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Average Campaign size?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Skitzafreak
Apr 12, 2009 17:55:13 I've been looking at a bunch of printed campaigns and it seems that on average a campaign goes between a level, and 2 levels up form the start (ie. 11 - 13) or close to that.

With this in mind, is a campaign that goes from say lvl 1 to 10 feasible?
Or would it simply be too long to keep the party in?

On that note, what about a campaign that runs from lvl 1 all the way to lvl 30?
#2
half_dragon_infernal
Apr 12, 2009 17:58:09 Your confusing campaigns with adventures. Adventures last from 4-15 encounters on average, campaigns do last for awhile.
#3
Skitzafreak
Apr 12, 2009 18:01:12
Your confusing campaigns with adventures. Adventures last from 4-15 encounters on average, campaigns do last for awhile.

Oh okay, thanks for clearing that up :P
#4
Krusk
Apr 12, 2009 19:17:38 Campaign or adventure from levels 1-10? Wizards published the "H Series" of adventures, which follows the same plot from level 1-10. They also published the "P Series" of adventures which follows from level 11-20. Im not sure but it might connect the two. They are in the process of publishing the "E Series" which goes from level 21-30. Any of those goes for 10 levels on its own, and if they connect like I think they might they go from 1-30.

Additionally, they are publishing the Scales of War series, which is intended to go from level 1-30, and they are at around 14 now.

Most often the adventures that go for 1-10 levels have multiple minor adventures built in, so there is a new fresh plot every so often. Or the original plot is expanded.
#5
Guiltl3ss
Apr 14, 2009 14:54:33 Hm, well, I usually have a Campaign as the entire of the story for said characters. Generally the characters I DM for dont change campaigns. One Campaign, One Setting, etc. As a rule of thumb, I like to have aabout 10 encounters per adventure "arc" (2-4 Adventures). So maybe 5 encounters per level...depending on the campaign. I try to have an adventure a session, sometimes its 2 a session. More or less ramblings, haha. Hope it sheds a little light on what I do.
#6
Tovec
Apr 15, 2009 0:57:12 It depends on the campaign, scope, DM and players.
I try and level my party once every 4 sessions, approx.
I find this gives them a good chance to get in touch with what they can do, and look ahead to future games.
That being said my games usually start somewhere lower (more than 1, less than 5) and end in the early to late teens. My first game, for example, was level 2-18 by the finish.
Also it I've had bad experiences when the DM provides leveling too regimentedly.. that sentence got away from me. I mean when every couple of weeks, like clockwork you expected to level. This would happen without regard of what happened in the game, what dungeons you encountered, what the party did or (more often) didn't accomplish, etc.

On a side note, encounters:
I usually decide what is available for the party by looking at the area they are in. I run a very free roaming game and the party can pretty much go do whatever they like. I am confident enough that I can scale encounters to fit them no matter their level.
Ex. Party is/was level 5. They go and fight a dragon, one that should have beaten them. At this level I had the dragon fight them solo. In a couple more levels he would have had backup and in a couple more levels after that he would have just been a smaller boss for something larger.

Keep that in mind when you decide to level your group and plan the range of your campaign.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Skitzafreak Apr 12, 2009 17:55:13	I've been looking at a bunch of printed campaigns and it seems that on average a campaign goes between a level, and 2 levels up form the start (ie. 11 - 13) or close to that. With this in mind, is a campaign that goes from say lvl 1 to 10 feasible? Or would it simply be too long to keep the party in? On that note, what about a campaign that runs from lvl 1 all the way to lvl 30?
#2 half_dragon_infernal Apr 12, 2009 17:58:09	Your confusing campaigns with adventures. Adventures last from 4-15 encounters on average, campaigns do last for awhile.
#3 Skitzafreak Apr 12, 2009 18:01:12	Your confusing campaigns with adventures. Adventures last from 4-15 encounters on average, campaigns do last for awhile. Oh okay, thanks for clearing that up :P
#4 Krusk Apr 12, 2009 19:17:38	Campaign or adventure from levels 1-10? Wizards published the "H Series" of adventures, which follows the same plot from level 1-10. They also published the "P Series" of adventures which follows from level 11-20. Im not sure but it might connect the two. They are in the process of publishing the "E Series" which goes from level 21-30. Any of those goes for 10 levels on its own, and if they connect like I think they might they go from 1-30. Additionally, they are publishing the Scales of War series, which is intended to go from level 1-30, and they are at around 14 now. Most often the adventures that go for 1-10 levels have multiple minor adventures built in, so there is a new fresh plot every so often. Or the original plot is expanded.
#5 Guiltl3ss Apr 14, 2009 14:54:33	Hm, well, I usually have a Campaign as the entire of the story for said characters. Generally the characters I DM for dont change campaigns. One Campaign, One Setting, etc. As a rule of thumb, I like to have aabout 10 encounters per adventure "arc" (2-4 Adventures). So maybe 5 encounters per level...depending on the campaign. I try to have an adventure a session, sometimes its 2 a session. More or less ramblings, haha. Hope it sheds a little light on what I do.
#6 Tovec Apr 15, 2009 0:57:12	It depends on the campaign, scope, DM and players. I try and level my party once every 4 sessions, approx. I find this gives them a good chance to get in touch with what they can do, and look ahead to future games. That being said my games usually start somewhere lower (more than 1, less than 5) and end in the early to late teens. My first game, for example, was level 2-18 by the finish. Also it I've had bad experiences when the DM provides leveling too regimentedly.. that sentence got away from me. I mean when every couple of weeks, like clockwork you expected to level. This would happen without regard of what happened in the game, what dungeons you encountered, what the party did or (more often) didn't accomplish, etc. On a side note, encounters: I usually decide what is available for the party by looking at the area they are in. I run a very free roaming game and the party can pretty much go do whatever they like. I am confident enough that I can scale encounters to fit them no matter their level. Ex. Party is/was level 5. They go and fight a dragon, one that should have beaten them. At this level I had the dragon fight them solo. In a couple more levels he would have had backup and in a couple more levels after that he would have just been a smaller boss for something larger. Keep that in mind when you decide to level your group and plan the range of your campaign.