Starfox
Hero
To me it is different in different games and depending on whether I am GM or player.
1E had a pretty wide sweet spot 3-9 or so. After 9 the linear level progression hit, but the game still worked well. I played 1E up to lvl 14 and it still worked pretty well. I think magic items did more than levels at the end there.
2E was much the same.
3.5 sweet spot lvl 6-20. Works well as a GM right from level 1, but as a player you don't come into your own until level 6. I've played 3.5 up to level 20 and never had real trouble with it. I guess my 3.5 groups didn't delve into save-or-suck so very much, so it was not a problem.
Pathfinder is even better than 3E at low levels. The highest level I've played it as is 10. How it works depends very much on how much combat maneuver and save-or-suck spells you use, both these things shortcut some fights. Pathfinder fights have a tendency to end very quickly, with a successful grapple or hideous laughter. Can't tell how high the sweet spot goes.
4E had a sweet spot 3-8. The math went wild after that. In paragon levels, PC dfenses were too weak. At epic levels, too strong.
1E had a pretty wide sweet spot 3-9 or so. After 9 the linear level progression hit, but the game still worked well. I played 1E up to lvl 14 and it still worked pretty well. I think magic items did more than levels at the end there.
2E was much the same.
3.5 sweet spot lvl 6-20. Works well as a GM right from level 1, but as a player you don't come into your own until level 6. I've played 3.5 up to level 20 and never had real trouble with it. I guess my 3.5 groups didn't delve into save-or-suck so very much, so it was not a problem.
Pathfinder is even better than 3E at low levels. The highest level I've played it as is 10. How it works depends very much on how much combat maneuver and save-or-suck spells you use, both these things shortcut some fights. Pathfinder fights have a tendency to end very quickly, with a successful grapple or hideous laughter. Can't tell how high the sweet spot goes.
4E had a sweet spot 3-8. The math went wild after that. In paragon levels, PC dfenses were too weak. At epic levels, too strong.
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