The long wait (7th level) to progress into prestige classes irritates me somewhat. I like having options, and if you're running a low level game (like this one), it means you're somewhat pidgeonholed. Personally, I always thought level 1-5 was ordinary folks, 6-10 above average, 11-15 heroic, 16-20 legendary, and 21+ Chosen Ones. :P<br/><br/>Not just from a gameplay standpoint but from an RP one as well. With the most powerful NPCs in the medium having levels that cap out at 20... everyone's much closer together in scale. You could argue the nonheroic class amends this, but I never liked a nonheroic class, since that adds another layer to balancing encounters. Sure, D20 Modern has nonheroics, but that merely streamlines and nerfs the six standard classes rather than operate under entirely different rules... including nonheroic levels being equivaent to 1/3rd a normal one.<br/><br/>Suppose I used the model above and wanted to depict an experienced and battle-hardened opponent (6th-10th level) but who was not major enough to warrant being labeled as 'heroic'... he's just an elite mook, not a named antagonist. In order to make it a fair fight for an 8th level PC, by RAW, I'd need to give that guy 24 nonheroic HD. Obviously, the statted NPCs always start off nonheroic and take classes later on to prevent this. So why have the nonheroic class at all? Likely to allow more skill customization so a mechanic and a soldier can both be categorized under nonheroics.<br/><br/>I have other thoughts, but need to post IC.  ;D<br/><br/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;"><strong>Edit</strong></span><br/>Eyuck. I think I really botched this into. Could have been done sooooooooooo much better if I wasn't in a hurry to crank something out and afraid to info-dump. Because, let's face it, that's what briefings are.  ::)<br/><br/>Merryn probably shouldn't know half the things she's saying....