Let me know how YOUR level 0 adventure goes! Pick up the PDF here! 🔥 Level 0 Adventures PDF: www.dmsguild.com/product/353716/Level-0-Adventures?affiliate_id=2460121 Want more PDFs? 💜 Join Patreon: www.patreon.com/thedungeoncoach

@joshuaarmstrong2445

3 жыл бұрын

This is way to complicated for character creation part 1. Here's how I make a 0th level character: 1. Pick a name and create a backstory, or wait till you reach 1st level. 2. Generate abilities (any method). 3. Generate starting hit points (1d6 + con or any method). 4. No proficiencies in anything. No powers, spells, etc. You're level 0. 5. Starting wealth and equipment: 1 Set of clothes and 3d6 gold. Pro-tip: Don't die. Send your friends in first.

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

@@joshuaarmstrong2445 the only thing that’s different between the two methods is that I let them pick 2 skills, a tool/ weapon and an interesting little feat to give some flavor. And since this is easier than creating a level 1 character, idk why you feel it’s “WAY too complicated” it’s all about the desired level of customization.

@battlemapbrawl

3 жыл бұрын

I watched the "What is Level O" video. I absolutely love the concept! I definitely agree with you that it makes players more humble and more excited for each level. Kinda of a "Started from the bottom, now we here" vibe. 😂 Keep up the good work.

@joshuaarmstrong2445

3 жыл бұрын

​@@TheDungeonCoach You also mention Rules for -1 to ability modifiers while at 0th level (which is an odd exception how this stuff works) and offering a baby rage or 1 spell slot. The more rules you add, the more complex a system gets. It's easier to just say we're creating characters like normal but without picking a class yet..

@vincejester7558

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDungeonCoach So, at first level, the zero level starters have EVEN MORE perks and goodies than yer usual campaigns? To me, 0 level just means the characters are like 12 years old and have literally ZERO backstory. That way, the actual game is the backstory, not the crazed fever dreams that usual show up as level one backstories.

Level 0 dungeon coach leading the way with his torch!

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Hahah I’m in the trenches trying to survive!!

@LesslyPoint

3 жыл бұрын

Honestly I thik I'm already dead.

@battlemapbrawl

3 жыл бұрын

This would be cool to see in the official game. They got to pay Dungeon Coach first. TM haha

@sebasculin3739

2 жыл бұрын

He is carrying the torch for level 0 players

What we are currently trying for our level 0 game is: for stats we roll 3d6 and keep track of the individual rolls and when we get wo level 1 we each get to roll that final d6 and drop the lowest for each stat.

Well, this came at a perfect time! I'm designing a campaign for my friends where humans from earth will be transported to a fantasy world with their races rolled for on a table, and I was just trying to figure out how to run a level 0 adventure to get them to that first level while they adapt to their new life. Thanks a bunch!

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Perfect timing lol!

This is great and also perfect timing on the release. Im starting a new campaign this Saturday and all the players are going to be reborn in a world and grow up together. So I was going to have them all grow up with each other and start at level 0 and try to learn skills by practicing them in their childhoods.

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Ooooooo yes! Childhood play is awesome!!

@paulcrosslin6011

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheDungeonCoach Give it that Fable vibe .. "Chicken Kicker"!

@vincejester7558

2 жыл бұрын

I like to start new parties at level zero. I have the neighborhood rich lady task them with babysitting her lap dog, FiFi, which turns out to be a blink dog. Hijinks ensue, a burglary plot is uncovered, a cuppla useless magical trinkets are distributed, a few potential patrons emerge. and a potential low level companion (FiFi) is introduced. Nobody has backstories. Its Stranger Things meets Muppet Babies meets the Goonies.

Yes and yes, great video! My last DM made us wait a year before we leveled up and we were at level 7 in the campaign. Not a fun time when you have to wait that long between levwling up your character.

Haha that cover is the best! What a great system for simple but fantastic characters!

Awesome stuff! I'll be sure to get this. I made my own version for a campaign where the players began at lv zero that was functionally similar, but not exactly the same. Nice to see it written out in a much more organized and clear manner LOL.

