A new game has started. What level are you?

[Chacal]

We always start at 2nd level (we don't like to use aprentice levels).

We might try 3rd level though.


Chacal

 

[HellHound]

We almost always start at level 1.

OCCASIONALLY I run a game with low ECL characters and up to level 3 starting characters. (By occasionally, I mean I have done it twice in the last 12 years).

 

[ladyofdragons]

we always start out at first level. it's that humbling sort of experience everyone needs every once in a while, that "Oh crap! I forgot how amazingly wussy wizards are at first level! I can't do jack-squat!" that makes you appreciate your 5ftr/5wiz/1arcane archer.

aside from that, our group tends to feel that character development works better when you start from the beginning. Though new characters introduced in the middle of a long campaign start a level or two behind the current party level, just to keep them from getting killed.

 

[Nifft]

Our group started two campaigns at 3rd level, because we were sick of 1st level. Now we're starting two more campaigns at 7th level (because we've "done" 3rd-6th levels). IMHO it's going to be fun to keep raising the level of the group until we've seen the whole of 3e. Then it'll be time to tune the world and start over...

-- Nifft, long-range forecasting

PS: And not voting, because our habit is to keep starting campaigns at higher and higher level.

 

[mmu1]

Our group started two campaigns at 3rd level, because we were sick of 1st level. Now we're starting two more campaigns at 7th level (because we've "done" 3rd-6th levels). IMHO it's going to be fun to keep raising the level of the group until we've seen the whole of 3e. Then it'll be time to tune the world and start over...

-- Nifft, long-range forecasting

PS: And not voting, because our habit is to keep starting campaigns at higher and higher level.

I think the main reason we're starting off at higher levels is because we keep on starting secondary campaigns with the primary one still going on - otherwise, we'd probably start off a little lower than that.

And to be honest, I can't see (perhaps because I haven't done that much high-level gaming) how anyone can be nostalgic for 1st level. I've been in enough short lived campaigns that I've lost count of the times I was level 1-5, and I'm heartily sick of developing beginning characters.

 

[Ravellion]

I have been thinking about increasing the "baseline" for all creatures, including the PCs. I would for instance, make all Orcs 4th level Barabrians (perhaps slightly lower, like level 3 BrB, and goblins and kobolds might still rely on nothing but numbers and have only 1 HD). Since I do this throughout (or mostly throughout)the board, the general relative power level of high level PCs and NPC would be lower.

Also, you could get rid of some front loading issues with multiclassing without people not having the option to have the special abilities begin with. I could for instance give rangers the whole dual wield thing at level 2 or 3. A just starting ranger would be able to do it, but if you multiclass into it after fighter, you'd need to take a few levels of it.

Rav

edit: all stuff between brackets

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I always start games at level 1 and I prefer when I'm playing in a game to start at level 1. I might in the next game I run start a game at level 3 because multiple palyers are interested in higher ecl races. I know there is some FR starting level with high ECL option but I never read up on it so maybe I can still start everyone at level 1.

 

[Dinkeldog]

Unlike every other incarnation of the game, I can't think of a single time that we haven't started the campaign at 1st level. We bring in new characters at the level of the lowest other PC, though, if you die. Sucks to be 1st level in a party of 7th level PCs. Sucks to be 1st level in a party of 3rd level PCs.

 

[I'm A Banana]

1st level just doesn't have that HEROIC feel to it....it's not epic, it's not important, it's just Joe Blow and McNobody going on adventures...

This has both benefits and problems. Good, in that it connects the characters to the world, having them arise organically. Bad, because they don't feel like the action heroes they will later.

I'm usually at about levels 3-5. Handy, but not above reason quite yet.

 

[Ravellion]

I always start games at level 1 and I prefer when I'm playing in a game to start at level 1. I might in the next game I run start a game at level 3 because multiple palyers are interested in higher ecl races. I know there is some FR starting level with high ECL option but I never read up on it so maybe I can still start everyone at level 1.

I can't remember what that rule was, but I would just make him pay for all the XP he basically was given for free at the start.

For instance, Drow wizard 1 (ECL 3) Has to reach the level four XP award (starting at 0 XP) to become a level 2 wizard. So while all his buddies are levelling up, he just has to wait a while.

Rav