It is a given that the proliferation of magic items has changed the way the game is scaled. Before we start arguing this fact, kindly count the number of smart defenses and active abilities you have in your character's possession that aren't build-bought and reconsider. The change in scaling means that a stock of magical items is essential to being able to survive content scaled to your theoretical APL.
Now then, for the theoretical part. Assume you have some players who are coming back to the game after a while away. They have been gone long enough that all of their original gear has been lost or has expired, so they are without items. They do, however, have characters around level twelve.
To make this more interesting, we will add two more constraints :
1. The players have a limited amount of available time and money, so they can only make a half dozen games a year.
2. Due to only getting to game so often, they wish to PC when traveling to game.
Now, we have our base assumptions. Given these assumptions, how would you go about bringing these characters up to a state that will allow them to interact with plot scaled for their APL without dying to effects they do not have the assumed defenses for?
Now then, for the theoretical part. Assume you have some players who are coming back to the game after a while away. They have been gone long enough that all of their original gear has been lost or has expired, so they are without items. They do, however, have characters around level twelve.
To make this more interesting, we will add two more constraints :
1. The players have a limited amount of available time and money, so they can only make a half dozen games a year.
2. Due to only getting to game so often, they wish to PC when traveling to game.
Now, we have our base assumptions. Given these assumptions, how would you go about bringing these characters up to a state that will allow them to interact with plot scaled for their APL without dying to effects they do not have the assumed defenses for?