Yes, if you have a V.A.L.U.E character already in tier 2, you can create new characters in tier 1 at level 4 (or start righht away in tier 2 at level 5 if someone DMs a tier 2 game)
it is true that with a level 5 PC, you can create a new level 1-5 PC,
but your friend should rather start at level 1, as everyone else did once
a reason for this rule is to ease new players into the game
no worry … a level 1 will be fine in a T1 game
(even @Arthilas started at level 1 long time ago, and when one of his PCs died, it def. was at higher level^^)
dms can balance encounters
that will probably be the reason, why your 4th level PC will aggro more of @SilentButDeadly’s monsters
don’t worry … she will be fine
P.S.: we did make only 1 or 2 exceptions to this rule in the past,
and this was only related to finding a table
(e.g. there is one player with only T1 characters, but only one table who plays T2)
but that’s about it
I would like to join T1 as a player (higher Tier possible if needed). Work will prevent me from joining at 1730, I will swing by at 1900-1920. It would be great if I could still join in at some point, however, I would also be content with listening in from the side lines