A question about Adventure path Rewards

[Kriegsmann55]

I recently stepped into the experience of running an Adventure Path, namely Kingmaker and while usually my only experience DM'ing has been generally just making up an adventure as the PC's go along, I've done little with pre-built adventures let alone rewards for it.

My query is rather simple, I've noticed in the first book of the adventure path that the rewards, be they of EXP or of monetary/item value tends to be made in such a way that it's almost expected to be split amongst four people, is that intentional or can the same rewards be viable for larger groups of characters? I for example currently have five people in my group with the potential for a sixth or even seventh member, so would splitting the EXP gained from exploring a hex (100xp) or finishing a quest line (400 extra) as well as other monetary rewards scale appropriately for larger groups, or would a person need to alter these figures?

[King of Vrock]

The assumption is for a party of four, so you will have to adjust the rewards a bit. You'll have to adjust encounters as well. Thats the burden of running large groups.

--Vrock the house

[ThornDJL7]

Even when running larger groups through pre-mades. I have never found an issue with loot. Sure they're not getting as much loot as if the adventure was prepared for 5 people, but the adventure was designed for 4 to begin with so actually tends to keep them more in line with a 4 party adventure by lack of enough loot to spread around.

Also, do dragons go out of their way to increase the size of their horde when told they'll be eating 5 adventurers versus their previous assumption of 4?

[Steel_Wind]

I would note that the experience point column in the core rule book permits a GM to award the same individual experience points to each member of a party of five as it does to a party of four for slaying the exact same monster.

I would pursue the same approach with quest rewards in Kingmaker.

Should the party go to six members, increase the foes by 50% and the rewards on a similar basis. Carry on.

So why does a party of five get the same XP as a party of four for killing the same critter? Because it's just a LOT less work for the GM and in many cases - and usually most -- there won't be a significant difference experienced at the table. The rounds taken to complete a combat are the same and average damage inflicted per character isn't that different.

Every group is different of course. If you find yourself having to habitually increase the difficulty of the monsters, divide the XP by five instead of four, increase the combat lethality as required and carry on.

[Troubleshooter]

Hmmm. Are the rewards for exploration and quest completion also divided among the party? I thought those rewards were given to the whole party undivided. IE, each member gets 100xp for exploring a hex in a six-man party, just like each member gets 100xp in a four-man party.

[jtokay]

Troubleshooter wrote:

Hmmm. Are the rewards for exploration and quest completion also divided among the party? I thought those rewards were given to the whole party undivided. IE, each member gets 100xp for exploring a hex in a six-man party, just like each member gets 100xp in a four-man party.

All exp rewards, including quest completion and exploration, are intended to be split amongst the party.