I'm currently GMing a group of friends through Howl of the Carrion King. I need some advice as they near the end of that adventure.
My party of five 5th-level characters overcame a combat encounter last week with significant help from allied NPCs (a 3rd-level fighter, a 3rd-level bard, and seven 2nd-level warriors). Later this week, they will have significant NPC help in combat again when they enter a short dungeon (the same 3rd-level bard, a new 4th-level fighter, and a 4th-level cleric).
I would like recommendations on how I should adjust the XP awards for combat encounters when my PCs get help from allied NPCs. Keep in mind these are neither followers or cohorts gained via the Leadership feat, just NPCs willing to fight alongside the PCs for story reasons.
Should I just award XP as if the encounter was one or two CR lower? Should I give the NPCs a share of the experience, thereby reducing the portion the PCs get? Should I refrain from reducing the XP award at all? Another option not listed here?
Just giving the NPCs a cut should be sufficient, even if you don't track it and never level the NPCs up. It's the simplest and most reasonable route, particularly if you're using an XP calculator.
I always give the PCs the full experience, since ultimately it is my decision whether or not there is an NPC aiding the party.
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In general I don't deduct XP from what I award the players in a situation like this unless the NPC was instrumental in defeating the obstacle (and I try not to let that happen; the story is supposed to be about the PCs, after all).
NPC clerics are the worst to judge. In many cases, the PCs rely on their healing to keep them up and running so without the NPC they likely won't survive. Yet without the cleric, the PCs likely wouldn't have pushed onward quite so hard either...
In the end, I'm going to give the NPCs in my CotCT campaign a single share of the XP split between them. Not enough to take a huge dent out of what the PCs are getting, but enough to "reward them" for their actions in combat. (So far the NPCs have stayed out of combat, preferring to be "advisers", but that may change in next week's session.)