D&D 5E Tiers for D&D Next (Basic, Advanced, ...?)

[Dungeonosophy]

Earlier editions had various Tiers, even if the word "tier" wasn't used:

Classic Edition:
Basic (Levels 1-3)
Expert (4-14) (9 = "Name-Level")
Companion (15-25)
Master (26-36)
Immortal (Immortal Levels 1-36; essentially Character Levels 37-72; with various Immortal tiers: Initiate, Temporal, Celestial, Empyreal, Eternal, Hierarch)
Old One

Second Edition:
High-Level (21-40)
Divine (Divine Ranks 0 to 20, with various Divine tiers: Quasi-Deity/Hero Deity, Demigod, Lesser Deity, Intermediate Deity, Greater Deity)
Overdeity (DR 21+)

Third Edition:
Base/Basic
Prestige (level varies)
Epic (21-40)
Divine (40-60)

Fourth Edition:
Heroic (1-10)
Paragon (11-20) (This adjective was also used in CD&D as one of the four Paths to Immortality, and was used in 3e in the sense of "Racial Paragon" classes)
Epic (21-30)
Divine (31-40)



Other adjectives include:

• "Master", "High Master", and "Grand Master" (in 2e Skills & Powers weapon mastery rules)
• "Legendary" for some 3e Epic-level monsters and feats

For D&D Next we have Basic Themes at 1st level and Advanced Themes at 6th level, revealing what appear to be two Tiers, even if the term "tier" is no longer used. This splits the 4e Heroic tier into Basic and Advanced.

Fifth Edition:
Basic (1-5)
Advanced (6-10?)

Might there be further 5e tiers?:

Paragon (11-15)
Master (16-20)
Epic (21-25)
Legendary (26-30)

This splits the 4e Paragon tier into Paragon and Master, and the 4e Epic tier into Epic and Legendary.



There'd be various tiers of feat selection:

• Basic Themes at 1st level
• Advanced Themes at 6th level
• Paragon Themes at 11th level
• Master Themes at 16th level
• Epic Themes at 21st level
• Legendary Themes at 26th level
• Then distill the stats and re-do the character sheet for 30 more levels of Deity/Immortal-level play.

From BECMI D&D to BAPMELD D&D?

ENWorlders, how do you feel about this?

 

[Zireael]

I guess you are right. I hope Tiers will be well done in 5e though.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I'm good with the idea, although would be more inclined to see two of the tiers broadened. 1-5 / 6-15 / 16-25 / 26-30.

A 5-level beginner box or book makes sense to me. Subsequent 5-level segments not as much. But if you go 5-10-10-5... then you can produce one book of 15 levels (beginner and heroic) which works better for the predominant amount of players who don't usually get much past levels 12-15... and then gives you a paragon/epic book that can better serve those players by really focusing in on what playing P/E actually means. Rather than 30 levels in a single book... two books of 15 levels can bring the game into a better focus for both books, in my opinion.

 

[steeldragons]

D&D Adventurers [Basic] Set: levels 1-5

D&D Champions [Expert] Set: levels 6-10

D&D Heroes [Companion/Paragon] Set: levels 11-20

D&D Legends [Masters/Epic] Set: levels 21-30

That'd be the sets I'd like to see.

I imagine the "full hardback Advanced Players Handbook" would probably cover levels 1-20 with Legends/Epic play (level 20+) would go in its own "Legendary Handbook" (probably a combo PHB & DMG thing).

 

[Shemeska]

I'd hope that there wouldn't be arbitrary tiers in 5e at all.

 

[Doug McCrae]

I like tiers. Five levels seems too small a division, though I have to admit BECMI's first tier is only three.

 

[variant]

D&D Adventurers [Basic] Set: levels 1-5

D&D Champions [Expert] Set: levels 6-10

D&D Heroes [Companion/Paragon] Set: levels 11-20

D&D Legends [Masters/Epic] Set: levels 21-30

That'd be the sets I'd like to see.

I imagine the "full hardback Advanced Players Handbook" would probably cover levels 1-20 with Legends/Epic play (level 20+) would go in its own "Legendary Handbook" (probably a combo PHB & DMG thing).

I don't particularly like the names you assigned for them. It's like saying a level 10 isn't an adventurer. I don't think there should be any arbitrary tiers.

 

[Dungeonosophy]

I'd hope that there wouldn't be arbitrary tiers in 5e at all.

I agree about no arbitrary, abstract tiers. But if the tiers simply designate the levels where a character begins a new feat tree (Theme), it wouldn't be arbitrary.

 

[Dungeonosophy]

D&D Adventurers [Basic] Set: levels 1-5

D&D Champions [Expert] Set: levels 6-10

D&D Heroes [Companion/Paragon] Set: levels 11-20

D&D Legends [Masters/Epic] Set: levels 21-30

That'd be the sets I'd like to see.

Yeah, that'd be an old-school BECMI feel (ACHL?). I like the ideas.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I think the tiers should be Basic, Advanced, Supers, Immortals, and Champions.