It is (or at least can be) a non-combat encounter of some potential difficulty, like with a tough crowd, so why not? And how would you judge how much xp they would get? Would crowd size matter if you're doing the same set? Would the bard have to develop an act of some sort, or would developing a set give them some kind of advantage? Would other classes be able to benefit from these rules, like someone with high Sleight of hand doing stage magic, or acrobatics to do, well, acrobatics?
This is one of those things that entirely depends on circumstance.
If the bard is just deciding to put on a performance, then perhaps some gp, but not any xp would be relevant as a reward - at least not unless you'd also be giving fighters experience for the player saying "I train."
But if something important rests upon the quality of the performance (by "important" I mean that it is relevant to the tale being told through game-play, and everyone cares that it goes well not just the bard/bard's player) then it can certainly be considered an encounter and given an xp reward as a result.
As for judging how much xp to give, that also depends on circumstance, but I lean towards handing out a reward as large as you'd set up a combat encounter for to prevent the players from feeling like "We get violent instead" would have been a more rewarding choice to make.
In a general sense, though, I think xp should be handed out for overcoming obstacles between the characters and achieving their goals - not for things that can be set up arbitrarily by the players in such a way that they are effectively saying "I gain xp." by having their character do some particular thing.
Depend on the design of the campaign. If with a skill check or a series of skill check you do something significant to advance the plot, the DM could reward with some xp.
As for judging how much xp to give, that also depends on circumstance, but I lean towards handing out a reward as large as you'd set up a combat encounter for to prevent the players from feeling like "We get violent instead" would have been a more rewarding choice to make.
Preach it, brother.
Basically What Aaron said, but to me it will also depend on the risk involved. If you fail to please the <insert person of power>, will you lose items? Be attacked in a terrible position? Forced out of the area? If so, then the players can have more xp for their non-combat victory.
Did the performance progress the storyline/plot in some way? Was there a real chance of failure, with negative consequences attached to that failure (besides "I try again")? If yes to both, I'd give a story award as if the party just won a combat encounter of a similar difficulty level using the chart on DMG p82. Generally the performance would likely be of easy or medium difficulty if compared to a combat encounter, but it could be higher if there's a risk of death or other serious consequence on failure.
As a DM of a group that loves good RP, I grant XP rewards for all RPing, and if there's a check involved, like a performance skill check or a charisma check of another kind for a hard, I definitely award XP
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It is (or at least can be) a non-combat encounter of some potential difficulty, like with a tough crowd, so why not? And how would you judge how much xp they would get? Would crowd size matter if you're doing the same set? Would the bard have to develop an act of some sort, or would developing a set give them some kind of advantage? Would other classes be able to benefit from these rules, like someone with high Sleight of hand doing stage magic, or acrobatics to do, well, acrobatics?
This is one of those things that entirely depends on circumstance.
If the bard is just deciding to put on a performance, then perhaps some gp, but not any xp would be relevant as a reward - at least not unless you'd also be giving fighters experience for the player saying "I train."
But if something important rests upon the quality of the performance (by "important" I mean that it is relevant to the tale being told through game-play, and everyone cares that it goes well not just the bard/bard's player) then it can certainly be considered an encounter and given an xp reward as a result.
As for judging how much xp to give, that also depends on circumstance, but I lean towards handing out a reward as large as you'd set up a combat encounter for to prevent the players from feeling like "We get violent instead" would have been a more rewarding choice to make.
In a general sense, though, I think xp should be handed out for overcoming obstacles between the characters and achieving their goals - not for things that can be set up arbitrarily by the players in such a way that they are effectively saying "I gain xp." by having their character do some particular thing.
Depend on the design of the campaign. If with a skill check or a series of skill check you do something significant to advance the plot, the DM could reward with some xp.
Basically What Aaron said, but to me it will also depend on the risk involved. If you fail to please the <insert person of power>, will you lose items? Be attacked in a terrible position? Forced out of the area? If so, then the players can have more xp for their non-combat victory.
xp = achievement x risk
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Did the performance progress the storyline/plot in some way? Was there a real chance of failure, with negative consequences attached to that failure (besides "I try again")? If yes to both, I'd give a story award as if the party just won a combat encounter of a similar difficulty level using the chart on DMG p82. Generally the performance would likely be of easy or medium difficulty if compared to a combat encounter, but it could be higher if there's a risk of death or other serious consequence on failure.
As a DM of a group that loves good RP, I grant XP rewards for all RPing, and if there's a check involved, like a performance skill check or a charisma check of another kind for a hard, I definitely award XP
it could be worse, you could be on fire.