Hi, Im trying to figure out a way to work XP into a game that does not fit the mold.
I started my campaign about a month ago and so far the players have been digging it for the most part, most of the themes being that of deception and war, where the players have to deal with NPCs that are holding secrets but also each others secrets.
The problem has arose however about XP. So far in the campaign there has not been much combat at all, only one battle that was about CR 7 for a bunch of LVL 8 characters.
The Players however, have been mentioning that they dont think they have been getting enough XP. Most saying they were thinking that they wanted to be lvl 9 in the next 3 sessions.
For what i have planned in the campaign there will not be that much small scale combat, and when there is a battle it will be something that has major consequences. What that might mean is there could be sessions where they will not do any combat. They are expecting to climb to the next level every 3 or 4 sessions.
So far i have been giving an average of 5000 XP for story completion or whatever excuse i could give, but it does not seem to be working.
Some suggestions i have been given are just axe XP all together and just do every 4 or so sessions a level up, but i am not sure of it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Skill challenges are your friend... trust me.
And I'll understand if you shy away from that, but I've seen several good ways to make skill challenges exciting and beneficial to players. And in place of traditional combat.
Event based leveling.
When the PCs complete a certain task, or reach a certain part of the story, they level.
Both games I play in use it, and all love it.
No grinding for XP.
This. This. A thousand times this!
Event based leveling.
When the PCs complete a certain task, or reach a certain part of the story, they level.
Both games I play in use it, and all love it.
No grinding for XP.
Yup. That's how I do it in our home games. Once a goal is reached in the storyline, as GM to my players, I say, "level up."
thats how i do it.
game runs so much better.
players level when they are supposed to level... done.
You know, that really is such a great and simple idea. Thank you.
If you want a second method, there are rules for granting XP for role playing segments. Find a Diplomatic way to resolve a problem, get XP. Circumvent a pointless fight, gain XP. Intimidate a guy so hard he wets himself, gain XP.
That kinda thing.
My DM just went to event. Asked leveling, we all approve. It's just easier.
I have done both styles; Xp driven and GM "award" driven. For those who love combat focused games Xp worked better. But for the games where they loved Mystery or extended role play an dless combat I have to agree with many here. Just select a point in the game and eveyone levels.
XP are a dumb, outdated mechanic. Just ditch them and ding your party at chapter breaks in the story.
XP are a dumb, outdated mechanic.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
He hasn't been the only one here to say that.
He hasn't been the only one here to say that.
The only one in this thread.
Nobody else has said that EXP is outdated and dumb. That's his opinion.
I like EXP. It gives a sense of randomization to when leveling occurs, which is nice.
He does not think so.
Neither of us is wrong. Neither of us is right.
Calling someone else's opinion dumb is not good.
With that, I can agree. Either way, I feel baffled as to why my group wants to keep the EXP system.
XP is rewarded based off of the CR (Challenge Rating) of the "Encounter" challenge rating can easily be placed on "encounters" of the non-combat type as well. (based off of how hard it would be for the PC's to do so)
Besides you people that run into dungeons to meat-grind those poor creatures are monsters, you only need to win the encounter to get XP, diplomacy, chasing them off, and so on are other viable ways to "win" a "encounter"