General Rules[edit]

• The rules for levels below 21 are still the same. This set of variant rules applies only when characters reach level 21.

• Level 50 becomes the new maximum character level a player can have.

• Ability scores now have a maximum of 30.

• Upon reaching level 21, your proficiency bonus becomes +7, then increases to +8 at level 25, +9 at level 29, +10 at level 33, +11 at level 37, +12 at level 41, +13 at level 45, and +14 at level 49.

• If a player continues leveling the same class through level 21 to 49, they gain epic boons at levels 21, 25, 29, 31, 35, 39, 41, 45, and 49, and ability score increases at levels 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, and 50. Any and all ability score improvements give 3 points rather than the traditional 2, and 4 points after level 40, or 2 feats if using the optional feats rule.

• Cantrips that deal damage increase by 1 additional damage die at levels 22 (5), 28 (6), 35 (7), 39 (8), 45 (9), and 50 (10).

• If you're a Dragonborn, your breath weapon moves up to 6d6 at 21st level, 7d6 at 26th level, 8d6 at 31st level, 9d6 at 36th level, 10d6 at 41st level, and 11d6 at 46th levels

• Upon reaching past level 20 you may pick a second subclass. You gain the features of the subclass at level 20+the original features level. For example a Rouge with the Thief subclass would get Fast Hands at level 23, Supreme Sneak at level 29, and Thief's Reflexes at level 37.

Level 50[edit]

If a player chooses to level up their class beyond level 20 and they don't multiclass, these are the features each class gains:

Artificer[edit]

Additional Spells and Spell Slots:[edit]

• You also gain additional cantrips at level 24 (5), level 28 (6), level 38 (7), and level 42 (8).

Spell Slots

• Level 22 - 1 2nd level spell slot.
• Level 30 - 1 3rd level spell slot.
• Level 34 - 1 4th level spell slot.
• Level 42 - 1 5th level spell slot.
• Level 50 - 1 5th level spell slot.

Infusion and Infused Item Improvement:[edit]

• You get another known infusion at level 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, and 47.
• You get another infused item at level 21, 26, 31, 36, 41, and 46.

Spell Storing Item Improvement:[edit]

• Your spell-storing item feature can use level three, four, and five spells at level 26, and the feature can be used on any equipment.
• At level 30 you can use your spell-storing item feature equal to half your Intelligence modifier (rounded up).

Barbarian[edit]

Critical Hits:[edit]

• At level 22, critical hits land on a roll of 19 - 20. Additionally At level 26, critical hits land on a roll of 18 - 20.

Strength and Constitution Score Increases:[edit]

• Starting at level 32 and every 4th level onward, the maximum for your Strength and Constitution score increases by 2, and both scores are increased by 2.

Additional Rage Damage:[edit]

• Your rage damage increases to +5 at level 30, +6 at level 34, +7 at level 38, +8 at level 42, +9 at level 46, and +10 at level 50.

Bard[edit]

Additional Spells and Spell Slots:[edit]

• At level 21, you gan an additional spell. You gain one more spell every 2nd level (level 23, 25, 27 etc.).
• You also gain additional cantrips at level 21 (5) and level 45 (6).

Spell Slots

• Level 24 - 1 2nd level spell slot.
• Level 26 - 1 3rd level spell slot.
• Level 30 - 1 4th level spell slot.
• Level 32 - 1 5th level spell slot.
• Level 36 - 1 6th level spell slot.
• Level 38 - 1 6th & 1 7th level spell slot.
• Level 42 - 1 7th & 1 8th level spell slot.
• Level 44 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 48 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 50 - 1 9th level spell slot.

Magical Secrets:[edit]

• At level 26, you can learn four spells from any class. You can learn an additional four spells from any class at level 40.

Bardic Inspiration Improvement:[edit]

• At level 30, a creature who uses your bardic inspiration dice gains advantage on the rolls.
• Bardic inspiration increases to 1d20 at level 22, 2d12 at level 30, 2d20 at level 38, 3d12 at level 46, and 3d20 at level 50.

Cleric[edit]

Additional Spells and Spell Slots:[edit]

• You gain additional cantrips at level 21 (6) and level 45 (7).

Spell Slots

• Level 24 - 1 2nd level spell slot.
• Level 26 - 1 3rd level spell slot.
• Level 30 - 1 4th level spell slot.
• Level 32 - 1 5th level spell slot.
• Level 36 - 1 6th level spell slot.
• Level 38 - 1 6th & 1 7th level spell slot.
• Level 42 - 1 7th & 1 8th level spell slot.
• Level 44 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 48 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 50 - 1 9th level spell slot.

