At what level do you start your campaigns?

[Aesthetic Monk]

I personally like low-level play and would always prefer to begin at level 1 if I'm in a game that has a reasonable chance of going a long distance. I also respect those, though, who find the first couple of levels too prone to random kills and other chance mishaps that don't necessarily reflect bad play on the part of players.

 

[Perun]

If it were up to me, definitely 1st level. I actualy like[/i] low levels. Both as a player and a DM.


However, most of the people I play with don't like starting at level 1, and so in the last two campaigns we started at level 3, and that's where I put my vote.

Regards.

 

[jmucchiello]

We use to start 2e games at around 5th level. (20,000 xp) This was because low levels lasted forever in 2e. At 15 xp an orc, 2,000 xp to get the first to 2nd level is a long time.

In 3e starting at 1st level is less taxing since the way the xp chart is setup, those first levels just fly by. Survivability out of 1st level is higher when the time spent at 1st level is short.

 

[Akrasia]

For a real campaign, definitely level 1.

There is nothing more satisfying than bringing a character from level one up to higher levels.

Starting at higher levels -- unless it is for a one-shot adventure or a 'minicampaign' -- just seems less satisfying IMO.

 

[Rhun]

I generally start my campaigns at level two or level three. I dislike first level characters.

 

[Lanefan]

Level one, of course. As a player, if the DM started a campaign at 2nd or higher, I'd feel like I'd missed something. As a DM, first level is just logically where things start. (that said, the system I use doesn't allow for these pre-levelled-equivalent characters, so I'll never have to worry about that) One-offs are different; but we're talking campaigns here.

Also, I just assume I'm probably going to go through a character or three during the first few adventures anyway, so I don't bother getting too attached to them until their careers look like they'll get somewhere.

Lanefan

 

[JVisgaitis]

Campaigns I start at either 1 or 0. I've done one shots at higher levels, but if its a campaign I think its cooler if the characters grow into their roles as heroes.

 

[Uder]

I never start players above 1st level unless the setting or scenario demands it.

 

[Agent Oracle]

I've been in games that started at levels 3, 5, and 10... and because of that, i will allways start at level 1. It gives players so much to look forward to! and typically, level 2 comes by the 2nd game session. it gives the players a such a sense of accomplishment.

 

[Allandaros]

I ran my last campaign at 3rd level, but my next one will be starting from 1st level. A little character death at the beginning of the campaign is probably not a bad thing.