E6- A look at Level Capping

There's a great little variant of D&D that is going around called E6, which is linked here. Play testing the game with a level cap of 6 really does do wonders to the way players play the game, but the same principle can be used to keep your campaign power level where you want it.

The primary reason for setting the epic level cap so low in E6 was to demonstrate the difference in power levels between what would be your typical medieval farmer (Com 1) and 'epic' heroes of level 6, and also because the D&D 3.5 game is incredibly well balanced at low levels but breaks down at the higher levels. Instead of leveling, the characters gain feats indefinitely, which allows characters to grow without them becoming walking piles of numbers.

This does not mean however that you can't use the 'capping method' at different levels to suit your needs, but be aware that the higher you cap the level, the less of an effect it will have. E8 and E10 games both offer distinct advantages and disadvantages that should be explored by any DM worth his salt.

In all, the 'capping method' is a great quick fix to the 3.5 system that can be implemented with little to no effort since it doesn't modify the rules too much.