Hey gang,

First - the issue - a wee bit more than half my current group has expressed a strong interest in making new characters. They are enjoying the campaign, the game system, and the group as a whole - but feel they understand the game NOW where as they didn't when we made characters. With this system knowledge they feel they would love to 'know then what we do now' - and not from a munchkin angle - just a better understanding.

So...my questions:

We are...on the third adventure? They have done a Day Late, Eye for an Eye, and are half way through my converted Snow White and Rose Red - with plans to move into Gathering Storm after this.

Should I:

1. a) Nuke from orbit, roll up the newbs and start fresh in a new campaign/adventure and then head to gathering storm?
2. b) Use a Tactical nuke and just wipe the character roster and insert the newbs into the current campaign as standing keeping existing ties, etc?
3. c) Wait until they die off in the current adventure and replace as death over takes them all....bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaeerrrrr wait...sorry....

I would be interested in knowing what you all think on this matter. Thanks for your time.

A character can retire from a campaign by just exitting, 'stage-left'... They simply decide to return home or seek employment elsewhere or join a monastery, etc.

They don't need to die!

4. Talk to them about it.

Let them know your concerns and feel out where they are with things. Allowing them to make new characters with the same experience they have now has it issues, but is there anything story-wise in your campaign that would be so disrupted it would collapse if you did let them rearrange their guys?

You also said that after this you're starting TGS, ask them if you could finish out this campaign with the current character set and start them fresh for that (or allow them to start with new characters that have the same XP).

I don't mind it when the entire play group decides they want to rearrange their guys (once) after starting. I wouldn't allow it on individually - would have to die or whatever to get new characters - as its about everyone enjoying the game. I always assume that there will be a bit of rearranging when we start a new RP system, whether one or a few sessions in.

I am actually getting ready to do this in my own game for the same reasons and my solution was simple. Keep your character name, keep your treasure, keep your xp and advances, and pick a new career. No need to get bogged down in it or let it effect your campaign, it is a brand new game system, just let them have fun and switch them out.

Congzilla's idea is great! On the other hand, if you're running a campaign in which your players have already made up character backgrounds dependent on career and you've worked those backgrounds into the storyline, you might just ask them to complete the current scenario before starting TGS. That's probably what I'd do. Tell them that will give them even more time to think about what they want.

Being as I do have a lot of background tie in's for these particular characters - what I think we'll do is wrap up just this adventure - then they can all whip up some new ones TOGETHER - before....say A Rought Night and then lead into Gathering Storm! =) - that should work nicely. =)

Yeah, I am not allowing the transition until we complete an Eye for an Eye.

I intend to explicitly give my players the opportunity to make new characters when we finish Eye For An Eye.

Assuming your group's characters are still relatively new (I don't know how big that converted adventure is), I wouldn't make a big deal out of it, let them create fresh characters, and continue play as if they'd always had those characters. If you're nearly finished with that adventure, you could also finish it first, and then create a fresh party for the next adventure.

In any case, don't make too much of a deal out of it. You all know the system and setting better now, and can make more informed choices, which is good. Also take this opportunity to check if you did character creation correctly, and fix anything you might have done wrong. Possibly introduce a house rule to fix an issue that your group has encountered.

Typically about the fourth or fifth session, I give my players a chance to "adjust" their characters. Things such as:

• Adjusting initial buy slightly (usually just one stat up and one down type stuff)
• Swapping out skills, talents, etc. based on current game knowledge or revised character concept after playing a bit
• Adjusting background to fit into the setting better, provide hooks, and so forth

I find that it really doesn't disrupt the game that much, and it makes the players much more happy with their characters.

However, the one time is all they get.