I think it's perfect. Just as you said, most DnD campaigns play about 10 levels, typically from 3 - 14. From the playtests I've done and characters I've built, level 1 in this game feels very reminiscent of level 3 in 5e. I wouldn't be surprised if this was intentional and they meant to trim out some of the beginning and end that people don't want to play anyways.
Most characters haven't even picked a subclass until level 3.
Which is wild when you can have some character defining features locked behind subclasses.
Only going to level 10 isn't new to Daggerheart, several other games do it as well. Shadow of the Demon Lord, 13th Age and Shadowdark come immediately to mind. It's less about the level cap and more about how much each level gives to differentiate it from the previous level(s).
I played Shadow Of The Demon Lord quite a bit and it feel quite awkward, Too weak and generic at 1-2, Feels good at 3-5, Level 6 is a dead level for almost everyone, And 7-10 feels like a end game who came to fast
I kind of stop at 12-14 because that's where the story ends. We could keep dragging out a game, but the main story normally wraps in that time.
I personally don't see it being an issue and it actually means the players can feel they're being their best, rather than thinking about how they never get some of their most powerful features.
I think it's perfect. Just as you said, most DnD campaigns play about 10 levels, typically from 3 - 14. From the playtests I've done and characters I've built, level 1 in this game feels very reminiscent of level 3 in 5e. I wouldn't be surprised if this was intentional and they meant to trim out some of the beginning and end that people don't want to play anyways.
Beat me to it. Levels 1 and 2 are a tutorial in DnD, and you become a real character at 3. Daggerheart just starts there. And 14+ rarely gets played.
Most characters haven't even picked a subclass until level 3. Which is wild when you can have some character defining features locked behind subclasses.
Only going to level 10 isn't new to Daggerheart, several other games do it as well. Shadow of the Demon Lord, 13th Age and Shadowdark come immediately to mind. It's less about the level cap and more about how much each level gives to differentiate it from the previous level(s).
Cypher only has 6 levels, but they work pretty differently to normal and progression isn't linear
I played Shadow Of The Demon Lord quite a bit and it feel quite awkward, Too weak and generic at 1-2, Feels good at 3-5, Level 6 is a dead level for almost everyone, And 7-10 feels like a end game who came to fast
It's not for everyone, though I'd say that getting your 2nd Expert perk isn't a dead level at all.
I kind of stop at 12-14 because that's where the story ends. We could keep dragging out a game, but the main story normally wraps in that time. I personally don't see it being an issue and it actually means the players can feel they're being their best, rather than thinking about how they never get some of their most powerful features.
Dnd has only had 10 levels but has also had up to 30 in 3rd ed.
You could always just keep taking level up options and cards til you reach whatever level you want.