At what level do you start your campaigns?

[Montague68]

I finally found some players and started a new campaign last week, and the players seemed surprised that we started at level one.

Do you start at level one? And if not why not?

 

[Seeker95]

I have always started campaigns at level one. This level lays the foundation for PC attitudes, personalities, and quirks. It also makes the early level Feat, Skill and ability choices matter.

 

[Crothian]

We start at level one, that is the beginning and I find it can best to start there.

 

[demiurge1138]

So... why no "it depends" option? For some campaigns, I start at level 1. For others, like ones where races with an LA are commonplace (Planescape, my all-reptilian homebrew), level 5 is where I start. I certainly don't hate low level campaigning, but some games I start at mid levels anyway.

Demiurge out.

 

[lukelightning]

In the game I'm playing in we started at 2, which I liked since I was multiclassed and conceptually that's easier for me than saying "I spent all level 1 as a rogue, now I'm a sorcerer!" all of a sudden.

The game I DM we started at 3; I wanted to start at level 1 but the players objected.

I like starting at one, as long as the DM realizes that first level characters are very fragile. Particularly first level wizards with their wimpy ACs, 4 hit points, and two first level spells to cast).

 

[Faraer]

The norm for D&D campaigns, which works really well, is about adventurers starting as novices and advancing through name level. If this is the idea, skipping the earliest levels is depriving players of some of the most exciting and formative experiences for their characters.

There are other models too, particularly with one-offs and mini-campaigns. For myself, I tend not to run those with D&D.

 

[Treebore]

It depends on what I want to do, and whether or not I am willing to wait for them to get to the right level to do it. If it is to play a specific large module, say Tomb of Abysthor, Rappan Athuk, or Banewarrens, I'll start them at the recommended module level. If it a "campaign" idea I start them at level 1 and run the campaign for as long as everyone is interested.

 

[Stormborn]

Personally, I would be glad to start a campaign at any level up to say 6 or 8, but all my players want to start at level 1 for any long running campaign thats planned. It has nothing to do with "making them work for it."

 

[Dog Moon]

I tend to start players at level 2 for a new campaign. Allows a better survivability for characters than level 1 but is still low enough that I don't lose anything.

 

[el-remmen]

Usually Level 1, but my next D&D game will begin at level 2 (but 0 XP).