I'm new to posting here, but I wanted to share something that's been really helpful in my own games. I've been running campaigns for a while now, and one thing I've always done is reward my players with experience points specifically for good roleplaying. I know it's not strictly in the core Rules as Written, but I've found it really encourages them to lean into their characters and the story.
For me, it's all about that positive reinforcement. The more they get into their character, make decisions based on their personality, or contribute to the narrative through roleplay, the more XP they get. I aim for about 20% of their total XP coming from excellent roleplaying. What's cool is that even those more reluctant players, over time, see their friends getting rewarded and slowly come out of their shells and start to get into it themselves. It also helps them level up a bit faster, which always makes players happy!
To make this easy on myself, I actually built a little web app. I basically wanted an "XP cash register" for roleplaying, something that made it super simple to track these bonus points without slowing down the game, and without arguing about how much. It breaks down different levels of roleplaying into granular amounts, each with a set value. Each character has their own column, and with my laptop by my side it's just a quick tap of a button to assign them XP. It keeps a running total throughout the session or campaign, so it's really easy to see their progress. and the best part is that the set values scale automatically with the character level, so the amount is always meaningful. Plus you can also use it to put in bulk XP for combat or milestones, and it'll distribute that among whichever characters you select.
A few of my players mentioned I should put it online for other DMs, so I've done just that. It's completely free to use (unless my server gets overwhelmed, LOL), and if you're interested, you can check it out here: https://parliamentar.net/rpxp/
I'm really interested to know (for those DMs who like to give roleplaying XP) whether this specific tool is helpful for you in your games. Any thoughts or feedback on the tracker itself are definetly welcome!
I do tend to give our xp for good rp, and for all kinds of reasons. I wouldn’t use this, however for two reasons. One is that I give that xp out to the group, because I want everyone at the same level, so giving it out character by character isn’t something I’d need. The second is I don’t really have a hard time remembering what happened in session when I sit down and tally up the xp.
I recommend giving Inspiration as a reward for good roleplaying, rather than XP, as it avoids the campaign issues that occur when the PCs get out of sync.
I do tend to give our xp for good rp, and for all kinds of reasons. I wouldn’t use this, however for two reasons. One is that I give that xp out to the group, because I want everyone at the same level, so giving it out character by character isn’t something I’d need. The second is I don’t really have a hard time remembering what happened in session when I sit down and tally up the xp.
Hey Xalthu,
There is a bulk distributor at the bottom of the tool to give XP to everybody equally. But yes, if that's all you do then this tool certainly isn't for you. Personally I don't mind if everyone's at different levels. If they get out of sync with each other it just makes it more interesting.
I'm curious if you meant that you give the regular combat or milestone XP to everybody as one usually would, or did you mean that you give role playing XP to everybody. Roleplay XP is what this tool was intended for. Like if one particular character does does an amazing performance, uses his skills and abilities, and brings his background to bear to roleplay convincing some evil tyrant to let the party go free, do you award XP for that performance not to that player, but to everybody? Even the lump at the end of the table who spent most of the game doodling in his notebook, unaware of even who's turn it was? I'm assuming it means that you just don't give role playing RP, which is totally fine 👍. This tool is definitely meant for those who do.
I recommend giving Inspiration as a reward for good roleplaying, rather than XP, as it avoids the campaign issues that occur when the PCs get out of sync.
Hi Pantagruel666,
You and Xalthu both kind of said something similar, that you want your PCs to to remain at the same level as each other. I don't mind at all if my players are at different levels. In fact, in some ways, I prefer it. Even encourage it.
In addition to bestowing experience points to people who roleplay their character the best, while those who do little get nothing, I also encourage solo modules between group sessions. If one of the characters has a piece of backstory they want to explore (rescue their lost parents, revenge their clan, or simply have a really sweet piece of magic they want to go after) that doesn't interest the rest of the group, I will one 100% play that as a solo module for them. Partly for the same reason that I also like doing split modules as well (taking half the party one route and then the other half a different route, and then having them meet up in the middle), because it encourages them to then tell their stories to the other members, and in relaying their stories, the stories become real to them.
Now if a couple of my characters are great role-players, get super involved with their history and their personality, play their abilities in a realistic-to-the-character way, and in addition, want to do a solo module every once in a while between stories (chase down that magic armor they've been drooling over for a long time), it's very possible that some characters might find themselves at level 15 while the less ambitious players are languishing at level 9 and 10.
But that's fine with me.
Such is life.
