06/19/2026

Happy Friday, and welcome back to Tabletop Thoughts!

One of the questions that comes up regularly in tabletop roleplaying games is how quickly characters should gain levels. Some groups enjoy a slow progression where every level feels like a major achievement, while others prefer rapid advancement that allows players to experience high-level abilities sooner. When it comes to Shadowdark, I think the game works best somewhere in the middle.

For my own campaigns, I generally like to see characters reach 2nd level after one or two four-hour sessions. First level is exciting, but it is also dangerous. Characters are fragile, resources are limited, and a single unlucky encounter can bring an adventuring career to an abrupt end. Advancing to 2nd level fairly quickly gives players a chance to become attached to their characters while still preserving the deadly nature of the game.

After that, I prefer progression to slow down. Reaching 3rd level after another three or four sessions feels about right. By this point, the characters have survived a handful of adventures, gathered some treasure, and started to establish themselves in the campaign world. They should feel like experienced adventurers rather than beginners.

From there, I like to see advancement occur every four to five sessions per level. This pace allows characters to spend enough time at each level to actually enjoy their new abilities before moving on to the next stage of their careers. Players get the opportunity to experiment with spells, talents, equipment, and tactics instead of constantly chasing the next level.

Using that progression rate, a group playing weekly four-hour sessions would likely reach 10th level in roughly a year of play. That feels about right to me. A year is a significant investment of time, but not an unreasonable one. By the time characters reach the highest levels of play, they should have earned their reputations through dozens of adventures, close calls, and memorable victories.

This pace also matches the tone of Shadowdark. Characters aren’t superheroes from the beginning. They become legends through hard work, careful exploration, and a fair amount of luck. Every level gained feels meaningful because it represents real accomplishments at the table rather than simply checking off another milestone.

Of course, every group is different. Some campaigns focus heavily on exploration and treasure recovery, which can accelerate advancement. Others spend more time on roleplaying, kingdom-building, or downtime activities, which may naturally slow things down. The important thing is finding a pace that keeps players excited about their characters while still making advancement feel earned.

For me, a year-long journey from 1st to 10th level strikes a nice balance. Characters grow steadily, every level matters, and the campaign has enough time to develop memorable stories along the way. In a game like Shadowdark, where danger is always lurking around the next corner, becoming a legendary adventurer should feel like an achievement worth celebrating.

Of course, that’s just my approach. Every group has its own preferred pace, and what works for one table may not work for another. I’d love to hear how you handle advancement in your campaigns. How quickly do your Shadowdark characters gain levels? Do you prefer a slower old-school progression, rapid advancement, or something in between? Be sure to leave a comment below and share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas. I’m always interested in hearing how other Game Masters and players approach their campaigns.

Keep on gaming!