I'm still pretty new to Pathfinder/DnD 3.5. Just wondering, after 20th level (that's the max level, right?) Do you keep going past it or just ditch 'em and start a new character or what?
Feather, the answer to your question is one that is much debated with strong opinions on both sides.
Playing a new character is an equally valid option, and preferrable in my mind.
I'm assuming you're asking, "what is typical?" I don't know about typical -- depends on the group. Pathfinder doesn't really have good provisions for post-level 20, except for the upcoming Mythic Adventures, which technically doesn't exceed level 20, but that is semantic (as there is still a power increase, but not in the exact same way as, say, having a level 25 or higher character [if I understand the idea correctly]), and a potentially long discussion, so let's ignore that for now and assume the rules of D&D 3.5e are used for levels 21 and up (which I think is actually 3.0e carried into 3.5e? I dunno).
Our group plays a campaign, starting at low levels, and continues until we finish or get bored, when we move to a new campaign, and restart this process. We've done a couple freeform campaigns, e.g. level up when it makes sense, and have done a couple Pathfinder adventure paths. We find that going back to low levels helps both the GM and players adjust to new characters, and ease the transition when gaining levels.
If you play published Pathfinder adventure paths one at a time to completion, you'll start at 1, and get up to about 15-17, and be done, for each adventure path, and start back at 1 for the next one.
Some people, as I understand it, like making level 30 characters (I picked a number > 20 at random for this example) in D&D 3.5e and messing around with that stuff. I've never done that, but I can see the appeal. They may or may not start low. I imagine they don't start at too low a level, as that can take a long time.
I have no statistics, but this is what I perceive as what goes on.
Or multiclass. There's a lack of material for higher than 20 characters, but taking a class like Bard, Pathfinder CHronicler that advances their performance but not sepells, then another prc that advances their magic gives you Bard 10/Chronicler 10/Loremaster 10 and you cast as a Lv 20 bard, Perform as bard 20, and have the other goodies from the classes. not saying it's really a very good idea, but adds versatility, i guess
You could also take a look at the page for Little Red Goblin Games under Compatible Products. They have a line of products called "Legendary Levels" that can be used to take you from 20th to 30th level. Note that it was not designed with Mythic Adventures in mind, since as best I can tell nobody outside of Paizo has seen that material yet.
But you may want to hold off your decision until you have some experience actually playing in the high teens of levels -- at that point you can better decide whether you really want to continue beyond 20th level, or whether the game is starting to break down to the point that you would rather start over.
I have a game we've been playing for 10 years. The characters started at level 5 and are now at 23rd level. We use the 3.5 Epic Level Handbook, although we had to change the experience table to match the Pathfinder experience system.
You can always take a base class to 20 and then add a prestige or another base class. With the epic rules though it limits your max number of attacks to what your BAB at 20th level would give you, gives all classes the same BAB/save progression, caps spell progression at a class' 20th level spells and class abilities that have a regular progression continue to follow that progression. There are also a ton of epic feats to allow characters to do amazing things.
I had one game go beyond 20 but most of the games I have played in followed the model of "start a ne wcharacter at 1st, play until the campaign is over then start over again". Now having said that, understadn there have been campaign's go for real years and our characters got to the upper teen levels before we moved on.