Is there a limit to amount of xp a character can earn in a session?

[packerfanjeff]

situation: A couple characters were 1000 XP from next level.

Our medium level party had a LONG session and got lucky on a couple of fights (we were within 2HP of a TPK...but won).

Those couple characters (mentioned above) will be earning enough XP to push them all the way through next level and potentially into the next level. Yes - we were lucky on this fight for sure. But by being victorious (medium advancement table), none the less, this happened.

OK - so in 1st edition, you could get within 1 XP of the following level and all additional XP was lost.

I don't see any such rule in PF. Does that mean that a 10th level char (1000 xp from 11th) could become 12th from this session? (again - ignore comments about how it's possible to have gotten that much XP etc etc).

Jeff

[MendedWall12]

This is ultimately the decision of the GM, but there are no specific rules (that I know of) that preclude you from going up two levels if the experience from one session allows it. In fact I've had that happen, on occasion, to players at lower levels.

[Ciaran Barnes]

Agreed. It has happened in groups I've playing in or run, but it was years and years ago. I mix in more rp and exploration now.

I don't believe I ever disallowed the characters the xp.

[Dekalinder]

Once i got 3 level up in a single fight. That's whats happen if you follow RAW in 3.5.

[Bobson]

As Mended said, it's entirely up to the GM. (Unless you're in a PFS game, but then you don't use standard XP anyway.)

If the GM wants to say "Eh, three years pass and you all gain 5 levels. Update your character for next time", that's just as valid as "We don't have time to award xp now. You'll get it all next session."

So no, no limits.

[pathar]

There's no rule against it. If it's a problem, give them all the XP and only one level; tell them you'll handle the next level after the next session.

[Joyd]

"Session" doesn't have any rules meaning in Pathfinder. You can in theory get as much experience over any amount of real-world gameplay time as it takes, with breaks scattered just however.

[Enevhar Aldarion]

The Core Book says this on page 12:

Quote:

Experience Points (XP): As a character overcomes challenges, defeats monsters, and completes quests, he gains experience points. These points accumulate over time, and when they reach or surpass a specific value, the character gains a level.

and this on page 30:

Quote:

A character advances in level as soon as he earns enough experience points to do so—typically, this occurs at the end of a game session, when your GM hands out that session’s experience point awards.

As you can see from the quotes, a level should be given as soon as enough XP has been earned for it to happen, but it is not a requirement. Also, unlike earlier versions of D&D, there is no rule I know of in PRPG that limits you to how many levels you can gain at one time, unless there are optional training rules floating around in the GMG or elsewhere.

[Chobemaster]

Are you awarding this XP only to the characters conscious at the end of the fight, driving up their share?

Either way, it doesn't make much sense to hose the PC's just because you had a long session/didn't take a break to allow mid-session levelup.

If I were going to enforce at "you can't gain 2 levels at once" rule, I would feel obligated to let the PC's level up in the middle of the session.

[packerfanjeff]

agreed. The DM came to the same answer and no XP was going to be lost. He mentioned via email that technically dead chars shouldn't get a share of the final foe, but decided to keep it simple/fair for all and just gave out shares to everyone. We all agreed.

Thanks