D&D 5E (2024) GMs: How long should it usually take to go from level 1 to 4?

[Seramus]

Usually about 6-7 sessions for me, as a general observation. But "It should happen when it happens, no expected time frame" is my real answer, because it is the truest one.

 

[Shiroiken]

My current 5E24 game took 5 three hour sessions to reach level 4, but we use XP. I also give out XP for non-combat encounters, so that helps.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The newness of the players is also a factor. While I love going to Level 2 after 1 session, I might go a little bit longer if there's someone new to the game (there's enough decision points in a single session that to immediately give them more can feel like a lot!). With a more experienced group, I might start at 3rd level, so the timeline between 3 and 4 is much shorter than between 1 and 4!

But generally:
1 session to get to 2nd
2 sessions to get to 3rd
3 sessions to get to 4th.

~ 2 months of real-world time. I don't use monster XP, so I typically set my milestones to significant story events, and pace the significant story events similarly (one in the first session, one in the next 2 sessions, then one in the next 3 sessions). A Tier 1 story arc usually has 4 significant beats to get to LV 5.

A simple example might be something like...

Session 1: Beginning: There's some bandits working with some goblins.
Session 2-3: Rising Action: Goblins and Hobgoblins and Bugbears are all supporting the local banditry.
Session 3-6: Moment of Crisis: A Hobgoblin King is coming to take the throne for himself. Their army is spotted, and it's thousands strong.
Session 6-9: Climax: The Hobgoblin King and the armies of the PC's home kingdom clash. The party is sent to eliminate the King and his two most powerful generals (one goblin, one bugbear). If these three are taken out, the hobgoblin army will route as the goblins and bugbears rebel and the hobgoblins fall to infighting to claim the empty throne.

 

[sevenbastard]

I do XP only for monsters killed

I expect at least three to five sessions per level. 12 to 20 hours of play per level. Honestly maybe only 2 sessions for first level.

I voted 9+ but the real number is probably 12.

 

[Not a Decepticon]

Did not vote as I don't run 5e (or 5.5); were I to, I'd tweak it such that each level took numerous sessions to achieve in order to spin the campaign out longer. I'd be unpleasantly surprised if we got through 4th in the first year of the campaign (i.e. 45-ish sessions).

That's really artificial way to drag things out and it's incredibly impractical while most campaigs at current progression, where you should reach leve 4 in roughly 5 sessions (1 session for 1st and 2nd level, 3 sessions for 3rg level), still die to scheduling issues and burnout by level 7.

 

[Hussar]

As I play on VTT, it might impact speed. And our sessions tend to be a bit less than 3 hours. I'm saying 9 session to level 4. 2 to get to level 2, 3 to get to level 3 and 4 to get to level four and generally four sessions per level after that.

Give or take of course. It could be 8. Doubtful it would be 10. Probably not much faster than 7 or 8 though. But, again, my sessions are a bit on the short side, so, it would make me a bit slower than typical.

 

[Lanefan]

That's really artificial way to drag things out and it's incredibly impractical while most campaigs at current progression, where you should reach leve 4 in roughly 5 sessions (1 session for 1st and 2nd level, 3 sessions for 3rg level), still die to scheduling issues and burnout by level 7.

Were I running it I'd want - and expect, going in - the campaign to have a potential lifespan of ten years or more, played weekly (i.e. about 45 sessions a year allowing for the odd one getting missed). Also assumed and expected would be some player turnover during that time, as well as character turnover.

Even with that turnover, though, unless the longer-lasting characters are to finish at about 186th level I'd need to slow down the advancement rate. A lot!

 

[Lanefan]

As I play on VTT, it might impact speed.

Indeed, though it seems people's results vary on this.

I'm with you, in that IME playing online is way slower and less efficient than playing in person. But others have recently posted that their online play is in fact more efficient than in-person play, so :: .

 

[Distracted DM]

7-9 sessions to get to level 4 (assuming 3-4hrs each). Voted 7-8.
Yes, my online play is a bit slower than in-person for a multitude of reasons.

Edit: Let's see, 1-2 sessions to get to 2.
2-3 sessions to get to 3.
3-4 sessions to get to 4.

Yeah, that's 6-9 sessions. I might be going a little high, I do try to level the party up at the end of session 1, but it's happened before where they didn't hit 2 'til some time during/after session 2.

 

[jmartkdr2]

I voted 3-4 as the "should" number, but if we get sidetracked it'll take longer. So 6-9 would be the "expected" number.