Level measures a character?s advancement and relative amount of power. A 1st-level character, for example, isn?t as powerful as a 5th- level character.
Characters generally begin play at 1st level and attain addisinal levels as they complete adventures. Attaining a new level provides a character with improvements to important statistics, such as base attack bonuses, number of attacks, saving throws, bonuses to Defense, and vitality points.