Talk:Level Zero (5e Variant Rule)

How does a level 0 character become a level 1 character? Would you start with negative experience and become a level 1 character when you have 0 experience? Something like -100 or so? 300 is the requirement for level 2 and easily attainable in one session. SirSprinkles (talk) 21:09, 13 September 2016 (MDT)

That's very fair, I've thought of it more as something before the call to action, something more dependent on roleplay than mechanics. I suppose it could either fit as "you reach level one when I say so" or "the instant you gain XP, you reach level one." Lemiel14n3 (talk) 22:19, 15 September 2016 (MDT)

If they are level 0, does that also mean they have no character class? If this is the case, what determines their HP? Where does their starting gear or wealth come from? Once they do get class levels, do they get to keep their choice weapon proficiency? If so, why? --Kydo (talk) 03:30, 16 September 2016 (MDT)

This has potential, it reminds me of the AD&D cavalier (in Unearthed Arcana) who starts with negative XP: effectively level -1, must progress to level 0 and then gains XP as normal. I suggest the following changes:

• You begin play with -100 XP
• You have 1d6 Hit Dice
• You begin only with the equipment granted by your background, or 5d4 gp.
• You do not start with a weapon proficiency (you'll have to improvise a peasant weapon!)
• When you reach 0 XP, you gain 1st level in a class. That class's Hit Dice replaces your existing 1d6 HD.

I think this is interesting, as it requires the party to think of clever ways to defeat sub-CR1 creatures, and perhaps invests them in their background a little more. This is the point at which a character transitions from their background to a class! You could role-play the moment when Joe Bloggs picks up a sword and becomes a fighter, involve mentor NPCs, etc. The normal class starting equipment could be acquired at that point, or the DM might decide that they must purchase equipment from what treasure they have found thus far. Marasmusine (talk) 10:38, 16 September 2016 (MDT)

How does a person balance encounters for level 0 characters? --Kydo (talk) 16:19, 31 October 2016 (MDT)

I've added some XP thresholds. Marasmusine (talk) 04:50, 11 February 2017 (MST)

Did a slight edit, because even a CR 0 creature gives 10 XP. --WeirdoWhoever (talk) 18:17, 19 July 2017 (MDT)

While this is a novel concept I do wonder how would players pick their PC (Player Character) classes? Would it be through a fourth wall break? Would it be that they read a book to learn about what class they see themselves as? Would it be that they receive their class through a vision? - 🐾ThatOneNekosune (talk) 1:53 PM, 23 March 2023

I'd like to think they are playing a background that already correlates with the class they are wanting to play. You could certainly role play this event, but akin to multiclassing there's no hard rule for choosing a class. Revival (talk) 19:55, 4 April 2023 (MDT)

Feedback

I used this to start a recent campaign and really enjoyed it. The first encounter was a shrieker and a stirge. The stirge got the heads up, and attacked the group of 4. When initiative happened, the player that got hit went first but missed. The stirge attacked him and he was dying (0 HPs). The player went, attacked, hit, and the stirge was dead. The dying player stabilized and after a few hours, regained some hp(s). The players were scared to do anything after that.
Our next session they did almost a weeks worth of roleplaying and I rewarded 25ish exp, bringing them to about 35 exp (I gave a couple extra for the encounter for misc stuff).
Third session I a player was missing and I didn't adjust my monster count, 8 wild dogs. 1 player had 1 hp left, another 2-3 and the last wasn't touched. I did have a dog attack their mule, which I am sure really helped them survive this but still feel confident this deadly encounter would have been manageable.
Player feedback was relatively good. Only one had an issue; he wants to play a warlock and without spells or any sort of combat proficiencies, he felt useless. My soon to be artificer was happy. He had crafting tools and spent downtime crafting and interacting with the town. The other two are sorta new and were just going along with things.
Because that last encounter was deadly and only 3 players, they netted about 70 exp (again-2-3 extra points) and got level 1. My last level zero will get level 1 mid session. Overall, an enjoyable experience and a small eye opener to the fragileness of NPCs/non-adventure people. ~ BigShotFancyMan 07:17, 12 April 2019 (MDT)

Thanks for trying it BSFM, it was interesting reading your feedback. I suppose if someone is desperate to start with spells they could choose a human variant with the magic initiate feat. Marasmusine (talk) 07:54, 12 April 2019 (MDT)

No problem! If I ever start a campaign at level 1 again, I don't think I'd change anything and might even discourage a human, variant taking that feat. The grittiness of that level 0 was just want I wanted in the group. Instead of whining they don't have 3rd level spells, or an extra attack, they are so thankful and relieved to be level 1! :D :D :D

Oh! the other fun thing is now these characters have lived their background before adventuring. Everything was became fruition as when they leveled up. Now they are adventurers and they have some stories to share from their background that they actually experienced. ~ BigShotFancyMan 09:38, 12 April 2019 (MDT)