D&D: The Five Best Ways To Celebrate Your New Level
You leveled up, learned some new spells, got some new abilities. Now, it’s time to celebrate those hard earned XP.
Leveling up is one of the best parts of any tabletop RPG. This is because the actual best part of any ttrpg is creating a character, and leveling up–which is kind of like creating the character incrementally–taps into that. But what so often, we let leveling up just be a moment of mechanical celebration. That is: you get some new abilities, learn a new spell or increase some numbers by +1, +2 if you’re lucky, and then that’s it. You go right back to fighting those goblins/bugbears/owlbears and there’s no occasion to mark your progress.
But what if we took a page from old school D&D and gaining a level was an occasion worth marking in-game as well. In older editions, like 2nd, you might gain followers or some other non-class-based reward. But can we go deeper? Here are five ways to celebrate leveling up.
Go Carousing
You might not need to break out the carousing rules from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (though they are a ton of fun when you do, especially if there’s a complication), but it can be worth taking some time to have an in-character party. This can be a chance to commemorate that last battle or the new combat maneuver you finally learned.
Buy Something Nice
A new level could mean a new outfit. After all, it’s a classic trope of fantasy, getting the upgrade makeover that shows you’re somehow more powerful (and cool) now. Especially if over the course of your adventure you picked up a new piece of gear, it’s time to accessorise.
Hire A Bard
Whether you have a bard in your party or not, you can probably find a bard or chronicler to compose a tale of your epic deeds. If you just leveled up and are looking for a way to celebrate, immortalize yourself in story or song. It doesn’t matter that you commissioned it–you’ve just become a patron of an art.
Art Deco-ration
If a story or song seems like too much, why not get yourself a nice painting or sculpture for the town you just saved, or to commemorate your new higher level party? Decorate your hideout or wherever it is you happen to be taking your long rests.
Build A Castle
This might take a little more time and money, but nothing says powerful adventure like building a castle and attracting 1d4+1 1st-level fighters, 1d3 2nd-level fighters, and so on.
Happy Adventuring!
