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

Bayushi_seikuro · Jan 14, 2022

I'm always reminded of Xcrawl, where levels 1-4 are considered the 'boffer leagues'. For those not familiar, Xcrawl is basically televised dungeon crawling. It uses a variant Earth where the primary entertainment is Xcrawls, televised dungeoncrawling/professional wrestling type antics.

At levels 1-4, the dungeons are the 'boffer leagues' - like you're using LARP weapons and fighting guys wearing tshirts that say 'Orc' on them, and the end boss might be a retired medusa or something.

Stalker0 · Jan 14, 2022

I feel like 3rd level, where everyone gets their first subclass, is basically “training wheels off”

that said 5th is a key level and represents a “veteran group” to me, going from 4th to 5th is a brand new ballgame

Monayuris · Jan 14, 2022

I would disagree that levels 1-4 are training wheels.

You need more skill as a player to survive playing a level 1 character than you would as a level 5. You have less hit points, less abilities, less resources to overcome challenges at lower levels than you do at higher levels.

Some people want to start out strong and get into the high fantasy action, others want to be challenged with greater chances of death and greater difficulty.

The beauty of having low levels being weak is that each group can dial in their own challenge level. If you want less challenge and more capable characters, start at higher levels. If you want more challenge start at lower levels.

This was always my problem with games like 4E, where it made even 1st level characters overly powerful. It removes a style of play that some people may enjoy.

J.Quondam · Jan 14, 2022

Using the "adventuring day" day recommendations in the DMG, it takes just over a month to hit level 20, iirc.
There's barely time to put the training wheels on, much less take them off again.

Lyxen · Jan 14, 2022

Honestly, I find the term "training wheels" very derogatory for people who like playing at low level, for all kind of reasons.

THEMNGMNT · Jan 14, 2022

I agree with your player -- Tier 1 is training wheels. When I'm concepting a campaign I think of Tier 1 as the origin story that explains how the characters became the heroes they are. It's like kicking off a Marvel franchise.

The players in my main campaign have said they like starting at level 1 because they enjoy zero to hero progression.

It's okay to start at whatever level feels right for your group.

jgsugden · Jan 14, 2022

From a story perspective: Absolutely not. You can start building great stories in the first few seconds of a game at level 1.

From a rules perspective, we build up our understanding of our PC capabilities over time, and starting out simple allows us to get progressively more complex. So, from that perspective, sure - you're running a simpler set of attributes so that you can develop more skill as you add more abilities.

And for those that are going to turn this into that are old "high level sucks" argument: High level requires you to evolve your game, as a DM, to fit the new abilities of the PC. You can't run a murder mystery or give them a travel storyline. You have to prepare challenges that make sense given their power levels. A lot of people can run really fun high level games. The lack of training on how to do it is one of the biggest gaps in D&D right now.

Adamant · Jan 14, 2022

I find levels 1-2 very boring for most classes, with the exceptions being fighters at 2 and classes that get their subclass at 1-2 once they get it. I feel like they were intended to teach you the basics of the class without any extras to distract you, which is totally fine as long as I'm not stuck there for long.

My personal opinion is that levels 1-2 are the training wheels, and levels 3-4 are more like a slow, easy ride without the training wheels. Once you hit 5 it's like you suddenly get to choose an adult bike in any style you want. The choices really open up then, and even further when you get your next ASI at 6 or 8. I feel like mid-high tier 2 is the sweet spot, although tier 3 is also quite fun. I've only played a single game at tier 4, but what I've heard about balancing for T4 is that it's very easy to make the encounters way too easy or way too hard(My game was on the easy side, even after the DM beefed up the final encounter with a brass greatwyrm in place of the ancient brass dragon).

TLDR: I don't think that levels 3-4 are training levels, but I do feel like you have very limited customization options mechanically until you hit level 4 for an ASI, and I have the most fun after my second ASI.

Mordhau · Jan 15, 2022

Big problem of early levels is that monsters are pretty boring.

Also good adventure sites for lower levels are pretty rare really. Most of the best ones are for higher levels.

Edit:
By higher levels I mean 3+

Once you're past the giant rats and goblins stage.

payn · Jan 15, 2022

Mordhau said:
Big problem of early levels is that monsters are pretty boring.

Also good adventure sites are pretty rare really. Most of the best ones are for higher levels.

Im the opposite on these statements.