personally never would use to spawns to police a situation at all. I have written it here.

Not wanting to start a debate here.  But what is the rules now about traveling with different levels?  I have been told many different things.  

Ah rumors....

I've heard that it should be no more than 5, 7 level and 10 level difference.

The key factor is RP.  There absolutely has to be a legitimate reason for a large level spread that doesn't involve the high level(s) clearing spawns for the  low level(s). Be smart about it.

That said, if we see a high level leading a group of lower-level characters, we're going to take notice and see what's up.  That's not to say that anyone has done anything wrong, but that will get our attention.  Likewise, if we see a lone (or a small number of) low level among a larger group of high-levels, that too will get our attention.  If we intercede or interrupt such a situation, it is only because we have concerns about the grouping and the purpose of same.  It is not because we're targeting anyone.

I have been told that GM's will drop things on you to kill the party of there is to big a level gap.  

If this is happening, I personally want to know about it, and I want names.  It is not the policy of the GM Team to cause party death because of level spreads.  Period.  End of statement.

It's far more effective to stop the group and give a verbal and OOC kind of statement rather than just rain death down on the party and make everyone hate us.  Really...that just wouldn't make sense.

But once again, I want to caution everyone about something.  I GM may add some creatures to change things around a bit.  There may be a purpose to it other than a party-kill, but sometimes characters just plow on through and don't realize that that creature that may glow red just might have something to say.

Like I said above, RP is key.

But it touches on an important point and that is one of perception.

As players, we may perceive that additional creatures are there to up the difficulty or provide extra challenge, and one that may produce RP opportunities.  If we as players then get squished by said creatures, then we may perceive that the GM wanted to kill us, even if it is our own poor decisions when dealing with the increased threat that cause the party death.

Likewise, GMs may see a very unbalanced level spread, peek in and see no RP and perceive that the low levels are kiting or sponging XP/loot/etc. We might set up a situation as an opportunity and a test, but at the same time we will let the consequences of dealing with that opportunity flow freely.

It's a two-way street, and while I am sure there are misunderstandings, it is actually counter-productive for the GM Team to have a policy of wiping out parties for no reason other than party spread.

One policy I personally have always tried to maintain is to "debrief" a party after any impromtu interactions, especially those involving combat and deaths.  This little gesture goes so far in keeping GMs and players on the same page, and it is something that I have tried to reinforce among all the GMs who came after me.

But then again I was traveling with a much higher level pc and there were many creatures put out for us and we handle them very well. Then afterwards we also received xp for role playing.  Which was very nice!

Like any good dwarf would tell you:  AS IT SHOULD BEEEE!!!!!

I'm not talking about taking a lower level to get diamonds or something like that.  I mean normal adventuring around Mistone and lower parts of Dregar.  It seems many of the rules have changed in the last year about leveling and traveling together so I was just wanting to find out for sure what the rules are now. :p

Common sense is the best guide.  There is no catch-all rule we can state.  As I said above, we'll look in on any group with a large spread of levels.  Every situation is different, and so we'll take each situation as its own unique set of circumstances.

Thanks for the replies.  Thats pretty much what I thought it was.  As long as there is rp and not just flying through areas for xp and loot.  

As far as GM dropping things... I have never had that done to me. I guess I really shouldn't have brought that up. I have had GM add things to an area we are traveling through which I LOVE!!  It adds so much when things are changed up to keep you on your toes.     I think we all enjoy a little challenge.

Thought this could use a little bump. Everyone is confused over the allowed level differences.  It seems to vary from GM to GM to what is allowed.

We had a great group going in Redlights and someone was asked to leave the party by a GM because of his level. We had good rp going even with conflicts of deities among the group.  Once someone was asked to leave it just puts a damper on things.

I'm not sure on this either, but I do know that when levels are split too much the low levelers tend to get less xp, sometimes only 1xp for things that they should be getting a lot more for.

Thats pretty much how it works. The more level difference there is, the less xp the 'lower' level; party member gets.

The problem that I would see is the high level items that could be given to a low level of the area....apart from that its all good.

I'm willing to give up the xp to allow others the chance to get out with a party to see new areas and enjoy some great rp.

Ditto. RP should always come first.

I think I've said this elsewhere, but I think sometimes people forget that they don't have to wear their emerald jewelry and wield their mithril weapons... they don't have to cast wierd or thunderclap in combat, they don't have to use knockdown or power attack. Any character can nerf themselves to be an appropriately powered member of a lower level party... if you find yourself travelling with lower levels often, keep some darts or shuriken in your bag... If you're a wizard, you can just practice your melee skills, a cleric or druid can keep themselves as healing patrol... whatever it might be for your character, I just have a hard time seeing how players can't find ways to travel in groups without being over-powered. (Drexia keeps nunchacks, two sai, a fan, and a rapier in her bag for this reason).

On the other end, if you're a low level with a bunch of higher levels, well, don't be a leech. You as player know far better when that's happening than trying to stick to an "x number of level spread" formula. You as player know whether you're doing it because of legitimate RP, or because you want to get xp fast. Don't do the latter.

Well I have to feel a bit like lynn when she started this thread a year ago. I've been told and seen so many different things in the past, even if there was rp, rp reasons and a good group of mixed people. A true guide line for the gm may be needed here, cause there is to many different views and personal opinions. Which is why now I stick stricly to the 6 level difference that L mentioned in a previous post. But then again, sticking to that me and others have been stopped and warned, even if we were withing the rules. so eh!

The reason for the requested maximum in level disparity is so that you don't find yourself in the unintentional position of helping another character sponge XP (whether that other character is also aware of the situation or not). And really, because you could ostensibly be five levels apart and still able to leech off each other in terms of XP and loot, you always need to be considerate of whether you're allowing someone (or being allowed) to leech XP/loot/whatever in an unfair manner or in some way that violates the standards we have here.

This is true. Storold is much higher level than Fenrir and I always feel like Storold leeches xp off Fenrir. O.o