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<blockquote data-quote="FormerlyHemlock" data-source="post: 7011453" data-attributes="member: 6787650">My opinion: what's the point of playing a first-level game if not to experience the thrill of risking sudden death? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />If you want a more narrative-style game where PCs have established relationships and there is no PC turnover, another potential solution is to just start everyone off at higher level. 2nd level characters are significantly more durable than 1st level characters. By 5th level they are downright robust!I've seen a 3rd level fighter PC take a breath weapon blast from a CR 17 adult red dragon without going down. He came within 1 HP of instant death (had 33ish HP IIRC) but didn't die, so his half-orc blood kept him fully conscious at 1 HP, which impressed the dragon sufficiently that it ceased burning down the town and appointed the fighter its deputy/tax-collector for extracting treasure from the town. But even a non-half-orc would have stayed alive and been back on their feet as soon as another PC used the Healer feat on them/cast Healing Word/whatever.So anyway, consider starting off at higher level if you want a narrative campaign about heroics. If you want a narrative campaign about going from zero-to-hero, I think that will feel more fun if the players remember what it's actually like to be a zero with only 6 HP.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="FormerlyHemlock, post: 7011453, member: 6787650"] My opinion: what's the point of playing a first-level game if not to experience the thrill of risking sudden death? :) If you want a more narrative-style game where PCs have established relationships and there is no PC turnover, another potential solution is to just start everyone off at higher level. 2nd level characters are significantly more durable than 1st level characters. By 5th level they are downright robust! I've seen a 3rd level fighter PC take a breath weapon blast from a CR 17 adult red dragon without going down. He came within 1 HP of instant death (had 33ish HP IIRC) but didn't die, so his half-orc blood kept him fully conscious at 1 HP, which impressed the dragon sufficiently that it ceased burning down the town and appointed the fighter its deputy/tax-collector for extracting treasure from the town. But even a non-half-orc would have stayed alive and been back on their feet as soon as another PC used the Healer feat on them/cast Healing Word/whatever. So anyway, consider starting off at higher level if you want a narrative campaign about heroics. If you want a narrative campaign about going from zero-to-hero, I think that will feel more fun if the players remember what it's actually [I]like[/I] to be a zero with only 6 HP. [/QUOTE]

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