Extra Divinity Points:[edit]

• At level 22, you gain an extra divinity point to use per day, again another extra divinity point at level 30, a third extra point at 38, and a 4th extra at level 46.

Divine Intervention Increase:[edit]

• At level 26, after a long rest, roll 1d4 to determine the amount of divine interventions granted for the next 7 days.

Additional Domain:[edit]

• At level 30, select a domain other than the one you started with. You gain access to the spells granted by that domain. Choose a spell from each line of the domain's spell table.

Druid[edit]

Additional Spells and Spell Slots:[edit]

• You gain additional cantrips at level 21 (5) and level 45 (6).

Spell Slots

• Level 24 - 1 2nd level spell slot.
• Level 26 - 1 3rd level spell slot.
• Level 30 - 1 4th level spell slot.
• Level 32 - 1 5th level spell slot.
• Level 36 - 1 6th level spell slot.
• Level 38 - 1 6th & 1 7th level spell slot.
• Level 42 - 1 7th & 1 8th level spell slot.
• Level 44 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 48 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 50 - 1 9th level spell slot.

Plant and Beast Communication Improvement:[edit]

• At level 22, you can always communicate with beasts and plants.
• At level 30, all beasts and plants regard you as a god, either willingly serving or at the least, refusing to attack you.

Wild Shape Improvement:[edit]

• At level 26, the max CR of your wild shape increases by 1 (land = CR 2, moon = CR 9), it increases by 1 again every 3 levels. level 29: (land = CR 3, moon = CR 13), again at level 32 (land = CR 4, moon = CR 15), ecet,

Fighter[edit]

Additional Indomitable and Second Wind Charges:[edit]

• At level 22, you gain an additional charge of indomitable (4) and second wind. At level 32, you gain an additional charge of action surge (3) and second wind (3). At level 47, you gain an additional charge of action surge (4).

Strength and Dexterity Score Improvements:[edit]

• Starting at level 26 and each 4th level onward, your maximum for your Strength and Dexterity scores increase by 2, and each increases by 2.

Additional Extra Attacks:[edit]

• At level 30, you gain an additional extra attack (4). At level 40, you gain an additional extra attack (5). At level 50, you gain an additional extra attack (6).

Damage Immunities and Resistances:[edit]

• At level 38, you gain immunity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons.
• At level 42, you gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from magical weapons.
• At level 46, you gain immunity to three damage types of your choice.
• At level 50 choose one damage type you aren't resistant or immune from, you gain vulnerability to that damage, all other damage types you don’t already resist or immune, you gain resistance to those damage, all damage you resist before gaining this feature, you gain immunity to those damage, all immunes you have before gaining this feature, you gain absorption to those damage.

Monk[edit]

Martial Arts and Ki Point Increase[edit]

• At level 21, your martial arts die increases to 1d12, then 1d12 + 1d4 at level 29, 1d12 + 1d6 at level 33, 1d20 at level 37, and 1d20 + 1d4 at level 45
• Additionally at level 21, your maximum number of ki points is 21, and increase by 1 per monk level.

Perfect Self and Empty Body Improvement:[edit]

• At level 22, the effects of perfect self and empty body are doubled (the number of Ki points required isn't doubled). Additionally at level 46, the effects of perfect self and empty body are quadrupled (the number of Ki points required is doubled).

Movement Speed Increase:[edit]

• At level 24, Movement speed increases to 35 feet, and you can walk and stand on walls, ceilings, and liquid without falling. Your movement speed increases by an additional 5 feet every 4th level (level 28, 32 etc).
• Additionally at level 42, jumping distance is doubled, you can sprint using a bonus action, and your unarmed attacks reach increases by 5 feet.

Ki Point Improvement:[edit]

• At level 30, whenever you use an action that requires spending ki points, roll 1d4. If the result is a 3 or a 4, cut the ki cost of that action in half, rounding up. Additionally, at level 50 You have no max ki points and when recovering all ki from sleep you get ki = your old max multiplied by 2.

Paladin[edit]

Additional Spell Slots:[edit]

Spell Slots

• Level 22 - 1 2nd level spell slot.
• Level 30 - 1 3rd level spell slot.
• Level 34 - 1 4th level spell slot.
• Level 42 - 1 5th level spell slot.
• Level 50 - 1 5th level spell slot.

Aura of Protection Improvement:[edit]

• At level 22, the range of your auras of protection and courage increase to 100 feet.

