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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shiroiken" data-source="post: 6865833" data-attributes="member: 6775477">Technically there is no "finish line" since the DMG has rules for gaining abilities after level 20 (but the players don't see that).The PHB (which the players see) gives the impression that there are 20 levels to be played. This creates the notion that the game goes from levels 1-20, when this isn't the reality. In addition to outside influences (which end more campaigns than successful resolution ever will), a campaign has a story lifespan. Once you've told the tale, it's time to retire the characters, start something new, and occasionally reminisce about the great campaign.Too often I've seen DMs push a campaign too long, where there is very little worthwhile story left, and these campaigns seldom end well (like a great TV show that's jumped the shark). I played in a 3E campaign that was really good, with us killing (banishing) a Demon Lord at level 8 (don't ask... it was a Monty Haul, make the most broken character you could kind of campaign), but the DM didn't want to end the campaign at such low level. We continued on until level 15 or so, but everything after the Demon Lord felt pretty anti-climatic. A great campaign lasts only as long as it needs to. The best 4E campaign I played in was only levels 1-5, leaving 25 levels unused... and unneeded.</blockquote>