How Special Are The PCs?

[cranberry]

IMO, PCs have always been the focus, but they are not special. That is, there are other adventurers in the world, so the may be more "special" than the local farmer, but relative to other adventurers they are just one of quite a few. I remember my first 5E 2014 Adventure (Dragon heist) that took place in Waterdeep. We were a puny 1st level party among many high level NPCs

 

[Mallus]

D&D is heavily inspired by pulp adventure stories about larger-than-life protagonists. Proto-superheroes, if you will. I expect D&D PCs to be like that.