Hey everyone! Just trying to figure out if what I’m thinking is a good idea or the worst idea ever. My group is only two sessions in. They started at level 5. I have them going into a supposed-to-die battle wherein they wake in hell and have to figure out how to get out (yadda yadda this is where the real story starts). I was thinking that when they awaken in the underworld that they’d revert to level 1 and lose their gear, and that’s my contention. Is that a dick DM move? Or would it make sense? I know it’s hard to give a solid answer and the best way to know is to know my players, but I don’t exactly want to ask them for obvious reasons. How would you all feel?
Thanks!
I’d make sure they know something like this is going to happen before they even do character creation or begin the campaign. This absolutely isn’t something that should come as a surprise to the players mid-campaign. Many character concepts could be completely ruined by being de-levelled, and they need to be able to plan for playing their character from level 1. It should be the case that the higher level play that precedes the delevelling is a “flash forward”, ie. They should know it’s not the character they should expect to play.
If you tell people you are starting a campaign at level 5 and then they show up and 2 or 3 sessions in you’re like “sike! you’re actually starting at level 1!” … Well, personally I’d quit that campaign if I was a player. And not just because I think level 1 is extremely unfun.