How many levels does D&D need?

[Fifth Element]

And, while I understand the arguments levied against my position, I am afraid I don't find them convincing. This might be due to a lack of familiarity with 4e. (Shrug) And it probably matters little to nothing whether I am convinced or not.

No, it doesn't matter. But I wonder why you arguing a subject about which you admit ignorance? It seems you're looking at 1E and 4E characters through the lens of 1E, which makes sense I suppose given your admitted lack of experience with 4E.

Please note that I am not necessarily arguing that levelling in 4E has less impact than in 1E. I'm taking no position on that since I don't think it would be possible to quantify it; I'm refuting your assertion that because a 4E character gets more "things" as he levels, levelling must have more impact. It simply doesn't follow.

 

[Raven Crowking]

No, it doesn't matter. But I wonder why you arguing a subject about which you admit ignorance?

Relative ignorance about half of the equation =/= total ignorance about the subject.

And I am not vociferously stating my opinion, or even saying that my opinion is correct. If you knew me better, you would know that this doesn't qualify me as "arguing" so much as me asking for a better argument (in the sense of an argument that I would find convincing, such as a deep analysis) if, and only if, someone really cared to craft such an argument.

Otherwise, it's just "shooting the breeze".


RC

 

[delericho]

I would say it 'needs' 10. However, my preference is, I think, for 36, split into the same four tiers as BD&D:

1-3 Beginner (or Basic)
4-14 Expert
15-25 Commander (or Companion)
26-36 Master

I would suggest characters should gain in personal power up to level 15 or so, at which point they get their 'capstone' abilities. Beyond that they should still gain more hit points/skills/spells, but at a lower rate, and to gain breadth rather than specialisation.

The upper two tiers I would use for building an empire and building a legacy, respectively.

(I would also suggest providing solid guidelines for starting at the lowest level in each tier. Oh, and yes, I would expect to see the vast majority of play occurring in the Expert tier. A feature, not a bug, I think.)

 

[nightwyrm]

How many level I want? 9999. And after reaching that level, WotC sends me an achievement trophy.

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

"... well, these go to 11..."

 

[Smeelbo]

Again, 15 sounds right to me, in my experience. Every D&D campaign I ever played in that went past 15 was not believable: magic dominated to the exclusion of all else, and the world was just crazy. Every D&D campaign I ever played in that didn't go much past 9th level worked just fine. I've done the first ten levels of D&D so many times now, that it just feels like D&D to me. I am not convinced "epic" play works, and it doesn't even interest me any more.

My first D&D campaign back in the 70's blew up at 28th level. Our second campaign went to 15th, and could have gone a little further, I think. Since then, nothing past 12th level has worked for me. This has been true for every edition of D&D I've played, including 4E.

Smeelbo