Just found your channel, I think it's awesome what you are doing with 5E. For my money though, DCC has Level Zero covered. Mix that with Hardcore rules (3d6 down the line) and you can go at it with a single player running up to 4 characters. Whichever of them survive the first scenario become level one. Random character generation at first then more and more customization. This method does not coddle the players and it is not everyone's cup o' tea. But I tell ya, the stories that come out of this and the shared experience really scratches my D&D itch. When you get to level 2 with whatever characters survived, you really become invested in the co-created world and seek to eek out every ounce of character development. You want immersion? Earn It. One can go about creating a backstory when the dust settles.

Great Call Coach! Next Run and Level 0 will be the way to go

This was a good supplement for me. It's a good way to transform a character with a background into a character that has a background story

I used run level 0 all the fricking time and it great that you made a pdf thanks!

Great timing with this video, I'm going to be running a new campaign soon where the PCs are village kids as a sort of prologue since half of this party will be new to 5e. I figured this will ease them into the rules and such in a natural way as I guide them through it as they play out there background, something like the Fable games. So this is a great formula for me to use for this, thanks! Also I'm a big fan of what you do, keep up the good work. You have a knack for releasing content just as it's needed. Not that I'm suspecting you of being a Mindflayer or anything...

I will implement most of these ideas for sure. I'm in that creative mindset and it's happening!

Thank you for the best homebrew PDFs and videos👌

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Wow thanks for that!!

Thank you this really helped

So dope to see you’re at 20k subs man, hope you’re doing well!

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Next goal is 100k!!

Thanks coach for another interesting video 🤙

I like this, and it's very on-brand for the channel. I used to spend hours and hours coming up with these sorts of systems in my 3.5e days. But, since D&D 5e's ethos is simplicity, I find myself having to reign in all my ideas and think "what would 5e do?" I play with newer players who have a mostly good grasp of the rules as written, but don't have the attention span for all the hard core nitty-gritty adjustments I used to make in the olden days. Thus, if I were to do a "flashback scene" I would do something along the lines of the following: * Choose stats/race as normal. If you want to represent ability growth over time, add a -1 penalty to any ability with a bonus (commoners are straight 10, so a level-0 adventurer shouldn't be worse). * Choose your background and take those features. * That's it, stop there. HP can be either 1d8+CON (commoner) or roll your future class's HD, (former is more "realistic" except theoretically a wizard's hp could go down; the latter avoids the hp-jump scenario but also only makes sense given that you know the character's future). Then leveling to level 1 is: * Add a class level, features, equipment * Max out hit die * That's all you need to do. It's tempting to make it more complicated (can level 0's spend a hit die to regain hp on a short rest or is that an adventurer thing? If they can, what happens when they roll more hp than they have?), but since each player is only going to be at level 0 for 20-30 minutes tops, there's no sense putting in more time creating the rules than the use you'd get out of them.

@vincejester7558

2 жыл бұрын

Simplicity. Level zero is exactly level one, except there is no backstory. The characters are all young kids starting out in the same place. 12 years old and from the same town.

The first video I watch from you, ...Love it man. Clear, concise, and straitht to the point with no beatting around the bush. I will check some more but i think you got me as a new subscriber if you keep this up and (no pretention) but I'm very picky. Anyway two thumps up for this one and thank you very much for sharing this pdf freely, and your intelligent vision on this subject. Love your way of seeing those things :)

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for that and welcome!! I got a bunch of stuff now!!

Sure I like the video before I've watched it. But that's just because I have faith!

Now that I've watched it. Good stuff, Coach. I've thought about how I'd do level 0 and it would be everyone starting with basically the commoner stat (adjusted for race) block and through various tasks and labors, they would gain points in the stats they want up to the point buy limit. They choose what proficiencies and languages to train as well. Downtime gigs or early assignments to get the coin. And when they finally get that first level they choose from the classes that fit their stats. I also tend to be too generous with boons and stuff so they'd probably get an extra stat point or 2. But now I gotta see how best to integrate your jazz into it!

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Hahaha sprinkle in some jazz is all I ever want lol 💜

This reminds me of Dungeon Crawl Classics. Great casual game if you’ve never played.

This is a good way to start for younger players. I just recently started a campaign for my 3 daughters (7, 10 & 12), but unfortunately this hadn't come out then. I may use this as flashback material to dig into their backstories. They each have a goal of their own design (discover a new flower, reconcile with exiled friend, make peace with former monk master that abandoned the village on crisis), and this would help.

