My 1st level Fighter in my current game has the soldier background and served several years in a campaign and seen several battles before becoming an adventurer.
He is a veteran.
That is a fair point. A level 1 Fighter with the Soldier Background, is by definition a ‘veteran’ in the other sense of having served in the military or having survived war.
When I realized there were two totally different definitions of the word ‘veteran’, I became more sympathetic toward those who were talking about a ‘Level 1 veteran’.
The problem with your argument is that you are trying to assign a mechical power level to something that is a subjective and a narrative element. Whether a character is a veteran is a function of the character’s past and history.
Not to mention your minimum power level to be considered a veteran is WAY too high and seems to keep creeping higher and higher with your every post.
To be clear, when I use the word ‘veteran’, I mean someone who is a ‘master’ − someone who is extremely experienced.
In fact, I am highly consistent in my view of leveling tiers for many years, since the beginnings of 4e.
Levels 1-4: Apprentice
Levels 5-8: Professional
Levels 9-12: Master
Levels 13-16: Leader
Levels 17-20: Legend
Levels 21+: Epic
(But even Epic levels seem useful to subdivide.)
There have been variations, but these groups of four levels have been in place for many years now.
This thread has shifted my view slightly. Earlier, I was of the view that a level 1 character is still in highschool, say 16 years old. But some of the considerations in this thread make me feel more certain that Level 1 is beginning college − after having graduated highschool. The highschool Level-Oners, were really advanced highschool students who were effectively at college level.
People can be self-taught. I have no difficulty with people mastering an area of expertise without formal training. But these same people can take a college exam and succeed at the appropriate college level. (It might take them a moment to translate their experience into a college experience, but they can do it. They know their stuff.)
So:
• High School Diploma − begins Level 1
• Associates Degree − begins Level 3
• Bachelors Degree − begins Level 5
‘Normally’, this corresponds to ages 18, 20, and 22, respectively.
But individuals can vary drastically − especially if they are unusually talented ahead of the curve, or ‘multiclassing’ elsewhere thus behind the curve.
My best friend is a veteran of multiple deployments and saw combat. He didn’t come back with the power level of Tier 3 D&D character.
‘Multiple’ deployments? Honestly I assume is Tier 2 or higher, depending on how many ‘encounters’ he survived.
I consider a first level fighter to be a veteran. Their capabilities put them above a typical soldier. They are not gods among men, but in reality most veterans aren’t. Most are more skilled and capable than your average folk... like the level 1 fighter.
For me, ‘veteran’ ≈ ‘guru’.
i consider the farm boy who picks up his father’s sword to be a commoner.
Well, for example, in medieval England, a ‘farm boy’ likely is required by law to have been training in combat.
And a ‘farm hand’ is a tier of advancement above a ‘boy’.
A 9th level fighter would also be a veteran (and possible a more accomplished one). But a 9th level fighter is a paragon... one who’s ability reaches acts of greatness and their actions can impact a nation. This isn’t the default capability of every veteran.
The level 9 veteran is Achilles... the level 1 veterans are the warriors fighting around him.
As I mentioned in a post above. When I use the word ‘veteran’, I mean someone who is accomplished.
