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<blockquote data-quote="Burnside" data-source="post: 9722243" data-attributes="member: 6910340">I think the mixed-level party is an inevitability in 1E. The idea of &quot;balance&quot; as we think about it today wasn't as prevalent in that era, but the unequal experience level requirements for various classes in 1E actually are an attempt to achieve a level of balance/power parity between classes. Thieves advance faster than everyone else because of the (unspoken) acknowledgement that in practical terms the 1E thief is a mechanically weak class relative to other classes. Paladins and Rangers advance slower than Fighters because (openly acknowledged in this case) Paladins and Rangers are flat-out mechanically better than Fighters in 1E (a Paladin who violates the precepts of their class is reduced in status to being a mere Fighter). 5E generally achieves parity between classes (especially in tiers 1 &amp; 2, and assuming more or less equally skilled players) so having a party including characters of different levels feels weirder. That said, in my experience with Adventurer's League it works fine as long as the characters are still in the same Tier (ie a level 2 character is still gonna feel useful/competent in a party with a level 4 character, but a level 3 character and a level 6 character probably shouldn't be in the same party).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Burnside, post: 9722243, member: 6910340"] I think the mixed-level party is an inevitability in 1E. The idea of "balance" as we think about it today wasn't as prevalent in that era, but the unequal experience level requirements for various classes in 1E actually are an attempt to achieve a level of balance/power parity between classes. Thieves advance faster than everyone else because of the (unspoken) acknowledgement that in practical terms the 1E thief is a mechanically weak class relative to other classes. Paladins and Rangers advance slower than Fighters because (openly acknowledged in this case) Paladins and Rangers are flat-out mechanically better than Fighters in 1E (a Paladin who violates the precepts of their class is reduced in status to being a mere Fighter). 5E generally achieves parity between classes (especially in tiers 1 & 2, and assuming more or less equally skilled players) so having a party including characters of different levels feels weirder. That said, in my experience with Adventurer's League it works fine as long as the characters are still in the same Tier (ie a level 2 character is still gonna feel useful/competent in a party with a level 4 character, but a level 3 character and a level 6 character probably shouldn't be in the same party). [/QUOTE]

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