D&D 5E XP Progression in Lost Mine of Phandelver [SPOLIERS!]

[Nikosandros]

Perhaps my OP was poorly phrased. I didn't want to discuss in general how to award XP. I normally prefer a milestone system, but I decided to run the Starter Set as close as possible to the RAW.

I was wondering what other thought about the specific progression in this adventure. For people that are running it, what's the situation? Do PC normally reach level 4 before the Wave Echo Cave?

 

[Quickleaf]

1290 XP? Wait that's into 3rd level in 4 sessions?

Wow the low levels have an accelerated rate of advancement!

Hmm, 64 pages for 5 levels of adventuring...Seems to imply 256 pages would be sufficient coverage for a level 1-20 campaign. That seems a bit on the short side, but maybe it could work if the writing style is minimalist?

 

[Uller]

1290 XP? Wait that's into 3rd level in 4 sessions?

Wow the low levels have an accelerated rate of advancement!

Hmm, 64 pages for 5 levels of adventuring...Seems to imply 256 pages would be sufficient coverage for a level 1-20 campaign. That seems a bit on the short side, but maybe it could work if the writing style is minimalist?

Lvl 1 -> 2 and Lvl 2 -> 3 are by design just 1 session. Beyond that it's 2-3 sessions per level