Okay! I think we can pull the cloth away from part of the big secret. My big idea for this game is to play at least two of the PCs as Master and Padawan.
avilina and
great_cthulhu have volunteered for the experiment, and we've come up with rules for balancing a less experienced character that I think will work out.
If anyone else would like to do the same, you're more than welcome. Just let me know and I'll go through the mechanics of the whole thing with you. No one's obligated to, of course, but if you'd like to give it a try, you're certainly welcome.
ETA: Please pass this on to everyone who doesn't have access to LiveJournal? Thanks!