I just don't get it why would there even be level requirements for quests.. It makes absolutely no sense that all quests are level restriced and we're asked not to gain levels too fast.. Should a lvl 3 character just rot and wait until he's lvl 10 to able to participate?Would it really be powergaming if this player tried to rush as fast as he can the levels to be able to play quests with others?This brings me to the Oh Well post... I can relate to what that player has been through, would you still have him experience all this difficulty to participate in a quest after that disastrous episode? It would be greatly appreciated, and not only by me, if there were quests specific for low level characters, new players or not, unless they're not worth the effort and time. I'm sorry for insisting on the subject, but couldn't we find some balance for this situation?Sincerely,ODR.
I do want level requirements on GM quests. It's especially annoying when it's levels 1-40, because then you know the entire thing will be overrun and taken over by epics. No quest is fun when there's a bunch of epic-level characters making all the calls. Limiting the level range is a good thing, that will make the participating players feel more involved and more in their right place. 5-15 is good, 5-10 is even better. Or 10-15. If the range is much greater than that, the "lower levels" will just feel pushed aside, as if they're just riding along as someone else is driving. Sure, there's still the role-play factor, and the lower levels can still participate socially in speech and what not, but as soon as any combat breaks out or rolls are made for role-play/adventuring purposes, they are immediately more or less useless. I can tell you it's not a good feeling when you're in that situation, and eventually you just realize this quest isn't for you any more. It's for the high-levels - the epics, which is why I hope more Game Masters will put stricter level requirements on their quests, and not to allow "any level" to join when you know there will be combat or other adventuring factors involving the mechanics of one's player character. Because that is actually inadvertently excluding the low levels.
Edit: Yes, Christine. I am not speaking of general adventuring of solving puzzles, and the more social bit. It's when the mechanics get involved, of which the higher levels clearly benefit from (Low-level rolls a lucky 20 on whatever skill check while the higher level rolls a so-so 50), that some people might experience some sense of "out of place." Also, keep in mind, if there are 15-20 players in the group at the same time, it is really hard to role-play properly and react to everything everyone is saying and doing.