so I tried to change Level 4 of the first list to “start at 1”
I think you have not understood the concept of list in Writer. Every item (paragraph) in a list has two properties: its level and its rank.
The level is defined by the count of Tab characters at head of the paragraph: 0 for level 1, 1 for level 2, etc. This is part of the device to build multi-level lists like:
1. Item 1 at level 1
1.1. Item 1 at level 2
1.2. Item 2 at level 2
2. Item 2 at level 1
2.1. Item 3 at level 2
The rank is the ordinal number of the item in the order of appearance (you can count it globally or per level).
You change the level by varying the count of Tabs at head of item, but since these characters are rather “virtual”, “removing” one is done with Shift+Tab (instead of the usual Bksp).
Characteristics of the numbering and indents are set in Tools>Bullets & Numbering.
A list is a combination of a paragraph style and a list style. The latter is rather a misnomer because it defines a counter and cannot create a list on its own; it must be applied to a paragraph (as you do when you press a toolbar button, applying a default list style).
Resetting the rank means you must interact with the counter. This is not a formatting option in Options tab of the list style. Here Start at defines the starting number for the level. Imagine I set it at 5 for levels 1 and 10 for level 2. The above list would display as:
5. Item 1 at level 1
5.10. Item 1 at level 2
5.11. Item 2 at level 2
6. Item 2 at level 1
6.10. Item 3 at level 2
Restarting number to the initial value of the counter is done with Format>Lists>Restart numbering. Note that it does not read “restart at 1”. It will restart at the value set in the Options tab for that level. This is what happens automatically when level is incremented between two consecutive items.
For best results in lists, customise the various List n or Numbering n (after associating them with a list style) or create your own styles. Don’t use toolbar buttons which are akin to direct formatting. Direct formatting will always play nasty tricks on your back.
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