Healing Aura Feature:[edit]

• At level 30, all friendly creatures within 30 feet of you are healed a number of hit points per minute equal to their Constitution modifier + their proficiency bonus (minimum 1). This feature does not heal you, and if a friendly creature leaves the range, the minute timer pauses for that creature until it re-enters your aura.

Sacred Oath Improvement:[edit]

• You can channel divinity up to three times before having to rest at level 30, four times at level 40 and five times at level 50.

Ranger[edit]

Additional Spells and Spell Slots:[edit]

• At level 21, you gain an additional spell. You gain one more spell every 2nd level (level 23, 25, 27 etc.).

Spell Slots

• Level 22 - 1 2nd level spell slot.
• Level 30 - 1 3rd level spell slot.
• Level 34 - 1 4th level spell slot.
• Level 42 - 1 5th level spell slot.
• Level 50 - 1 5th level spell slot.

Feral Senses Increase:[edit]

• At level 22, feral senses increase to 60 feet. At level 35, feral senses increases to 100 feet.

Hide in Plain Sight Improvement:[edit]

• At level 26, while camouflaged, you can move at half speed and remain camouflaged. At level 34, you can camouflage yourself using your whole turn (6 seconds) instead of 1 minute. At level 38, you can take either an action or a bonus action and stay camouflaged, but not both.

Dexterity Score Improvements:[edit]

• Starting at level 26 and each 4th level onward, your maximum for your Dexterity scores increase by 2, and your Dexterity score also increases by 2.

Favored Enemy or Natural Explorer Improvement:[edit]

• At level 30, choose either favored enemy or natural explorer. If you chose favored enemy, all known types of monsters (except for humanoids) are treated as favored enemies. If you chose natural explorer, all terrain types are treated as favored terrain. You gain the other choice at level 42.

Critical Strike[edit]

• At level 30, if you havent attacked yet this turn, you can focus on a single attack, and sacrifice your extra attack to choose to turn your attack into a critical hit once per long rest.

Rogue[edit]

Blindsense Increase:[edit]

• Your blindsense increases to 20 feet at level 22, 30 feet at level 30, 40 feet at level 35, 50 feet at level 40, and 60 feet at level 50.

Sneak Attack Increase:[edit]

• Your sneak attack die increases to 6d12 at level 23. It then increases by an additional d12 every 4th level (7d12 at level 27, 8d12 at level 31 etc.).

Stroke of Luck Improvement:[edit]

• You can use Stroke of luck twice per short or long rest at level 26, and three times a per short or long rest at level 40.
• At level 30, if you use the stroke of luck to turn a missed attack roll into a hit, you can treat it as a Sneak Attack.

Additional Expertise:[edit]

• At level 34 you can chose and additional 2 skills you have proficiency in or one skill and your proficiency in thieves tools and double your proficiency modifier, If you do not have any skills without expertise gain proficiency in a skill You gain another additional expertise at level 44

Sorcerer[edit]

Additional Spells and Spell Slots:[edit]

• At level 21, you gan an additional spell. You gain one more spell every 2nd level (level 23, 25, 27 etc.).
• You also gain additional cantrips at level 21 (7) and level 45 (8).

Spell Slots

• Level 24 - 1 2nd level spell slot.
• Level 26 - 1 3rd level spell slot.
• Level 30 - 1 4th level spell slot.
• Level 32 - 1 5th level spell slot.
• Level 36 - 1 6th level spell slot.
• Level 38 - 1 6th & 1 7th level spell slot.
• Level 42 - 1 7th & 1 8th level spell slot.
• Level 44 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 48 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 50 - 1 9th level spell slot.

Sorcery Point Improvement:[edit]

• At level 21, your maximum amount of sorcery points is equal to your sorcerer level.
• At level 26, when you roll for initiative, you regain half expended sorcery points (rounded up).

Sorcery Point Spell Slot Improvement:[edit]

• Additionally at level 21, you can now create 1st level spell slots for 2 points, 2nd level for 3 points, 3rd level for 4 points, 4th level for 5 points, 5th level for 6 points, 6th level for 7 points, 7th level for 8 points, 8th level for 9 points, and 9th level for 10 points.
• At level 50 you may now convert spell slots of lower level into higher ones. Example: converting two level one spell slots into one level 2 spell slot, the spell slots don't have to be of the same level and can work down or up, you can also convert something like a sixth level spell slot and a third level spell slot to a ninth level spell slot, or convert a ninth level spell slot into a sixth and a third, or a seventh and second, ect.

