At what level do you start your campaigns?

[Zimbel16]

Making them work for it?

Personally, I would be glad to start a campaign at any level up to say 6 or 8, but all my players want to start at level 1 for any long running campaign thats planned. It has nothing to do with "making them work for it."

I'll second that it's nothing to do with making them "work for it"; last time I was a player in a campaign that started at LV 1, we leveled up by the end of the first major combat - and yes, the DM did XP by the book. LV 1 in 3E is quite a bit stronger than LV 1 in earlier editions, particuarly for even modest min-maxers.

To me, starting level has to do with 1) The types of PCs that the players want to create, and 2) the types of adventures that I want to run.

In the event that there's nothing really governing either, I start at LV 1. It reduces PC creation time.

 

[Sejs]

Generally speaking, level 1.

Current game started at level 3, and looking back I rather wish it hadn't. It's thrown my paceing off a bit.

 

[Rothe]

I voted 1st but I'm not adverse to other starting points. I also bring new PCs into a campaign at level slightly below party level.

 

[Vanuslux]

It depends and varies between 1st and 5th. I never start any higher than 5th except for a one-shot 20th level game.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I must admit I am a level 3 man. At level three multiclassing is possible, and the characters have started to differentiate themselves more. Plus, playing a first level wizard or sorceror is just plain terrible. Trying to shoot things with a crossbow with a 10 dex is just a real pain inthe rear. Plus, if I wanted to be an archer, I would PLAY an archer.

Also about diferentiating, at level 1 all the characters fighting abilities are mostly from stats, not class abilities. If the rogue has higher str and dex, he is a better fighter than the fighter. By thir level the fighter is starting to pull ahead, and is much efective.

BTW, I alsoways give max hit points for level 1-3 also, and then reroll under 50%. That helps differentiate the classes better also. 36 for hte barbarian is a lot more than 12 for he wizard.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I usually start between 3rd and 6th depending on how heroic the heroes already are. I go up to 6th because Pretige Classes can be an important hook for a character, and some characters won't survive to level 6 unless they start there (like the Mytic Theurge)....

I like options. The more the better. More levels = more options.

 

[Arkhandus]

There's no "I start the game at any low level" or "Sometimes level 1" option on the poll........but that's what I would've voted. Depending on the group I'm gaming with, I'll start the campaign somewhere between levels 1 and 4, usually 3rd-level or 1st-level. One-shots I'll start at whatever level is appropriate to the adventure.

 

[Ibram]

I'm strongly in the third lvl camp. This is largely due to the fagility of first lvl characters, and to the short amount of time spent at 1st and 2nd.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I didn't vote as there is no option for other. My campaigns start all over the place. Sometimes I start at 1, sometimes I start at 2,3, or 4. If my players all wanted to start at 15 and had a good enough reason I'd go for it. Mostly I start where the players interest is.

Hence, I vote: OTHER.

 

[Aus_Snow]

Anything from 0-3rd usually, depending on a variety of factors. More often 0 or 1st (so I voted 1st).