D&D 5E Levels 1-4 are "Training Wheels?"

[Minigiant]

Last night a player commented: "Levels 1-4 are just training wheels. The game doesn't even start until 5th level. Unless you're playing D&D for the first time, you should just start at 5th level."

Techinically it's true.

The game is called Dungeons and Dragons.

You have no chance to escape a young dragon encounter until at least level 5.
Until you can deal with a real dragon, you aren't really playing the game.

 

[Lyxen]

You have no chance to escape a young dragon encounter until at least level 5.
Until you can deal with a real dragon, you aren't really playing the game.

And why does the dragon need to be adult ? The Sunless Citadel has a nice dragon encounter and it is level 1-3. And I'm sure that there are many more examples of the kind.

 

[DND_Reborn]

She has mentioned that she's never gotten to do high level. Her previous DM was running Curse of Strahd, and that campaign ended with Strahd's death ("just when it was getting good," as she said.) I guess that's around 10th level?

IIRC we were around 10th level when we finished CoS as well.

I've never been able to DM a "real campaign" with her - just sample test adventures to try out various systems. (Because of this phenomenon Switching Around Systems Due to Burnout?).

Burnout is a different issue, unfortunately. We I get burned out, I play SW or Shadowrun or Vampire for a bit, then return to whatever edition o f D&D I am in.

From the sounds of it, I agree with others that 4E might be good for her, better than 5E anyway. I never played 4E and when I looked at it, it didn't seem like it would appeal to me, but I know many others really like it.

I guess my perspective is that levels 1-2 are too underpowered in 5e. By the time you get much beyond 5th level, you're unstoppable. For me there's a two level "sweet spot" in 5e where the game actually works the way I like, which is levels 3-5.

For you, it sounds like E6 or similar might be more to your tastes.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

And why does the dragon need to be adult ? The Sunless Citadel has a nice dragon encounter and it is level 1-3. And I'm sure that there are many more examples of the kind.

I really dislike that. Dragons shouldn't be trivialised. They should remain as fearsome high level end bosses.

 

[Minigiant]

And why does the dragon need to be adult ? The Sunless Citadel has a nice dragon encounter and it is level 1-3. And I'm sure that there are many more examples of the kind.

I was thinking young dragons. Young Dragons are powerful enough to have henchmen, complex conversation, interesting fights, and decent hoards. But weak enough to attract local heroes to deal with.

Wyrmlings are talking scaly ponies with a spit trick. They are not a real dragon encounter.

 

[Lyxen]

I really dislike that. Dragons shouldn't be trivialised. They should remain as fearsome high level end bosses.

It's really a matter of taste, but the whole section of adventure with the beloved Meepo and the small dragon is well done, and I've used that module successfully with many beginner groups in 3e, they loved it. It's a wyrmling, but quite dangerous.

 

[Lyxen]

I was thinking young dragons. Young Dragons are powerful enough to have henchmen, complex conversation, interesting fights, and decent hoards. But weak enough to attract local heroes to deal with.

Again, pure matter of taste.

Wyrmlings are talking scaly ponies with a spit trick. They are not a real dragon encounter.

It's still officially a dragon, and a well done encounter.

 

[Minigiant]

I really dislike that. Dragons shouldn't be trivialised. They should remain as fearsome high level end bosses.

I agree some what. Adult dragons should be end bosses. But many random "dungeons" should be run and inhibited by young dragons who are building themselves up.

It's still officially a dragon, and a well done encounter.

It's not a dragon encounter. It's an encounter with a dragon in it.
Because 3rd level PCs cannot handle a dragon encounter.

 

[Lyxen]

It's not a dragon encounter. It's an encounter with a dragon in it.

Nitpicking level = infinite.

 

[Cadence]

Nitpicking level = infinite.

Seeing infinite in the context of dragons makes me think of the Quasar Dragon. Maybe not infinite, but close enough.