Warlock[edit]

Additional Spells and Spell Slots:[edit]

• At level 21, you gain an additional spell. You gain one more spell every 2nd level (level 23, 25, 27 etc.).
• You also gain additional cantrips at level 21 (5) and level 45 (6).
• You also gain additional Spell Slot at level 21 (5), 31 (6), 41 (7) and level 50 (8).

Eldritch Invocation Increase:[edit]

At level 21, the number of eldritch invocation you can know is increased by 4. This increases to 6 at level 30, 8 at level 40, and 10 at level 50.

Eldritch Master Increase:[edit]

• At level 26, you can use eldritch master twice between long rests.
• At level 30, when you use eldritch master, you also regain spells that you have cast through mystic arcanum.

Mystic Arcanum Increase:[edit]

• At level 40, double the amount of arcanum known at each spell level.

Wizard[edit]

Additional Spells and Spell Slots:[edit]

• You gain additional cantrips at level 21 (7) and level 45 (8).

Spell Slots

• Level 24 - 1 2nd level spell slot.
• Level 26 - 1 3rd level spell slot.
• Level 30 - 1 4th level spell slot.
• Level 32 - 1 5th level spell slot.
• Level 36 - 1 6th level spell slot.
• Level 38 - 1 6th & 1 7th level spell slot.
• Level 42 - 1 7th & 1 8th level spell slot.
• Level 44 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 48 - 1 8th & 1 9th level spell slot.
• Level 50 - 1 9th level spell slot.

Signiture Spell Improvement:[edit]

• At level 22, when you cast a signature spell, you can choose one of the following effects to add to it:
• - Halve the range, area of effect, or spell duration, and double the number of dice used and bonuses added.
• - Double the range, area of effect (if the spell has one), or spell duration, and halve the number of dice used and bonuses added(rounded up).
• - Your spell save DC = 8 + double your proficiency bonus + your spell attack bonus, and halve the dice used and bonuses added.
• - Your spell save DC = 8 + your spellcasting modifier, and double the dice used and bonuses added.

Arcane Tradition Increase:[edit]

• At level 30, select a second arcane tradition, gaining all the benefits therein.

Spell Mastery Increase:[edit]

• At level 36, you gain mastery over one 3rd and 4th level spell.

You could've just linked to the DanDwiki page, rather than reposting it

I am on a Chromebook 

but it is cool though. right?

Being on a Chromebook doesn't prevent you from copying a link from a webpage and posting it here in the forum. In fact, it'd be easier than copying the body of text.

Quote from Davedamon >>

Being on a Chromebook doesn't prevent you from copying a link from a webpage and posting it here in the forum. In fact, it'd be easier than copying the body of text.

And as for what you've posted, much like everything else on DanDwiki it's a hot mess of half-baked ideas

 I wasn’t gonna say anything, but I’m glad you did.

actually it works extremely well and is not a hot mess of half-baked ideas! I have been using it for a long time and created a campaign that goes from level 1-50!

Actually i don'T like the idea of multiclassing more or giving more class features as you go beyond 20...
i think between boons, feats and ASI i think beyond 20 is more then enough.
i mean... even with ASI being up to 30 and you putting 2 stats for the next 10 levels...
you still can only max out 1 stat to 30. thats still a long way and thats without you getting any boons or feats.

Okay, so while other people are using levels above 20 for their campaigns, you can just use the Epic Boons at your tables. The best of both worlds.

Quote from Wr4th >>

This might be off topic from what’s being discussed, or possibly a necro-post. But i may have an idea for this (and any staff reading this, feel free to pass it along to programmers). If they had a check toggle option in the home tab of the character builder to separate class level caps from the core 20 level limit system, that could work to let players exceed 20 levels.

Im not suggesting exceed 20 levels in a SOLITARY  class, but letting players go to level 20 in MULTIPLE classes at once as an optional feature for the character builder may offer some extra “epic” playability for parties that like more advanced encounters. It could even have an increased ASI cap to go to 30 thrown in as a bonus (call it “advanced multiclassing or something, lol).

I only suggested this because my GM is allowing our group to take more than 20 levels total for multiclassing in our campaign, so i think its more commonly done in more experienced groups, and a good feature that might be worth developing FOR those groups. Rather than have to write it all down on paper, it would be easier to manage it on beyond, where its all organized.

Im likely repeating whats already been said, its something likely not on the dev’s agenda, and I might just be wasting my breath here. However, if what i suggested is something that COULD solve the beyond level 20 dilemma, if even in a different way than epic boons, i place my vote in programming this in. It might just get more praise than expected lol.

