Epic Characters

Renown, The Path to Epic

On SPL, the path to becoming epic is almost completely automated. Once a character is in a faction or Sect, they will begin automatically passively gaining renown. Upon reaching 3,000 renown, the character is considered eligible to become Epic. You can check your renown once per real-life day using the /renown command in-game. Dungeon Masters can also give Renown bonuses, but they tend to give small bonuses and not very often. Note that you need a Faction or Sect badge to gain passive renown, and that your first character must be at least level 15 to join a Faction.

Level 20, Opting In, LA, and Experience Points

Once you reach level 20 in-game, you will stop gaining experience points for any reason. If you gain experience points past the 190,000 required for level 20, the system will remove them when you relog automatically. This will persist until your character has 3,000 renown and you decide to opt into Epic Progression on your character. Opting into Epic Progression is a significant decision and is worth thinking on for at least a brief period of time. The reasons for that will be explained below. Once your character has opted into Epic Progression, they will once again be able to gain experience points; but at a reduced rate. The character will only be able to gain Roleplay Experience ticks at a limit of about 250 exp per day for 0 LA characters. If the character has LA, they will have a LA penalty payout - half of their gained exp will be put into a LA penalty pool until it's paid off. You can view your current LA amount using the /lapool command. Epic Characters are also able to gain DM-Granted experience points.

You need to contact a Dungeon Master to receive the Token to progress into Epic levels.

Epic Role-play Expectations

As an Epic Character, your character is seen as an established part of the module and campaign and is known; a recognized face in a crowd. That doesn't necessarily mean you are famed or something of the sort, but you are known and have earned a level of respect or infamy. As such, your character is expected to behave accordingly. The roleplaying that your character engages in should push exciting narratives, actively pursue goals that foster role-play opportunities for other characters, and engage in activities that include far-reaching plotlines. Epic Characters are not expected to walk into a room and 'take control' of a situation, but they are expected to do more than simply hang about as a 'face in the crowd' and not engage in plotlines. It's completely fine for an epic character to grind or engage in casual roleplaying during downtime, but ideally, an epic character should not always be engaged in those activities and should be looking for ways to push and expand their own goals and narratives in the server campaign.

Balance and Respect

In their quest for influence and significance, players of Epic Characters should understand the importance of balance and respect toward others in the community. Characters surpassing level 20 are held to a higher standard, with expectations to occasionally yield opportunities to newcomers despite their own possible gains. While we do not expect Epic Characters to bow out of events, plots, or quests, we do ask that they respect the enjoyment of other, newer characters and players. When adventuring with lower-level parties, it's often better for Epic Characters to play support roles or provide advice rather than running ahead and just clearing all the content. This strongly applies in DM events.

Epic Consequences

Embracing the Epic Journey means accepting 'epic consequences.' Actions taken by your character will yield more significant, realistic outcomes. Before a character has opted into Epic, we tend to be more forgiving of their actions; they're not established or known, and as such what they do has less impact. Epic Characters will find that their actions can be much more far-reaching - with both positive and negative outcomes. They have opportunities for greater and more unique rewards while also facing chances for harsher and more crippling consequences. This is one of the most important things to note about opting into Epic, in that your character is more likely to possibly face harsher outcomes such as jail time for crimes, permanent penalties, or even permanent death if the situation is serious enough. We do try to avoid permanent death in nearly all cases and give the player ample warning if things seem like they're headed in that direction, but part of opting into epic is accepting that outcomes such as that are a greater possibility. This isn't meant to discourage players from having Epic Characters, it's meant to encourage well-planned and creative roleplaying that shows why the character is Epic and shows the greater stakes for those who are known in Sigil and the Outlands.

Ascension Questline and Information

Once your character has opted into Epic Progression, they may begin the progress of an Ascension Questline. This journey is tailor-made for your character, allowing them to possibly leave a monumental impact on the multiverse and affect the lore and history of SPL itself. Ascension Questlines are the chance for your character to truly pursue their goals - to expand their backstory or make their mark on history. To even begin the process of undertaking an Ascension Quest, the DM team must have seen extensive and long-term roleplay surrounding the concept of the character's goals. This primarily includes outside-of-DM interactions. For example, the character should often speak of this to others, or bring it up passively during events when it may be appropriate, or make it an important part of their ongoing narrative. You can take as long as you need to figure out a solid Ascension Goal for your character, but until long-term roleplay is shown beforehand, it is very unlikely a DM will pick up any Ascension Request. Ascension Quests are also optional - they are not something that is guaranteed, and they are very extensive and drawn-out projects that are generally done between a single DM and a player.

Level Progression and Information

The journey from level 20 to 30 is a straight path, with progression paced only by the rate of experience gain. The presence of an epic character in a party can intensify endgame dungeons, spawning more powerful mobs and increasing boss challenges.