D&D 5E (2014) Do You Start At Level 1?

[payn]

Page 43 (as pointed out by @billd91 ) says "It is particularly recommended starting at level 3 for seasoned players."

I find this interesting. If they know that level 1 and 2 are training wheels, why are they in the PHB and not just part of the starter set? What is the point of having 2 useless levels?

It was decided that the training levels needed to be core for the big tent approach. Once you start telling folks to use optional material, they feel left out. In other words, enough people said they wanted this.

 

[Reynard]

It was decided that the training levels needed to be core for the big tent approach. Once you start telling folks to use optional material, they feel left out. In other words, enough people said they wanted this.

Did they? Was there a portion of the playtest that actively asked "Should levels 1 and 2 be useless to everyone but the newest players?"

 

[Jeremy E Grenemyer]

Usually level 1.

The last time we started at level 3 I wanted more meat on the characters’ bones so they could better survive the post war environment in Cormyr.

 

[Reynard]

Usually level 1.

The last time we started at level 3 I wanted more meat on the characters’ bones so they could better survive the post war environment in Cormyr.

I am not sure of the connected here. What do you mean by "so they could better survive"?

 

[payn]

Did they? Was there a portion of the playtest that actively asked "Should levels 1 and 2 be useless to everyone but the newest players?"

I do recall a conversation about it. It wasn't framed as useless to anyone but new players. Some vets wanted it as well.

 

[Scribe]

Usually 1.

 

[tetrasodium]

My games tend to advance slower and last longer than average (~8-12+ months low-mid teens). I tell players to show up at level 1 even moreso in 5e than prior editions.

Those early levels are really the only ones left where players are excited to explore and do things with the goal of getting stuff for their PCs. In past editions that drive continued well beyond the initial "established with [class specific baseline stuff] like plate mail & a magic weapon" because their characters kept needing new & better stuff than they already have.

In the past I would frequently have players start with a couple levels (ie level 3-5) in order to let them start with a build that is already online enough to demonstrate their role a little & that gave me a chance to talk out their future plans while maybe giving them a minor magic item or whatever perk to smooth things out in exchange for better linking their PC to the setting/region/campaign

 

[Marc17]

Yes. Can't really know what the campaign is going to be like or what the character or party might need. In our current game, I was asked what my Artificer would take at 3rd. I didn't know but made a guess. What I chose was not what I had guessed because what I thought was would be needed before playing was not what was needed after having played.

 

[Burnside]

I generally start at level 1, but the progression to level 3 is pretty rapid. I will generally get a group to level 2 after ~4 hours of play, and level 3 after an additional ~8 hours. Thereafter, levels every 12-18 hours of play.

I have never run a campaign that started at level 1 that ended higher than level 13.

I don't consider that a holy cow and would certainly start at a higher level (and/or advance faster) if the campaign seemed to warrant that.

Most of my players are fairly casual and even if they've played before, they likely won't have played the class before and the early levels are useful for acclimation & gradually adding abilities.

Also, while I'm not generally crazy about level 1 play, level 2 play is often very fun.

 

[Reynard]

My games tend to advance slower and last longer than average (~8-12+ months low-mid teens).

Is that slower and lasting longer than average? i thought the average was 18 months to level 11 or 12.