how low do you start?

[arwink]

Technically, everyone starts at 1st. But I figure a good, details background is worth about 300 xp, with up to 200 xp for a few good adventure hooks or cool campaign details.

A description of your characters appearance is 50xp. Providing a picture is a bonus 50.

Including details of an NPC your close too is about 200.

And answering a questionair in character, and thinking out some personality traits, well that's a good 200 too.

Most of the time, people have cleared a 1000xp by the start of the game.

 

[Warchild]

I pretty much start my players out in any given setting or new campaign at 3rd or 6th level. I tend to involve my players in the setting early on and they have more responsibility and a bigger share of spotlight. Even in a low powered setting, 1st level characters generally need to keep under the radar for a while. I like the wider range of plot/action possibilities that a mid level campaign provides. I guess after near-20 years of gaming, i don't have the will power to wait for the players to become useful!
I like in depth backgrounds as well and you can only write so much stuff for a 0 or 1st level character.

 

[Mythtify]

The campaign that I am writting now is going to start off at first level. It should last for a long time(hopefully).

This is my first shot at a 3e campaign. A few times in the past, I have inherited campaigns with characters at around 5th level. If I ever have the option of taking over another Dm's game again, I will pass. It was a pain.

First level is the way to go. I, too, have found that the hire the characters start, the less the players care about them.

 

[nsruf]

Wow. I'm the only person who started at tenth, for a non-oneshot.
...
Bad call? Perhaps, but I like how it's going so far.

Why should it be a bad call? I'd like to start my next campaign at level 10 or even 15. All you need is a group of players interested enough in the rules-y stuff to come up with proper characters of that level.

 

[Larry Fitz]

I would love to have just posted "Quattro" but unfortunately "Tritto" was used twice so it would be what? "Quintto" now? The reason I just didn't post "Quintto" is that I unfortunately don't agree with the four posts in question, I am a firm believer in starting at first level and allowing the PC's to learn to crawl together before they start walking, or (god forbid) running together. I am also intrigued by the idea of starting them at 0 level, let them learn from scratch... Hmmmm......