Funny, I also intended to use "Minor Feats" (that is how I call them), before I heard hear of your Mini-Feats, for level 1/4/8/12+ characters. Whereby 1 Ability Point gain can be sacrificed to get a minor version of a Feat (the effect is about 1/3 of an actual Feat). So a level 1 character could, for example, sacrifice 1 point of racial Ability increase in order to start with the "Minor Feat Skilled" = 1 new skill (instead of 3). Minor Feats can later be upgraded to their full version the same way. So, at level 4, that same character could increase 1 point of Ability and upgrade the Feat Skilled to its true potential (+2 more skills, 3 extra in all).

my take on starting lvl-0 stats: all starting stats are 10 racial: adjust stats for race plus special traits proficiency bonus: zero pre-adventuring classes: commoner - 4hp and 2 skills expert - 6hp, dex +2 and 4 skills (bard/rogue) warrior - 8hp, str +2 and 4 skills (barbarian/fighter/ranger) curate - 6hp, wis +2 and 4 skills (druid/monk) acolyte - 6hp, wis +2 and 4 skills (cleric/paladin) apprentice - 4hp, int +2 and 4 skills (sorcerer/warlock/wizard) character has 10d6 gold spell casters have no starting cantrips or spells (they are acquired during play) upon earning 1000 xp, the character becomes a lvl-1 adventurer from the parentheses classes. lvl-1 gain all starting class benefits gain starting proficiencies gain starting skills hp: add one plus con bonus then select one of the following: +1 to stat of players choice +1 new skill proficiency +1 existing skill proficiency +1 feat advancing: use the xp charts from ad&d rules. characters will never have a massive amount of hp. they also only heal one hp per day (not after resting, but full 24hrs) this is a gritty method that relies on role-playing more than brute force. fighting is fast-ugly-deadly! hope this isn't too extreme for the 5e crowd which seems to have characters that advance way too quickly and can never die.

I loved this idea and so did my players so now we are playing a level 0 campain regular people struggling while their original max level chacters are out causing problems for the average joe

I like the way that you do proficiencies, languages, and tools much better. Sometimes you just can't find a background that matches you character, and you explained it in the simplest way too. I have seen people explain custom backgrounds and take about 20 minutes to explain what you said right there in seconds. 4 skill proficiencies, and two to spend on any combination of tools and or languages

Love it love it love it. I want a whole (mini) campaign at level 0. Luke Skywalker had to have been level 0 in A New Hope, right?

@SeeAche

3 жыл бұрын

Actually, yea. That adds up

@mccallosone4903

3 жыл бұрын

he was zero until he received the initial training from obi wan

@vincejester7558

2 жыл бұрын

He had a cuppla levels of wamp rat hunting and speeder driving in. a 20 year old guy isn't level zero unless he's an NPC.

Having seen your previous video on running a level 0 game, I decided to run one and combine it with a session 0 for my new campaign, but without knowing the detail I did it this way: Each player chooses their race and class as normal, but at level 0 they don’t get their class abilities or proficiency bonus. They keep all the starts they roll and equipment though. They also start with a full hit due of HP but no constitution mod to it. During the session, each player got a 20-30 minute one on one scene with me that sets up their origin story, with the scene focussing on a dramatic moment that causes them to level up. This is the classic comic book film origin where the character finds the inner strength or whatever to defeat the bad guy/solve the problem, and at that point in the middle of the scene they unlocked their abilities. For story telling purposes they will most likely succeed at what their trying to do, but it was more dramatic to suddenly, in the middle of combat as they’re down to a few HP left, give them their abilities. It also has allowed me to give them all a goal and a direction so when we start the game fully they’re not just starting in a tavern. Over all I’d say it’s a great idea, and it went down well tonight.

@leeallen2301

3 жыл бұрын

Also, with racial abilities I allowed them at the start of the game if it would be something they could do from birth

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing your tweaks!

Stealing this for the start of my next campaign.

I'm so down! My character's backstory means my half-orc starts in prison before he leaves on his adventure at level 1. 😂

Personally, I think it's better to just start at level 1, all of this homebrew to reduce something that is already incredibly simple doesn't seem necessary imo. Like the idea and the presentation as always, but I don't think its for me.

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Totally understand that, this is for a specific type of group for sure

@jamestanzer9188

3 жыл бұрын

Then change it so it suits you. 5e’s greatest strength is that it is so modular. You’re not restricted in what you can or can’t run. I’m going to be using the race and background parts for my next campaign, but I probably won’t allow the class features until they hit level 1.