They might be encouraged to catch up, become better players themselves. Or they simply won't, and they will end up dying in a fight that is way over their heads because they did not keep up with their fellow party mates. But this adds realism to the story, consequences to complacency. There are no "participation awards" in my gaming sessions, LOL.
Hey fellow DMs,
I'm new to posting here, but I wanted to share something that's been really helpful in my own games. I've been running campaigns for a while now, and one thing I've always done is reward my players with experience points specifically for good roleplaying. I know it's not strictly in the core Rules as Written, but I've found it really encourages them to lean into their characters and the story.
For me, it's all about that positive reinforcement. The more they get into their character, make decisions based on their personality, or contribute to the narrative through roleplay, the more XP they get. I aim for about 20% of their total XP coming from excellent roleplaying. What's cool is that even those more reluctant players, over time, see their friends getting rewarded and slowly come out of their shells and start to get into it themselves. It also helps them level up a bit faster, which always makes players happy!
To make this easy on myself, I actually built a little web app. I basically wanted an "XP cash register" for roleplaying, something that made it super simple to track these bonus points without slowing down the game, and without arguing about how much. It breaks down different levels of roleplaying into granular amounts, each with a set value. Each character has their own column, and with my laptop by my side it's just a quick tap of a button to assign them XP. It keeps a running total throughout the session or campaign, so it's really easy to see their progress. and the best part is that the set values scale automatically with the character level, so the amount is always meaningful. Plus you can also use it to put in bulk XP for combat or milestones, and it'll distribute that among whichever characters you select.
A few of my players mentioned I should put it online for other DMs, so I've done just that. It's completely free to use (unless my server gets overwhelmed, LOL), and if you're interested, you can check it out here: https://parliamentar.net/rpxp/
I'm really interested to know (for those DMs who like to give roleplaying XP) whether this specific tool is helpful for you in your games. Any thoughts or feedback on the tracker itself are definetly welcome!
I do tend to give our xp for good rp, and for all kinds of reasons. I wouldn’t use this, however for two reasons. One is that I give that xp out to the group, because I want everyone at the same level, so giving it out character by character isn’t something I’d need. The second is I don’t really have a hard time remembering what happened in session when I sit down and tally up the xp.
I recommend giving Inspiration as a reward for good roleplaying, rather than XP, as it avoids the campaign issues that occur when the PCs get out of sync.
This is a nice tool, great for all types of XP tracking, and you can award party Experience evenly ..
Bravo
Hey Xalthu,
There is a bulk distributor at the bottom of the tool to give XP to everybody equally. But yes, if that's all you do then this tool certainly isn't for you. Personally I don't mind if everyone's at different levels. If they get out of sync with each other it just makes it more interesting.
I'm curious if you meant that you give the regular combat or milestone XP to everybody as one usually would, or did you mean that you give role playing XP to everybody. Roleplay XP is what this tool was intended for. Like if one particular character does does an amazing performance, uses his skills and abilities, and brings his background to bear to roleplay convincing some evil tyrant to let the party go free, do you award XP for that performance not to that player, but to everybody? Even the lump at the end of the table who spent most of the game doodling in his notebook, unaware of even who's turn it was? I'm assuming it means that you just don't give role playing RP, which is totally fine 👍. This tool is definitely meant for those who do.
Hi Pantagruel666,
You and Xalthu both kind of said something similar, that you want your PCs to to remain at the same level as each other. I don't mind at all if my players are at different levels. In fact, in some ways, I prefer it. Even encourage it.
In addition to bestowing experience points to people who roleplay their character the best, while those who do little get nothing, I also encourage solo modules between group sessions. If one of the characters has a piece of backstory they want to explore (rescue their lost parents, revenge their clan, or simply have a really sweet piece of magic they want to go after) that doesn't interest the rest of the group, I will one 100% play that as a solo module for them. Partly for the same reason that I also like doing split modules as well (taking half the party one route and then the other half a different route, and then having them meet up in the middle), because it encourages them to then tell their stories to the other members, and in relaying their stories, the stories become real to them.
Now if a couple of my characters are great role-players, get super involved with their history and their personality, play their abilities in a realistic-to-the-character way, and in addition, want to do a solo module every once in a while between stories (chase down that magic armor they've been drooling over for a long time), it's very possible that some characters might find themselves at level 15 while the less ambitious players are languishing at level 9 and 10.
But that's fine with me.
Such is life.
They might be encouraged to catch up, become better players themselves. Or they simply won't, and they will end up dying in a fight that is way over their heads because they did not keep up with their fellow party mates. But this adds realism to the story, consequences to complacency. There are no "participation awards" in my gaming sessions, LOL.
Thanks Russtheall
I hope you get good use out of it!