Character Level Descriptions
Overview
In this campaign world, player characters begin their adventuring careers at Level 4, representing individuals who have already distinguished themselves beyond ordinary folk. This provides specific examples of what each level represents in terms of skill, experience, and societal standing.
Level-by-Level
Level 0
XP Range: 0 XP
Description: Children and individuals with no training or specialized skills.
Combat Ability: No real combat capability beyond basic survival instincts.
Examples:
- Young children (under 8-10 years)
- Sheltered individuals with no practical experience
- Individuals with severe disabilities limiting skill development
- Very elderly people who can no longer use their former skills
- Individuals primarily cared for by others
Level 1
XP Range: 1-299 XP
Description: Complete novices with minimal training or natural talent; older children and young teens learning basic skills.
Combat Ability: Basic self-defense, might fend off a small animal.
Examples:
- Farmer’s young apprentice
- Novice town guard in training
- Child learning basic hunting skills
- First-year magical apprentice
- Dock worker’s assistant
Level 2
XP Range: 300-899 XP
Description: Individuals with some training but limited experience; teenagers with developing skills.
Combat Ability: Can defend against common threats, might serve in militia during emergencies.
Examples:
- Militia recruit with basic training
- Apprentice blacksmith
- Acolyte in a temple
- Young trapper setting basic snares
- Trading caravan guard-in-training
Level 3
XP Range: 900-2,699 XP
Description: Competent individuals with established basic skills; young adults who have completed apprenticeships.
Combat Ability: Capable of organized combat, effective against bandits and minor monsters.
Examples:
- Skilled tradesperson
- Seasoned sailor
- Town guard with several years of service
- Temple ordained priest
- Journeyman craftsman
Level 4
XP Range: 2,700-6,499 XP
Description: Competent individuals with some practical experience; starting level for PCs.
Combat Ability: Can handle common wilderness threats or defend against bandits.
Examples:
- Average adult game hunter
- Regular town guard with a few years of service
- Working merchant with small, stable business
- Apprentice healer with some independent practice
- Craftsperson who has completed basic training
- Local guide familiar with nearby territories
Level 5
XP Range: 6,500-13,999 XP
Description: Highly respected experts in their field; individuals known throughout their local area.
Combat Ability: Can defeat dangerous beasts that threaten villages.
Examples:
- Elite town guard or sheriff
- Skilled monster hunter
- Respected village shaman
- Master craftsman with apprentices
- Seasoned caravan master
Level 6
XP Range: 14,000-22,999 XP
Description: Masters of their craft whose skills are sought after; figures of local importance.
Combat Ability: Capable of defeating threats that endanger multiple communities.
Examples:
- Veteran soldier with campaign experience
- Established magical practitioner
- Successful criminal guild member
- Tribal war leader
- Renowned artist or performer
Level 7
XP Range: 23,000-33,999 XP
Description: Regional experts whose reputation extends beyond their home community.
Combat Ability: Can challenge creatures that threaten entire regions.
Examples:
- Knight or elite royal guard
- Court wizard or adviser
- Regional guild master
- Experienced sea captain
- Established monster slayer for hire
Level 8
XP Range: 34,000-47,999 XP
Description: Exceptional talents who are highly sought after for their expertise.
Combat Ability: Able to defeat significant monsters single-handedly.
Examples:
- Military commander
- Respected religious leader
- Well-known bounty hunter
- Master merchant controlling multiple trade routes
- Court champion or duelist
Level 9
XP Range: 48,000-63,999 XP
Description: Some of the best in their field across multiple regions or small nations.
Combat Ability: Capable of handling threats that would require small armies.
Examples:
- Masterful arcane researcher
- High-ranking military officer
- Famous performer known across nations
- Noble house champion
- Tribal elder with supernatural connection
Level 10
XP Range: 64,000-84,999 XP
Description: National figures whose skills place them among the elite in their land.
Combat Ability: Can defeat legendary monsters that threaten kingdoms.
Examples:
- Royal court magician
- Famous general or military leader
- High priest of a major temple
- Legendary craftsman creating masterworks
- Infamous criminal mastermind
Level 11
XP Range: 85,000-99,999 XP
Description: Continental experts; individuals whose names are known across multiple kingdoms.
Combat Ability: Capable of challenging dragons and other apex predators.
Examples:
- King’s champion or personal guard
- Religious leader of a major faith
- Master of a continent-spanning guild
- Renowned explorer of uncharted lands
- Creator of magical artifacts
Level 12
XP Range: 100,000-119,999 XP
Description: Continental celebrities whose achievements are the subject of current stories and songs.
