Charlaquin
Goblin Queen (She/Her/Hers)
The issue was that 5e was designed to appeal to older editions fans and those editions literally weren't designed to be played high level in any serious matter. Some races had level limits. Some classes drop off in features after certain levels.
Level 7 was less a sweet spot and more where most campaigns would hit the end of their major arc conclusion. Then the desire to continue when the game only has 2-3 good balanced levels left is outweighed by the desire to play something else.
That's why he says people start a new game right away. Levels 1-7 or 3-9 lets you defeat the BBEG or clear the big dungeon before the game breaks. 5-11 has you play some of the wonky levels too long.
I think we could have the best of both worlds if we could re-normalize having a stable of characters at different levels. When the adventure reaches its natural conclusion and you start getting the itch to play some new characters, don’t just toss the old ones aside. Keep them on hold to revisit later. You never know when the urge to play a mid-level one or two shot might strike. When it does, bust those older characters back out, play them through it, and now you’ve got some 8th or 9th level characters in reserve. Forget the epic 1st to 20th level mega campaign, let’s make shorter adventures with a variety of starting levels the new norm.I don't wholly disagree, except this attitude continues the romanticism of a glorious 1-20 campaign that lasts 3-4 years and everyone is deeply invested in their characters and it's forever memorable and epic and... A romantic fantasy that many players will never see.
I friggin hate the romanticism of the grand story campaign, because it's such a big yoke to put around the GM's neck... And honestly as the GM, I fall for the fantasy all the time as well. Start a game at level 1, or 3, or whatever, play it til you're good, and then peace out at 10! You had some good times, go make some new ones.
Why can't the game be 1-10? What about 1-12? Why 1-20, because it's been 1-20 for some decades? Ax some sacred cows!
But then I'm pulled back to reality. WotC bought DnD, Hasbro bought WotC, and they expect a return on their investment. They bought those sacred cows: six stats, saving throws, fighters, fireballs... The game is designed with the assumption that these are going to be there, and later the mechanics are designed for them- not the other way around.
So yeah, 1-20. It's a weight on those designing the game, they need to account for levels that don't really matter as much, but it's a core part of DnD that owners are likely not going to want to ditch.