I'm just curious as to how quickly the characters in my 2E game are leveling up compares to other D&D tables, as I know this sort of thing can vary wildly, depending on edition and playstyles.

It took them 1-2 sessions to hit level 2, about 2-3 sessions each to make levels 3 and 4, and after that about 3-4 sessions per level (they're currently ranging from 5th to 7th level, with us playing 2-3 times of month, which started last July).

Depends on what we are doing and how much avoidance vs confrontation we are playing out.

But usually the first few levels pass fairly quickly. In one Spelljammer campaign I GMed it took about 50 sessions to hit level 20. But in a 5e Campaign I ran it took about 50 sessions to hit level 10.

Once you get past the initial low-level burst (if it exists at all), I usually find it most satisfying for everyone involved if it takes 12-20 hours of focused play to make a level.  So regardless of edition, I typically manipulate the XP rules to make that happen.  15 hours is my target number.  If the players want to slack, it's slower, and if they want to hyper focus, it's faster.

Well, I'm running AS&SH right now.  We've had 7 sessions I think.  They've explored a small cave system, stealing a treasure.  They broke into a noble's manse to steal some of his treasure.  They've spent a couple sessions now in a larger dungeon, which they're still in.  There has also been a decent amount of wilderness exploration, with a handful of encounters there.  And they're currently about 3/4 of the way to level 2.  If they make it out of this dungeon alive, I expect they'll be able to train up to 2.

Quote from: Tulpa Girl;1019595I'm just curious as to how quickly the characters in my 2E game are leveling up compares to other D&D tables, as I know this sort of thing can vary wildly, depending on edition and playstyles.

It took them 1-2 sessions to hit level 2, about 2-3 sessions each to make levels 3 and 4, and after that about 3-4 sessions per level (they're currently ranging from 5th to 7th level, with us playing 2-3 times of month, which started last July).

That sounds quite fast for 2e AD&D but pretty normal for fortnightly 5 hours, say. I ran Mentzer Classic for a few years recently which has similar XP spread & awards up to 8th/9th level as 2e AD&D, generally PCs were levelling about every 4-5 sessions right from the start, maybe 3-4 at low level. Usually in AD&D advancement after Name level (9+) tends to be quite slow, ca 10 sessions/level, but otherwise all pre-3e D&D tends towards (very roughly) around 20 hours/level I think - though big loot scores with XP for GP make progression uneven.

I generally find ca 4 sessions of ca 4 hours is about the ideal levelling rate. I normally play weekly but the same rate works for my fortnightly 4e D&D game.

When I ran a Paizo adventure path using Pathfinder and PCs were levelling every 2 sessions, even every session once or twice, that was way way too fast.

It varies wildly, but I'll second it's a bit fast for 2e. My players are 3rd level more or less. We're into our third game year, and have had a dozen sessions.

But other versions of D&D, and 4e, generally have faster leveling.

I think pacing PC advancement is mostly a matter of GM choice, and what kind of game you desire.  If you have a "low fantasy" type setting you might want to slow XP down.  If you are into an epic high powered setting, then speed it up.  You also kind of need to gauge how your players feel.  You want a balance between challenge and reward.  If your players are frustrated about the pace of advancement, you might want to either increase or explain the stinginess in "in-game" terms.  If they're getting bored because it's too easy... well you get the idea.  There is no right or wrong way.  It's just what you want for your game, and managing the expectations of your players.  I mix it up from campaign to campaign, but I let players know what to expect and why when we begin.

Quote from: Omega;1019600But usually the first few levels pass fairly quickly. In one Spelljammer campaign I GMed it took about 50 sessions to hit level 20.

That lines up relatively close to how I remember the games I played back in the 90's going.

Quote from: Steven Mitchell;1019605Once you get past the initial low-level burst (if it exists at all), I usually find it most satisfying for everyone involved if it takes 12-20 hours of focused play to make a level.  So regardless of edition, I typically manipulate the XP rules to make that happen.  15 hours is my target number.  If the players want to slack, it's slower, and if they want to hyper focus, it's faster.

Our sessions usually run around 4-6 hours, so it's currently taking them maybe 15-20 hours to level up at this point, which isn't too far off from what you've describing.

Quote from: under_score;1019608Well, I'm running AS&SH right now.  We've had 7 sessions I think.  They've explored a small cave system, stealing a treasure.  They broke into a noble's manse to steal some of his treasure.  They've spent a couple sessions now in a larger dungeon, which they're still in.  There has also been a decent amount of wilderness exploration, with a handful of encounters there.  And they're currently about 3/4 of the way to level 2.  If they make it out of this dungeon alive, I expect they'll be able to train up to 2.