Yeah Wr4th, your idea combined with their plans to implement the boon system would seem to go a long way to solving the Epic question for a lot of long-running campaigns, with seemingly little additional coding overhead required. Just remove the 20th character level limit and allow each class to individually advance to 20th level.

Not aimed at anyone in particular, but this whole business of 'well, this is what RAW allows, so we have to build it that way' is a pretty lame cop-out. This site should be providing tools to play the game that way we want to play it, not serving as some kind of half-assed enforcement tool for RAW. I just want a helpful tool to keep an accurate character record, handle the tedious calculations for me, and interface with VTT providers - not make judgements about my style of play.

If we were asking for a huge expenditure of coding expertise... Yeah, I get that. That's a legit business decision of whether DDB wants to expend dev resources toward addressing a feature request. This though... Come on, guys... How tough would it be to simply put a toggle on the character level limit? You've already got a page full of customization toggles on DDB.

Quote from DamakosAkmenos >>

actually it works extremely well and is not a hot mess of half-baked ideas! I have been using it for a long time and created a campaign that goes from level 1-50!

 maybe you like it. by all means continu to use it... but to me and probably davedamon per his post... i do think its only average an idea and concept.
i don't want to change much of the content and i definitely do not want to recreate the 3e feel of god like levels.


that said... if any of you guys are having enough of the experience system and still want something to give your players that resembles XP. i found a great solution to making a system much like shadowrun where you just create your own character with its own set of skills and abilities. its quite simple as it is. heres the rundown, but first a small explanation of shadowrun karma mechanics so you can understand better the idea i'm going for.

Karma
Rewards given to the players for accomplishing quests. it usually comes in pack of 5 points. each points can be used to buy the next level of advancement of one of the 6 stats. each stats gives off new abilities at certain thresholds. which helps create the character you want with the abilities you want.

now that said, such a system is easily redoable in d&d.
basically, each point you give the player can be used to buy levels in a certain classes. for exemple, to buy the level 1 of barbarian for the rage, you'd need only 1 point. to buy level 2 of barbarian, you'd only need 2 points. but mind you, just like in shadowrun, you first need to buy the previous levels in order to gain the ability. thus to buy the extra attack level 5 of barbarian, you'd need to buy level up to 5. which would cost you 1+2+3+4+5 = 15 points. so the grand total for a class going all the way up to 20 would be... 210 points. which if we divide by 5 points increment would requires one to accomplish 42 quests !

whats fun in this system, is that you are not limited to level 20 or levels at all. so one could potentially play his characters for ever and gain all 13 classes at level 20. but doing that would require tremendous amount of quests done. but yeah if my players want to go beyond level 20 in my next campaign, thats the system they'll be using. it won't be XP based. its gonna be Karma based !

I'm anxious on reaching lvl 30 on my wizard, just to select my secondary arcane tradition. If this sneakpeak Guide DamakosAkmenos has shown here is real, then let the fun begin.

My 1st Arcane Tradition is Evocation.... and my secondary would be or Conjuration ( for more attack spells ), or Abjuration ( to get a life saver ).

The rules shared by DamakosAkmenos are purely homebrew and not at all official or a 'sneak peak'

Having gone well be on 20th level in 1E/2E years ago, I like the idea of having the ability to do so, and some guidelines/structure.

But according to WOtC/DDB data, the vast majority of  people don't play beyond level 5, so it's just not worth the effort to create official rules. (This also explains why the majority of the best/most useful class features are front loaded at the lower levels)

Quote from Grunk999 >>

Having gone well be on 20th level in 1E/2E years ago, I like the idea of having the ability to do so, and some guidelines/structure.

But according to WOtC/DDB data, the vast majority of  people don't play beyond level 5, so it's just not worth the effort to create official rules. (This also explains why the majority of the best/most useful class features are front loaded at the lower levels)

 It's more like DMs won't play above level 11 because of how strong and game breaking spells are.
also the fact that that a very big minority in older editions were able to have a campaign going that long.
honestly, its the first time in 20 years that i was able to keep a campaign going for this long. then again, my first group disbanded after a year and half because of life. going 2 year long with my second group here which is the highest i ever gone with a group since i started 30 years ago.

