D&D 5E How long does it take to reach level 20?

Flamestrike · Aug 26, 2020

BlivetWidget said:
This may interest you: if you do the math to on Leveling Up (PHB 15) with Adventuring Day XP (DMG 84), it's supposed to take about 34 "adventuring days" to go from 0 to 20.

Level Experience Point Total XP to Reach Level (delta) Adjusted XP per Day per Character Adventuring Days Total Adventuring Days to Reach Level (delta)
1
0
0
300
0
0
2
300
300
600
1
1
3
900
600
1,200
2
1
4
2,700
1800
1,700
3.5
1.5
5
6,500
3800
3,500
5.74
2.24
6
14,000
7500
4,000
7.88
2.14
7
23,000
9000
5,000
10.13
2.25
8
34,000
11000
6,000
12.33
2.2
9
48,000
14000
7,500
14.66
2.33
10
64,000
16000
9,000
16.79
2.13
11
85,000
21000
10,500
19.13
2.33
12
100,000
15000
11,500
20.56
1.43
13
120,000
20000
13,500
22.3
1.74
14
140,000
20000
15,000
23.78
1.48
15
165,000
25000
18,000
25.44
1.67
16
195,000
30000
20,000
27.11
1.67
17
225,000
30000
25,000
28.61
1.5
18
265,000
40000
27,000
30.21
1.6
19
305,000
40000
30,000
31.69
1.48
20
355,000
50000
40,000
33.36
1.67

Awesome work!

That largely mirrors my experiences; I feel the 'extra' speed at levelling from 12th+ comes from the fact that higher level PCs are more often dealing with singe 'High CR' Legendary monsters that give a greater XP 'yield' than does a small group of lower CR monsters (which are more common at low to mid levels).

6-8 low CR monsters have the same adjusted XP as does a solo High CR monster, but the solo has the higher actual XP yield.

'Teen' level PCs would deal with a high CR Dragon or Pit Fiend (with some legendaries tacked on) or a Lich for example, and the XP from just 2 or 3 such encounters is often enough to 'Level' them during T3 and T4 play.

ccs · Aug 26, 2020

Roughly about two years.
We play weekly for 4/4.5 hours per session. Thanks to holidays/vactions/GenCons/RL etc we average about 45 sessions/year.
So about 360 hours total - though roughly 1/3 of that time is BSing etc (i.e.; not playing). Works out to about 240-250 hrs.

D&D 5E How long does it take to reach level 20?

Flamestrike

Legend

ccs

41st lv DM

Similar Threads

Level	Experience Point Total	XP to Reach Level (delta)	Adjusted XP per Day per Character	Adventuring Days Total	Adventuring Days to Reach Level (delta)
1	0	0	300	0	0
2	300	300	600	1	1
3	900	600	1,200	2	1
4	2,700	1800	1,700	3.5	1.5
5	6,500	3800	3,500	5.74	2.24
6	14,000	7500	4,000	7.88	2.14
7	23,000	9000	5,000	10.13	2.25
8	34,000	11000	6,000	12.33	2.2
9	48,000	14000	7,500	14.66	2.33
10	64,000	16000	9,000	16.79	2.13
11	85,000	21000	10,500	19.13	2.33
12	100,000	15000	11,500	20.56	1.43
13	120,000	20000	13,500	22.3	1.74
14	140,000	20000	15,000	23.78	1.48
15	165,000	25000	18,000	25.44	1.67
16	195,000	30000	20,000	27.11	1.67
17	225,000	30000	25,000	28.61	1.5
18	265,000	40000	27,000	30.21	1.6
19	305,000	40000	30,000	31.69	1.48
20	355,000	50000	40,000	33.36	1.67