I really like the pre-class feats not even for level 0 characters specifically, but just instead of giving out a feat during character creation. The free feat at level 1 can create a big gap in power between player characters but using this instead would let people customize just a little bit more without opening up stuff like X-bow expert/lucky/GWM shenanigans.

This is so dope I’m bout to start Dragon of Ice spire Peak and I’ve been coming up with dope little tweaks to add in but now I’m gonna do a full blown level 0 adventure. My gf’s character is a dark half elf shadow sorcerer I’m gonna have her escape life of noble drow by being saved/leading a slave revolt started by Silver Hair Knights posing as slaves.

@vincejester7558

2 жыл бұрын

A Drow princess leading a slave revolt is level zero?!?

Interesting... totally different than how I'd put it together, but still pretty neat. Some good ideas here.

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

That’s what’s so cool, is to pick and choose from what other do to make it your own 👌🏼

Rather than giving half as many proficiencies it seems easier to just say, make a level 1 character and then reduce your proficiency bonus by 1 (half).

So I have actually been running my own pathfinder 2e campaign and p2e has very similar rules to yours when making level 0 characters (variant rules in their game mastery guide for all those interested). Its been really cool to get players excited about getting first level spells and the mechanics of p2e without the complications of class mechanics and everything. Unrelated question, how do you handle classes that get extra profs (rogues, rangers, and bards)? +1/2 profs as they would normally get them?

@zimzimph

3 жыл бұрын

Good to know p2e has that and Inwas wondering the same thing. Poor rogues and rangers

I really loved this video! Thank you! just one thing it's not clear, if I separate background skill profiencies and class skill profiencies in this system the level 0 skill profiencies are from the Background or from the class?

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

I let them FREELY pick, so technically it’s 2 from background and then 2 from class but I just let them pick anything

death funnel from DCC in dnd ? satrt with 4 lvl 0 random 6x3d6 in order and ou can keep one of the ones that survive ! Woudl you like that?

If you're going to have a good chance for character mortalities, you might want players to make a couple of Level 0 'apprentice' characters. Personally, I'd probably run them for one adventure lasting one to three sessions - enough time to weave some back stories but not so long that they'll get antsy.

I think with the saving throws it's important to recognize that classes are given proficiency with one common saving throw (Dexterity, Constitution, or Wisdom) and one uncommon saving throw (Strength, Intelligence, or Wisdom). I would let a player at level 1 pick one from each group if they wanted, but I wouldn't let them pick two common ones, and I'd probably advise them against only having uncommon ones. If I were going to let them have a third, I'd make it an uncommon one.

with everything from reduced stats to no armor proficiencies i think this is more dacades before the campaign then it is hours before like i usually run

Do PCs keep their lv 0 proficiencies/spells? For example, could a sorcerer have EB or rogue have armor and martial weapon proficiencies for an entire campaign?

I was thinking of doing a Level Zero intro with my wife for a one on one campaign

Just a thing on the attribute distribution thing. You said 72 points, accurate, but if you use point buy you can get to 72 by getting all stats to 12 and you'll have 3 left to distribute from point buy so you Can get over 72, in this way your math was off on the method

I love this! However, I’m likely to just have level 1 characters be the “level 0”, since my players generally want to start off a bit higher. Their “level 1” characters are instead levels 2 and/or 3 and give them some kind of personal perk or and RP feat of their choice. Just an alternative idea for those who’s players like being at higher levels :)))

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

That’s a better way to jump on higher up FOR SURE! Good call

I really like this, but I think you're right, calling these character lvl 1/2 is more accurate than lvl 0. Typically when I think of lvl 0 characters I think of them lacking any class features whatsoever. Something that could easily fit on a 3x5 card. A race, background, 6 ability scores and some very basic equipment. That way players can roll up and run multiple of these super simple characters to run through a character funnel without being overwhelmed trying to keep track of everything

Dungeon Crawl Classics has a whole 0 level crawled the grinder. a short dungeon that you send a large group through. the survivors get to become characters

This is very interesting! Anyone got ideas for lvl 0 adventures? I'm a fresh DM and already finding balancing combat a tough job.