reality is, people want a quick game, they don't want big campaign, and those who want big campaign are often unable to finish it because big campaigns last for years and not many groups can go at it that long. its not that people don'T want to, its that people just can't because of life. there is also the point that as soon as 1 person is missing, the DMs often just cancel the game out and after 3 or 4 cancels, the group usually disband all together. a problem i solved by simply doing a session even if i am missing people ! my friend sloves it, as long as there is one person wanting to play, i'm willing to DM for them.

people eher are looking at streams and are like, oh yeah i can't wait to play 5 years into that campaign. but reality is, no campaigns last for 5 years. those are streams, those are paid to play games. of course they can play all they want, they are paid for it. reality being, non-stream games rarely last more then a year without a hitch. best exemple of that would be us buying you a video game and hoping you'll play that game once a week for the next 5 years. without you not getting bored, without you knowing whats gonna happen, without you not caring about what your life is gonna throw at you. that is just not possible ! people move out of things in a matter of months, not years...

thats mainly why not much people go beyond level 5. that's how long they got before their group disbanded because of DMs not able to hold on groups, or players getting bored out of the game. and we're missing a ton of DMs because people feel like its a hard job to do and they don't want that kind of job. so finding a group is a really hard thing to do.

and before anybody tells me, there is the online experience...
let me break it to you all... the online experience is nothing next to a real game with people at the table.
there is no interactions in the online gaming and most people are doing something else on their computers as well as playing with you.
and it is disconcerting to say the least. there is a reason why critical role always refuses to do the online thing. they always play at the table together. or they don't play at all.

Quote from DnDPaladin >>

Quote from Grunk999 >>

Having gone well be on 20th level in 1E/2E years ago, I like the idea of having the ability to do so, and some guidelines/structure.

But according to WOtC/DDB data, the vast majority of  people don't play beyond level 5, so it's just not worth the effort to create official rules. (This also explains why the majority of the best/most useful class features are front loaded at the lower levels)

 It's more like DMs won't play above level 11 because of how strong and game breaking spells are.
also the fact that that a very big minority in older editions were able to have a campaign going that long.
honestly, its the first time in 20 years that i was able to keep a campaign going for this long. then again, my first group disbanded after a year and half because of life. going 2 year long with my second group here which is the highest i ever gone with a group since i started 30 years ago.

reality is, people want a quick game, they don't want big campaign, and those who want big campaign are often unable to finish it because big campaigns last for years and not many groups can go at it that long. its not that people don'T want to, its that people just can't because of life. there is also the point that as soon as 1 person is missing, the DMs often just cancel the game out and after 3 or 4 cancels, the group usually disband all together. a problem i solved by simply doing a session even if i am missing people ! my friend sloves it, as long as there is one person wanting to play, i'm willing to DM for them.

people eher are looking at streams and are like, oh yeah i can't wait to play 5 years into that campaign. but reality is, no campaigns last for 5 years. those are streams, those are paid to play games. of course they can play all they want, they are paid for it. reality being, non-stream games rarely last more then a year without a hitch. best exemple of that would be us buying you a video game and hoping you'll play that game once a week for the next 5 years. without you not getting bored, without you knowing whats gonna happen, without you not caring about what your life is gonna throw at you. that is just not possible ! people move out of things in a matter of months, not years...

thats mainly why not much people go beyond level 5. that's how long they got before their group disbanded because of DMs not able to hold on groups, or players getting bored out of the game. and we're missing a ton of DMs because people feel like its a hard job to do and they don't want that kind of job. so finding a group is a really hard thing to do.

and before anybody tells me, there is the online experience...
let me break it to you all... the online experience is nothing next to a real game with people at the table.
there is no interactions in the online gaming and most people are doing something else on their computers as well as playing with you.
and it is disconcerting to say the least. there is a reason why critical role always refuses to do the online thing. they always play at the table together. or they don't play at all.

 I agree with much of what you said. However, if I comment on specific points, we are likely to derail this thread. :)

I'm wondering if I could create an entire level 20 class within a sub-race. I know it would be complicated and arduous but is it technically impossible? If it is, then one could theoretically build a character up to level 40. 

Quote from JulioGouvea >>

[Snip] So whats up with people trying to use 5e system but trying to adapt their 2nd or 3rd ed characters? What about starting a campaign straight from level 30th? How about you start a campaign with your PC's playing GODS on a new universe, building up their races, clergies and followers, using the IMMORTALS book along with 3e and 4e INFO, but using the 5e system which is way simpler than previous editions? [Snip]

 There's nothing wrong with playing that way. As long as you understand that the tools provided by DDB are limited by what WotC (the game dev and publisher) will allow. That is why you can't make level 21+ characters here.