Reaching out for some guidance. I'm getting ready to host my first campaign as a DM. I have a pretty firm grasp on most of the basic DM responsibilities; enough to feel confident going into it. But, one thing I cannot seem to find a concrete answer on in any of the books I've read or forums is related to the XP system. I know HOW players earn XP points but my questions are:
1) What is the standard for how much XP is required for a player to reach the next level?
2) What is the standard for increasing a player's HP once they level up?
3) What is the standard for increasing ability scores once a player levels up?
Example 1: Let's say a player is level 3 and is currently sitting at 1500 XP (random number for argument sake). Where can I find how much XP the player needs to reach level 4?
Example 2: Let's say a player just reached level 4. How many more hit points did the player just earn toward their max HP? Which ability scores increase, and by how much?
Reaching out for some guidance. I'm getting ready to host my first campaign as a DM. I have a pretty firm grasp on most of the basic DM responsibilities; enough to feel confident going into it. But, one thing I cannot seem to find a concrete answer on in any of the books I've read or forums is related to the XP system. I know HOW players earn XP points but my questions are:
1) What is the standard for how much XP is required for a player to reach the next level?
2) What is the standard for increasing a player's HP once they level up?
3) What is the standard for increasing ability scores once a player levels up?
Example 1: Let's say a player is level 3 and is currently sitting at 1500 XP (random number for argument sake). Where can I find how much XP the player needs to reach level 4?
Example 2: Let's say a player just reached level 4. How many more hit points did the player just earn toward their max HP? Which ability scores increase, and by how much?
Your questions are all very basic and are explicitly answered in the Player's Handbook. Pro Tip: You should read the PHB before running a game.
1. In the 2014 PHB, that's in Chapter 1: Step-by-Step Characters -> Beyond 1st Level -> Character Advancement. In the 2024 PHB, that's Chapter 2: Creating a Character -> Level advancement. The numbers are the same both ways.
2. The short answer is that each class gains a hit die, the size of which is based on the individual class. The method depends on how the DM wants to run things. Some DM's let players take the average - half the maximum value on the die rounded down. Other DM's have players roll the hit die and take the number which comes up (Matt Mercer does this, but lets players re-roll 1's). Then the player's Constitution modifier is added.
3. Ability scores are not gained on every level. They are optionally increased whenever a player takes a level in a class which has the Ability Score Improvement feature for that level. The Ability Score Improvement is two points for the player to distribute, either one in two abilities, or two points into one ability. A player can also take a Feat instead of an ASI which in 2014 sometimes has an ability score increase baked in, and in 2024 rules it always has an ASI baked in.
Example 1: Level 3 is reached at 900 XP. Level 4 is reached at 2700 XP. The player with 1500 XP would need to gain 1200 XP to level up.
Example 2: The hit points answer is going to depend on the player's class. The ASI answer is going to depend on what ASI or Feat they take. This question doesn't really make a lot of sense to ask in a vacuum, it is not going to have one answer for every character. Once again, read the PHB. If you already have read it, read it again, slower and more carefully.
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Hello,
Reaching out for some guidance. I'm getting ready to host my first campaign as a DM. I have a pretty firm grasp on most of the basic DM responsibilities; enough to feel confident going into it. But, one thing I cannot seem to find a concrete answer on in any of the books I've read or forums is related to the XP system. I know HOW players earn XP points but my questions are:
1) What is the standard for how much XP is required for a player to reach the next level?
2) What is the standard for increasing a player's HP once they level up?
3) What is the standard for increasing ability scores once a player levels up?
Example 1: Let's say a player is level 3 and is currently sitting at 1500 XP (random number for argument sake). Where can I find how much XP the player needs to reach level 4?
Example 2: Let's say a player just reached level 4. How many more hit points did the player just earn toward their max HP? Which ability scores increase, and by how much?
I was about to answer, but I saw your question was already answered here: New DM trying to understand the XP system - Rules & Game Mechanics
No worries. I wasn't sure which forum category to put this is in. Thanks anyway.
Your questions are all very basic and are explicitly answered in the Player's Handbook. Pro Tip: You should read the PHB before running a game.
1. In the 2014 PHB, that's in Chapter 1: Step-by-Step Characters -> Beyond 1st Level -> Character Advancement. In the 2024 PHB, that's Chapter 2: Creating a Character -> Level advancement. The numbers are the same both ways.
2. The short answer is that each class gains a hit die, the size of which is based on the individual class. The method depends on how the DM wants to run things. Some DM's let players take the average - half the maximum value on the die rounded down. Other DM's have players roll the hit die and take the number which comes up (Matt Mercer does this, but lets players re-roll 1's). Then the player's Constitution modifier is added.
3. Ability scores are not gained on every level. They are optionally increased whenever a player takes a level in a class which has the Ability Score Improvement feature for that level. The Ability Score Improvement is two points for the player to distribute, either one in two abilities, or two points into one ability. A player can also take a Feat instead of an ASI which in 2014 sometimes has an ability score increase baked in, and in 2024 rules it always has an ASI baked in.
Example 1: Level 3 is reached at 900 XP. Level 4 is reached at 2700 XP. The player with 1500 XP would need to gain 1200 XP to level up.
Example 2: The hit points answer is going to depend on the player's class. The ASI answer is going to depend on what ASI or Feat they take. This question doesn't really make a lot of sense to ask in a vacuum, it is not going to have one answer for every character. Once again, read the PHB. If you already have read it, read it again, slower and more carefully.