I've always hated Experience Points and I try to avoid it if I can. My current gaming group I DM for prefers XP.
When awarding XP for being victorious over an encounter, do I:
award the base XP for the creatures defeated (i.e. 200 XP x4 Dire Wolves = 800 XP), divided by the number of players, or
award the adjusted XP multiplied for by the modifier for multiple creatures, i.e. 200 XP x4 Dire Wolves, x2 multiplier for having between 3 and 6 opponents = 1,600 XP?
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I am a Canadian Dungeon Master, which means I reflexively apologize when the monsters score a critical hit on the players' characters.
I think the first option. The DMG says "For example, if an encounter includes four monsters worth a total of 500 XP, you would multiply the total XP of the monsters by 2, for an adjusted value of 1,000 XP. This adjusted value is not what the monsters are worth in terms of XP; the adjusted value’s only purpose is to help you accurately assess the encounter’s difficulty."
That said, LOTS of people give out XP in non-standard ways, so your mileage may vary.
You could always fake it. Decide they are going to level up when the story hits a certain point, it will take x encounters session to get there, and dribble out about 1/x of the xp they need per encounter. If they complain about the numbers being similar, say they got more (or fewer) story/RP points that session. I realize this is effectively lying to your group, but it saves you time doing math (which you can spend making cooler adventures) and still give them the sense of progress they get from being awarded XP.
If you do give it for defeating monsters, I always try to have a more liberal definition of defeat, including sneaking past, or talking their way out of the fight. It can cut down on murder hobo PC's deciding everything is just a walking bag of XP they need to break open.
As I've been handing out XP based on the opponents' XP value, and not adding the multi-monster multiplier before doling it out, then I've been handing it out correctly. Thanks, everyone!
I am aware that "successful resolution of the encounter" does not always equal "kill everything."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I am a Canadian Dungeon Master, which means I reflexively apologize when the monsters score a critical hit on the players' characters.
As I've been handing out XP based on the opponents' XP value, and not adding the multi-monster multiplier before doling it out, then I've been handing it out correctly. Thanks, everyone!
I am aware that "successful resolution of the encounter" does not always equal "kill everything."
You've been doing it "by the book", which is not the same as "correctly". "Correctly" is whatever works for your group.
I've always found that that results in less XP than appropriate, since a tougher encounter should award more XP, so I tend to use the adjusted XP, and often fudge it and/or round it out, depending on how tough the encounter actually was.
As I've been handing out XP based on the opponents' XP value, and not adding the multi-monster multiplier before doling it out, then I've been handing it out correctly. Thanks, everyone!
I am aware that "successful resolution of the encounter" does not always equal "kill everything."
You've been doing it "by the book", which is not the same as "correctly". "Correctly" is whatever works for your group.
I've always found that that results in less XP than appropriate, since a tougher encounter should award more XP, so I tend to use the adjusted XP, and often fudge it and/or round it out, depending on how tough the encounter actually was.
Not a bad idea, but this is the rules and game mechanics forum, so "by the book" is the appropriate answer.
As I've been handing out XP based on the opponents' XP value, and not adding the multi-monster multiplier before doling it out, then I've been handing it out correctly. Thanks, everyone!
I am aware that "successful resolution of the encounter" does not always equal "kill everything."
You've been doing it "by the book", which is not the same as "correctly". "Correctly" is whatever works for your group.
I've always found that that results in less XP than appropriate, since a tougher encounter should award more XP, so I tend to use the adjusted XP, and often fudge it and/or round it out, depending on how tough the encounter actually was.
Not a bad idea, but this is the rules and game mechanics forum, so "by the book" is the appropriate answer.
Oops, you're right. I'd been browsing other forums and got confused, thanks. =)
You've been doing it "by the book", which is not the same as "correctly". "Correctly" is whatever works for your group.
I've always found that that results in less XP than appropriate, since a tougher encounter should award more XP, so I tend to use the adjusted XP, and often fudge it and/or round it out, depending on how tough the encounter actually was.
Oh, I agree on all points, quite muchly.
I often do grant more XP for particularly brilliant resolutions or heavy RP sessions. But, unlike gold, magic, lands, titles, divine favour, and minions, once I give out XP I can't really take it back from the PC. I don't want to give out too much in one go, but I also don't want to be too stingy. Hence why I asked... I had this nagging feeling.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I am a Canadian Dungeon Master, which means I reflexively apologize when the monsters score a critical hit on the players' characters.
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I've always hated Experience Points and I try to avoid it if I can. My current gaming group I DM for prefers XP.
When awarding XP for being victorious over an encounter, do I:
I am a Canadian Dungeon Master, which means I reflexively apologize when the monsters score a critical hit on the players' characters.
I think the first option. The DMG says "For example, if an encounter includes four monsters worth a total of 500 XP, you would multiply the total XP of the monsters by 2, for an adjusted value of 1,000 XP. This adjusted value is not what the monsters are worth in terms of XP; the adjusted value’s only purpose is to help you accurately assess the encounter’s difficulty."
That said, LOTS of people give out XP in non-standard ways, so your mileage may vary.
The mulitplier is only for determining difficulty.
It is the total experience of monsters (whether killed, captured, or chased off) divided by the number of players.
You could always fake it. Decide they are going to level up when the story hits a certain point, it will take x encounters session to get there, and dribble out about 1/x of the xp they need per encounter. If they complain about the numbers being similar, say they got more (or fewer) story/RP points that session. I realize this is effectively lying to your group, but it saves you time doing math (which you can spend making cooler adventures) and still give them the sense of progress they get from being awarded XP.
If you do give it for defeating monsters, I always try to have a more liberal definition of defeat, including sneaking past, or talking their way out of the fight. It can cut down on murder hobo PC's deciding everything is just a walking bag of XP they need to break open.
I am a Canadian Dungeon Master, which means I reflexively apologize when the monsters score a critical hit on the players' characters.
You've been doing it "by the book", which is not the same as "correctly". "Correctly" is whatever works for your group.
I've always found that that results in less XP than appropriate, since a tougher encounter should award more XP, so I tend to use the adjusted XP, and often fudge it and/or round it out, depending on how tough the encounter actually was.
Not a bad idea, but this is the rules and game mechanics forum, so "by the book" is the appropriate answer.
Oops, you're right. I'd been browsing other forums and got confused, thanks. =)
Oh, I agree on all points, quite muchly.
I often do grant more XP for particularly brilliant resolutions or heavy RP sessions. But, unlike gold, magic, lands, titles, divine favour, and minions, once I give out XP I can't really take it back from the PC. I don't want to give out too much in one go, but I also don't want to be too stingy. Hence why I asked... I had this nagging feeling.
I am a Canadian Dungeon Master, which means I reflexively apologize when the monsters score a critical hit on the players' characters.