Originally Posted by
neonchameleon
Gygaxian D&D was designed quite intentionally in tiers. From levels 1-5 or so you were low rent sellswords with platoons of hirelings trying to keep the local critter population down. From levels 5-10 or so you were people with a rep for being able to fix problems that normal people (including hirelings) wouldn't dare - and the hirelings would just be one shotted if they tried going with you. And from level 9+ you were the movers and shakers of the land and got a keep, cathedral, or wizard's tower as a class feature