Combat Ability: Can defeat multiple powerful creatures or small armies.
Examples:
- Hero who saved a kingdom
- Archmage advisor to royalty
- Legendary monster hunter with numerous trophies
- Leader of a major faction or organization
- Master of a rare and powerful fighting style
Level 13
XP Range: 120,000-139,999 XP
Description: World-class masters whose abilities seem almost supernatural to common folk.
Combat Ability: Able to single-handedly change the tide of a battle.
Examples:
- Champion blessed by a deity
- Creator of new magical techniques
- Commander of elite special forces
- Planar traveler with otherworldly knowledge
- Master assassin feared across nations
Level 14
XP Range: 140,000-164,999 XP
Description: Legendary figures whose exploits will be remembered for generations.
Combat Ability: Capable of defeating armies through tactical genius or raw power.
Examples:
- Conqueror of multiple kingdoms
- Arcane researcher breaking new magical ground
- Dragon slayer with multiple kills
- Legendary general never defeated in battle
- Master of multiple magical disciplines
Level 15
XP Range: 165,000-194,999 XP
Description: Mythic heroes whose powers approach the supernatural; names known worldwide.
Combat Ability: Can challenge creatures of mythic power.
Examples:
- Chosen champion of a major deity
- Creator of a new school of magic
- Hero who defeated a demon prince
- Leader of a continent-spanning organization
- Master of reality-altering magic
Level 16
XP Range: 195,000-224,999 XP
Description: Living legends with abilities that seem impossible to ordinary people.
Combat Ability: Capable of single-handedly turning the tide of wars.
Examples:
- Warrior who challenged the gods
- Wizard who created a demi-plane
- Hero who saved the world from catastrophe
- Immortal guardian of ancient secrets
- Being partially ascended beyond mortality
Level 17
XP Range: 225,000-264,999 XP
Description: Near-mythical beings whose power approaches that of demigods.
Combat Ability: Can defeat multiple legendary creatures simultaneously.
Examples:
- Keeper of cosmic balance
- Creator of artifacts that changed history
- Hero sung about in every nation
- Master of multiple forbidden arts
- Being directly empowered by primordial forces
Warning: Upon reaching this level, a character enters the realm of the gods, and receive Cosmic Awareness, shattering their mind.
Level 18
XP Range: 265,000-304,999 XP
Description: Demigod-like entities who shape the course of history.
Combat Ability: Capable of single-handedly defeating armies of powerful creatures.
Examples:
- Direct agent of a god or cosmic power
- Archmage who has transcended normal magic
- Being who has defeated gods or their avatars
- Creator of magical phenomena affecting the world
- Immortal guardian of reality
Level 19
XP Range: 305,000-354,999 XP
Description: Semi-divine beings whose power approaches that of lesser deities.
Combat Ability: Can challenge the avatars of gods.
Examples:
- Plane-hopping entity with cosmic awareness
- Being on the cusp of ascension to godhood
- Ultimate master of multiple magical disciplines
- Hero who has saved the world multiple times
- Ancient being who has witnessed eons
Level 20
XP Range: 355,000+ XP
Description: Quasi-divine entities who exist partially beyond mortal understanding.
Combat Ability: Capable of reshaping reality through sheer power.
Examples:
- Being in the process of ascension
- Master of fundamental cosmic forces
- Entity who has transcended normal mortality
- Guardian of the fundamental laws of reality
- Being whose true nature is incomprehensible to mortals
Special Populations
Common Folk
The vast majority of the population (80-90%) falls between levels 0-3, with most adults being level 2. Only those who face regular dangers or have dedicated significant time to developing their skills reach level 3.
Professional Class
About 8-15% of the population reaches levels 4-6, representing skilled professionals, experienced soldiers, established merchants, and local leaders.
Regional Importance
Only about 1-2% of the population reaches levels 7-10, representing regional leaders, famous specialists, and individuals of significant reputation and skill.
National Figures
Levels 11-14 represent less than 0.1% of the population - these are national heroes, leaders of major institutions, and individuals whose names are known throughout kingdoms.
Legendary Beings
Levels 15-20 represent less than 0.01% of the population - these are the stuff of legends, whose names and deeds are known across continents and throughout history.
XP Progression Notes
- These XP values follow the standard D&D 5e progression
- NPCs typically gain XP at a much slower rate than PCs
- An NPC might spend decades at a single level, while PCs advance quickly due to their extraordinary adventures
- A typical NPC might gain 100-200 XP per year of regular work
- NPCs who face regular dangers (guards, soldiers, etc.) might gain 300-500 XP per year