D&D 5E How many people start at 20th level?

[Prism]

We have played one campaign to 20th+ level but it has taken nearly 30 years of real time to get there. When we started it we played it every week but in later years it has kind of become our backdrop game which we play 3-4 times a year, while we play much lower level stuff weekly. The characters are not optimized builds though - very organic - especially since we have changed system a few times. We are currently using a system called Microscope to play most of it but we break into D&D (5th at the moment) from time to time for the big encounters. Examples of those at this level are; restoring Lantan post spellplague in the forgotten realms, exploring Vecna's tower original tower for secrets about Asmodeus in Greyhawk, and most recently assassinating Bel, ruler of the first layer of Hell (Zariel now owes us a favour)

High level play is great fun but only from time to time

 

[Raith5]

I have mostly started at first level. But rarely have I got above 20th level despite always playing multi year campaigns. But I think it is system issue rather than a player choice issue. In my experience only BECMI and 4th edition have worked at high levels. Other iterations of D&D just mechanically fell apart about 12-14th level and choked any further advance of the story.

 

[Celtavian]

I have mostly started at first level. But rarely have I got above 20th level despite always playing multi year campaigns. But I think it is system issue rather than a player choice issue. In my experience only BECMI and 4th edition have worked at high levels. Other iterations of D&D just mechanically fell apart about 12-14th level and choked any further advance of the story.

I think 5th edition will be the best edition at high level. I've been mocking up combats. Orcs and kobolds will still be viable enemies at level 12+ easily. Groups of giants will be amazingly difficult even for level 20 characters. I think Bounded Accuracy was a stroke of genius that is going to allow this edition to flourish at nearly any level.

 

[Raith5]

I think 5th edition will be the best edition at high level. I've been mocking up combats. Orcs and kobolds will still be viable enemies at level 12+ easily. Groups of giants will be amazingly difficult even for level 20 characters. I think Bounded Accuracy was a stroke of genius that is going to allow this edition to flourish at nearly any level.

Good to hear. I certainly hope your modelling is right. My concern is whether one wants to still be fighting giants at 20th level! I hope we see a wider range of high level monsters with cool abilities, but I am sure we will see them in time.

I must say that I think bounded accuracy will also address the problem I had with 1e where saves at high levels were trivial for PCs, and I also think the concentration mechanic will address the problem I had with 3e which was spell casters dominating the game (and table time).

 

[ExploderWizard]

I'll bite. I've never played at 20th level, but I also wouldn't want to play a character who doesn't have a future. If the character makes short-term choices that lead to a long-term dead end, that wouldn't be fun for me, even if he's powerful early on. So having a good twenty-level build for my guy is an important part of my fun.

To me, not knowing if my character has a future is kind of the object of play. Actual play means making short term choices that may or may not lead to DEATH.

Death can be a pretty big dead end and much more likely for someone in the adventuring profession. Making it through the adventure alive is enough to worry about. Worrying about what life will be like for my character 15 levels down the road IF he survives that long? Not even worth worrying about.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

To me, not knowing if my character has a future is kind of the object of play. Actual play means making short term choices that may or may not lead to DEATH.

Death can be a pretty big dead end and much more likely for someone in the adventuring profession. Making it through the adventure alive is enough to worry about. Worrying about what life will be like for my character 15 levels down the road IF he survives that long? Not even worth worrying about.

YMMV.

Out of curiosity, how did you feel about AD&D level limits? Did you play demihumans up to their max levels? I always took humans because they were uncapped. I didn't want to play some elven wizard who hits wizard 16 and then stops right before he gets 9th level spells. Similarly, I didn't mind playing low-Int wizards for a one-shot, but (munchkin me) I wouldn't invest actual time into someone who wouldn't eventually have Int 18 for 9th level spells.

 

[Mallus]

My experience is D&D campaigns start between 1st - 4th level and run between 10th - 14th, give or take.

So to answer the original question: almost no one starts at 20th. 20th level builds are theorycraft.

 

[ExploderWizard]

YMMV.

Out of curiosity, how did you feel about AD&D level limits? Did you play demihumans up to their max levels? I always took humans because they were uncapped. I didn't want to play some elven wizard who hits wizard 16 and then stops right before he gets 9th level spells. Similarly, I didn't mind playing low-Int wizards for a one-shot, but (munchkin me) I wouldn't invest actual time into someone who wouldn't eventually have Int 18 for 9th level spells.

Level limits didn't really play much of a part in things. Surviving to name level was so rare anyway that we played whatever race & class that we felt like. Making it to 6th level was a big deal.

 

[Celtavian]

Good to hear. I certainly hope your modelling is right. My concern is whether one wants to still be fighting giants at 20th level! I hope we see a wider range of high level monsters with cool abilities, but I am sure we will see them in time.

I must say that I think bounded accuracy will also address the problem I had with 1e where saves at high levels were trivial for PCs, and I also think the concentration mechanic will address the problem I had with 3e which was spell casters dominating the game (and table time).

I like giants still being relevant enemies at high level. You can make interesting enemies without having the players constantly fighting gods. I like Demon Lords being able to use hezrou or lower level demons that are still dangerous in combat.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Level limits didn't really play much of a part in things. Surviving to name level was so rare anyway that we played whatever race & class that we felt like. Making it to 6th level was a big deal.

This was exactly what I was thinking. I've never had an AD&D PC get higher than level 16 (and that was a PC I played from 1981 to 199Xish before permanently retiring him). Not paying a race/class combo because they wouldn't get a 9th level spell? Never even entered my mind because that was a scenario that never happened anyway. I would say at least 75% of the PCs I've had over the years that even made it to level 10 soon retired and we played different campaigns.