@JACKSTAY

2 жыл бұрын

Very late but I used a festival idea from the DM’s guild to build my start. Small town midsummer festival and the PC’s (local apprentices) were picked by lottery to go up into the mountains together to gather a bunch of ice. They don’t really have a town wizard since its a small poor farming town, so freezing stuff magically isn’t really a thing. Feel free to toss in a sidekick to help party composition, but also dont overshadow the PC’s in the process and (probably) dont kill them off if you can avoid it because that would just dampen the mood when they get back. CR 1/8 creatures make a good challenge overall (obviously use discretion), and a CR 1/2 is the most you’d want to do, but they would have to be solo most of the time. I took this chance to teach all my new players (4/5 players) about a bunch of gameplay mechanics, and my 5th helped push the characters towards learning opportunities. Carnival games teach skill checks, simple small fights (even if its hunting for food when their rations get stolen by a bear) helps teach combat, and they get to explore or interact with some non-hostiles out on their journey!

"Apparently I'm level 0" Don't worry, most of us are as well, if we are being honest with ourselves. (Actually that might be optimistic for some of us)

*Yeah .* *Watched the previous video .* *It turned into a long ramble about character interactions and promotion of patreon .* *At least this one actually has meat to it .*

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t do paid sponsorships, so yes I plug my Patreon in all of my videos, but that is out of necessity and do that instead of some paid ad of some random product. It was also introducing the concept since 40% of people didn’t know what level 0 was. Along with a specific example of how I did flashbacks too

@SeanLaMontagne

3 жыл бұрын

Damn this was a bit harsh. I don't think any of the videos were written in bad faith with greed in his eyes.

@Wolfphototech

3 жыл бұрын

@@SeanLaMontagne *I get why he does it .* *He dumps a lot of money into ads and is trying to get big ( most likely to get out of teach volley ball & ect. ) .* *But it gets annoying and the D&D community is also bloated as it is .* *An he does a lot of questionable quality material .*

@SeanLaMontagne

3 жыл бұрын

@@Wolfphototech This is insanely bad faith, and borderline obsessive. "The DnD community is bloated" that is not an argument here. You're acting irrationally and emotionally unhinged, going absolutely ham on a small channel that is offering more content per minute than I see from some DnD KZread who have hour long videos 🤷‍♀️ Just say you don't like the channel. Don't hide that behind some moral commitment to calling out some kind of malicious bad faith actor who you think is trying to exploit the dnd community. This is genuinely unhinged, and and I recommend taking a step back an evaluating what led you here. This is not a hill worth dying on, not to mention hed just another guy with a YT channel trynna make a living doing what he loves 🤷‍♀️ Ya know, like 100% of all the other DnD channels that you feel more legitimate than this one?

More cogent!

@joshuaarmstrong2445

3 жыл бұрын

Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well.

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Haha Jazza has been doing his own thing! And my last cogent video was the lowest viewed video in the last year sadly, I have 2 videos in the works that are cogent related still though!

This is basically becoming GURPS. I am hoping 6e goes more in that direction.

Seems kind a weird you don't mention Filthy Peasants. Its cool having your own spin on things but you should probably source great ideas to who they originate from.

Level 0 wearing plate armor?

Interesting concept... but doesn't really work for online gaming sessions

@andrewbowser9326

3 жыл бұрын

At least not easily

@SeeAche

3 жыл бұрын

Why not?

@andrewbowser9326

3 жыл бұрын

Because most online sessions nowadays use dndbeyond or other online character builders

@SeeAche

3 жыл бұрын

@@andrewbowser9326 I haven't used dndbeyond and I've only used the roll20 cypher character sheet. Do they not allow you to customize values and abilities?

@andrewbowser9326

3 жыл бұрын

Only some things. Yeah they allow customization but not to the extent that would allow his true level 0 character

Too much crunch for a level 0. Ya need only 3 stats, AC HP MV.

the only 4 profs gimps bards and rogues tho

Level -1??? WAAT?

@TheDungeonCoach

3 жыл бұрын

Mind blown!!

@LesslyPoint

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheDungeonCoach this gives me a campaign idea. I will say 'Before we start:' and then do an entire campaign about predetermined fate in the astral sea. Ending with the player characters being born into the life they were fated to have... Hm...

This is not simple, it goes completely against what a level 0 game is supposed to do, and parts of it just feel like an additional punishment because you reduce the stats of a character that already does not have a level.

I think this is too powerful for a youngling character really gonna have to min max anakin to make it a realistic fight.