8 sessions to hit level 2?  Wow, I think some of my players would riot if that had been the case.  ;-)

Quote from: S'mon;1019620When I ran a Paizo adventure path using Pathfinder and PCs were levelling every 2 sessions, even every session once or twice, that was way way too fast.

That's actually kinda what prompted my question.  One of my players was primarily acquainted with playing Pathfinder, and she commented that leveling up was slower than she was used to.  Thankfully it's not a dealbreaker for her.

(by way of comparison, the one guy who played 1st edition pretty much exclusively back in the day - and refused to switch over to 2nd when it came out - said that progression in my campaign was a bit faster than he was used to, and the teenager who's played a bit of 5th edition says that leveling up was very quick from 1st to 3rd, but then slows down heavily once you hit 3rd level).

Quote from: Tulpa Girl;10196338 sessions to hit level 2?  Wow, I think some of my players would riot if that had been the case.  ;-)

"We thought we were having a blast but then we realized we didn't gain a level!"

Quote from: Dumarest;1019637"We thought we were having a blast but then we realized we didn't gain a level!"

They joke about how cruel I am, but they keep coming back, so I think they're having fun.  And anyway, leveling up doesn't really get discussed much at my table.  The players develop goals based on what's happening in the game and what they've learned about the world.  Most of their long term goals are grandiose enough that they understand they need to become more powerful in order to take on those challenges, but it's never about leveling for the sake of leveling.

I also think it's possible to provide a lot of character progression outside of leveling.  As characters earn wealth there should be useful things in the economy to spend it on.  Building their reputation and gaining followers can be a huge benefit.  Just having a greater influence in their world can feel much more impactful than a few extra hit points and a +1 to hit or whatever.

5-8 sessions per level.

Quote from: Tulpa Girl;1019633Our sessions usually run around 4-6 hours, so it's currently taking them maybe 15-20 hours to level up at this point, which isn't too far off from what you've describing...

...(by way of comparison, the one guy who played 1st edition pretty much exclusively back in the day - and refused to switch over to 2nd when it came out - said that progression in my campaign was a bit faster than he was used to, and the teenager who's played a bit of 5th edition says that leveling up was very quick from 1st to 3rd, but then slows down heavily once you hit 3rd level).

Yup, that's right; 5e is generally 1-2 sessions each 1-3, then much slower. In one case recently IMC a lucky 5e PC went from 1st to 3rd in one ridiculously successful session!

I think with your 5 hour sessions you are levelling them in 2e at pretty much exactly the rate my Classic D&D group levelled, they were doing it in 5 or so 3-hour weekly weeknight sessions.

Rob Kuntz played 8-12 hours per week for a year, and hit 14th level.  But he played almost entirely solo.

Quote from: Madprofessor;1019625I think pacing PC advancement is mostly a matter of GM choice, and what kind of game you desire.  If you have a "low fantasy" type setting you might want to slow XP down.  If you are into an epic high powered setting, then speed it up.  You also kind of need to gauge how your players feel.  You want a balance between challenge and reward.  If your players are frustrated about the pace of advancement, you might want to either increase or explain the stinginess in "in-game" terms.  If they're getting bored because it's too easy... well you get the idea.  There is no right or wrong way.  It's just what you want for your game, and managing the expectations of your players.  I mix it up from campaign to campaign, but I let players know what to expect and why when we begin.

The comment about pacing pretty much cuts to the heart of how I'm approaching this.  While I'm definitely enjoying running the game, I also want to eventually run some non-D&D stuff at some point, after getting the characters to name level.  

If nothing else, I want to get the characters to that point before the youngest player heads off for college...

Quote from: under_score;1019638They joke about how cruel I am, but they keep coming back, so I think they're having fun.

Clearly, you have mad DM skills.  *bows in respect*

Quote from: Tulpa Girl;1019595I'm just curious as to how quickly the characters in my 2E game are leveling up compares to other D&D tables, as I know this sort of thing can vary wildly, depending on edition and playstyles.

It took them 1-2 sessions to hit level 2, about 2-3 sessions each to make levels 3 and 4, and after that about 3-4 sessions per level (they're currently ranging from 5th to 7th level, with us playing 2-3 times of month, which started last July).

This was about our pace when we played in the 80's/90's. We also used DM fiat for leveling for a long time, so no xp tracking. I usually gave out a level at the end of a first session when at level 1, and then about 2-4 sessions per level after that, with an emphasis on quick leveling at the low levels.

Nowadays I do like to track XP, and I like to use the xp/level system as something the players can take some control over. As in, risk/reward ratio, finding hidden stuff, thinking outside the box, stuff like that.