D&D 5E (2024) GMs: How long should it usually take to go from level 1 to 4?

[The Soloist]

During 2e, levelling with my groups was based on the number of sessions played. In the 90s, we were younger and played sessions of 5-6 hours, instead of 2-3 hours these days. But we only played once every three or four weeks. I gave them a level every three sessions (regardless of XPs, I stopped using them.)

 

[Lanefan]

I think we killed 6 before we were downed, so it was not even close. They ambushed us too.

That was the 4th fight of the campaign, although it was right after a long rest. Previously we had defeated 5 shadows, 2 shadows and a skeletal warhorse ...

Man, Shadows must have been nerfed along the editions somewhere. In games I'm used to, 5 Shadows would annihilate any party averaging less than 3rd level without any effort at all and would/could be a significant threat to 4th or even 5th level parties.

I DMed a party of 1st-levels who decided they were going to face-charge a village of about 20 Kobolds. Not a TPK only because a few of the characters turned tail and fled once they realized their stupendous error, and the Kobolds didn't pursue beyond sight of their village. Still, 4 dead out of 6.

In the end we were revived by the bad guy, their leader, a half-orc. He stripped us naked and threw into the slums with 1hp no money or treasure (no more halfplate )

So we are starting next week still level 1 with no gear, no money, no spellbook for the Wizard and the same mission ahead of us.

I think the plan is to wander around the slums until we get attacked so we can get enough XP to level and have a few weapons.

That's a good save by the DM, and now you all owe that Half-Orc big time.....