Level of Play

[Alzrius]

I voted for all of them.

In most games I play, we start at one and keep going until we max out or finish an adventure path.

This is how I play (and how I voted) too.

I calibrate my expectations such that I enjoy how the game plays differently at different levels.

 

[TerraDave]

Always start at 1. I like level 1. For at least a session.

Pre 4E, also ended around level 12. All sorts of forces would naturally converge at that point.

For 4E, players are 12 now, and will go beyond, to the whackiness that awaits! But, if the game was scaled differently, I wouldn't mind ending at level 12-15, again, with whackiness.

On the poll, the drop off from 10-15 is real clear. I am hoping this is something the designers take into account.

 

[Dragonblade]

What I WANT to play is ALL EPIC ALL THE TIME!

What I am forced to play is usually levels 1-10.

I'm so tired of low level D&D. I have played it for 25 years now. But all adventures assume you start at level 1 and cap out at around 10-15 or so. IMO, thats when the game finally gets interesting. The problem is that epic took way too long to reach in 1e and 2e, and was a nightmare to run in 3e. 4e generally works but there isn't a lot of published material that really takes advantage of what epic should be. Which is ruling nations, conquering worlds and such. Not a skirmish with higher level monsters that plays just like a skirmish at heroic tier.

But what really gets me riled up is when I hear publishers talk about not supporting epic because no one plays it. Well, gee no one plays it BECAUSE YOU DON'T SUPPORT IT or MAKE IT PLAYABLE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rhenny]

I think that the D&D Next needs to attempt to include all levels of play. Even though I have only on a few occasions played a PC over 14th level, the options need to be present.

The tough part is making the higher levels "not broken." With 4e most people agree that Heroic Tier just works better.

I also think higher level campaigns are just more difficult to plan and run as a DM, and if a player is a casual player, it becomes more difficult to play higher level PCs (although this is more true in editions prior to 4e).

 

[Stormonu]

I think that the D&D Next needs to attempt to include all levels of play. Even though I have only on a few occasions played a PC over 14th level, the options need to be present.

The tough part is making the higher levels "not broken." With 4e most people agree that Heroic Tier just works better.

I also think higher level campaigns are just more difficult to plan and run as a DM, and if a player is a casual player, it becomes more difficult to play higher level PCs (although this is more true in editions prior to 4e).

I think it needs to be as inclusive of all play levels of well - if it's going to attempt to appeal to all version players, I think it needs this. However, I hope they don't put a "cap" on level, it should just be enough to say "We'll cover the game to X level, and leave the rest for you". Maybe break the game out over a few sourcebooks - say the Core up to 12th, Expanded to 20th or so, and then Epic for levels beyond that (up to 36th plotted out?).

It is interesting that the poll so far shows a slightly truncated bell curve, with the lower levels being fairly well-thought of, it seems. I would wonder how this poll would turn out on other forums.

 

[Charleois]

I wish I were lucky enough to know people who would stick to a campaign to the end.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Highest level character was a dual-class Human Fighter 13/Wizard 26 in AD&D 2e and a Troll 9/Shaman 8/Witch-Doctor 6 using the Orcs of Thar rules; I played both characters in Die, Vecna, Die.

In 3.X, I've played games from 1st to 20th level... but I never played in a game where my character gained a level after character creation. Every 3.X game I've played in ended at the level it started at.

 

[SensoryThought]

Like many I think, most games I have played or run have started at level 1 and done the first few levels up to 4 fairly quickly (10-15 sessions). After that progression slows. I find 6-8 is a good sweet spot for most editions as you are heroic but not able to solo dragons or take down a demon army. But higher level play can be fun in a different way.

 

[Mokona]

This poll seems to align with D&D v.3.5's Epic 6 as well as continued insights by WotC employees.

This type of poll setup is exactly something that should be run over at Wizards.com. Has anyone seen its like over there?

 

[Yora]

That was exactly what I am thinking.

a.) It's a bell shaped curve, which I didn't expect.
b.) And there's clearly the most activity at the great level of 6th.