D&D 5E Beyond Level 20?

[CleverNickName]

My gaming group just leveled up, and everyone is 17th level. Everyone is having a great time, and there are tons of adventure threads still out there to investigate, so the odds are good that everyone will be 20th level and still going strong in a few more months. This is awesome! But I have a concern.

All character advancement stops at 20th level. How do I keep things interesting for my growth-oriented players? These are the sorts of players who plan out their characters several levels in advance, and have spreadsheets and advancement charts. I worry that without some kind of character growth to look forward to every so often, they will get bored. I want to keep the story going, and I want the heroes to enjoy their 20th level status for many more adventures.

Has anyone ever had experience with this situation? Have you ever reached the max level and just...kept going?

 

[ezo]

Our first 5E game made it to level 20, and played a couple more months to "wrap up the campaign" by finishing the finale story line.

The DM had stories in line to keep going, but after two years of playing the same PCs, the group decided to start over with new PCs. However, a few times we considered going back to those old PCs and moving on.

As for getting "bored"... for myself that is more about the adventure than character growth. I don't need "MOAR POWER" to keep me interested in the game; I need a compelling and fun story to play in. I've rarely found that to be the case at level 20 or higher, personally. The story just becomes too far-fetched for me to enjoy.

 

[dave2008]

By default 5e has epic boons (every 30,000 xp) other tools to keep giving rewards past 20. There are also 3PP products that stretch levels to 30 or even 40, but that takes a lot more work then providing boons and feats.

 

[pukunui]

Check out 5e's epic boons. Although the 2024 game gives you your first one at 19th level, both versions of the game let you gain an Epic Boon (or any other feat of your choice) for every 30,000 XP you earn beyond 20th level.

EDIT: Ninja'd!

 

[Demetrios1453]

Check out 5e's epic boons. Although the 2024 game gives you your first one at 19th level, both versions of the game let you gain an Epic Boon (or any other feat of your choice) for every 30,000 XP you earn beyond 20th level.

EDIT: Ninja'd!

I'd also add that if you're going more than a "level" or two above 20 to add in the 2014 epic boons from page 232 of the 2014 DMG, as there are a quite a few more options than the 2024 ones (almost all the 2024 ones are slightly changed reprints of the 2014 ones). Otherwise you'll run out of interesting boons fairly quickly. Perhaps keep the 2024 ones for that 19th level improvement and open it up to the 2014 ones as well afterwards. You'll probably want to edit in the ability score increase the 2024 ones have to the old 2014 ones, though.

 

[GMMichael]

Two words: level drain.

The reason that PCs can't go beyond level 20 is because that's the god threshold. To cross it, a PC must willingly die, and get straight 20s on the death saves. After that, you won't have much use for the rule books, because being a god is more about politics and drama than rolling dice.

 

[Maxperson]

Well, I had to vote sort of. I've only gone past 20th level in 3e and then only to finish up the quest. A handful of times we finished at 21st to 23rd level. In 5e we probably would have if there were rules for it.

 

[Vael]

The only time I've ever played past 20 was a 4e Epic tier one shot. Haven't played a 5e campaign past 12th level.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

Maybe start the leveling mill again, just with higher numbers and phat powers. The restaurant at the end of the universe have a problem with giant god-rats in the cellar?

 

[Minigiant]

The only time I've ever played past 20 was a 4e Epic tier one shot. Haven't played a 5e campaign past 12th level.

I've played 4e from 1-30 and did both level 30 3e and 4e one shots.

Post level 13 play on 5e doesn't appeal to me. Both 14 and 24 epic boons are too tame IMHO.