Trial of the Beast - How to handle deductions (Spoilers)

[Karui Kage]

I'm about to run this chapter for my Carrion Crown group and am a bit perplexed on how to handle the deductions. It seems like a lot of the experience is based on the deductions that the PCs come up with, but I'm not sure how best to award the XP. Do I secretly award XP when someone suggests the right deduction? Do I tell them they made a correct deduction? It seems like that would give some of the plot away. If the players just start guessing things and one of them happens to get the right deduction, do I award XP?

Anyone who's gone through this, how did you handle it? Any ideas you could toss my way would be great :)

[Helaman]

Karui Kage wrote:

I'm about to run this chapter for my Carrion Crown group and am a bit perplexed on how to handle the deductions. It seems like a lot of the experience is based on the deductions that the PCs come up with, but I'm not sure how best to award the XP. Do I secretly award XP when someone suggests the right deduction? Do I tell them they made a correct deduction? It seems like that would give some of the plot away. If the players just start guessing things and one of them happens to get the right deduction, do I award XP?

Anyone who's gone through this, how did you handle it? Any ideas you could toss my way would be great :)

RPGMP3.com has a carrion crown recorded game (check their forums under fashionista gamers). The GM asked them to confirm what they think the conclusion is, and then telling them they raised XP on one or two occassions. The play style is light and loose so it fits that game... it doesnt necessarily help them to "know" they are "right" as it doesnt matter worth a cuss what the players "know" - its what they can prove in trial...

If you wanted something less metagamey-obvious you can tell PCs that they get XP for their investigations and for telling you their conclusions.