Rewarding good RP

[Ariantar]

Im running a weekly game and am looking for ideas to reward (and thus encourage) particularly inspired roleplaying and problem solving.

Generally, the party does a good job. However, there are definitely times when they metagame hard, or play on their ipads, or behave rather blandly. It can be frustrating. Especially because im often left asking two or three times, 'ok what are you guys choosing to do? Youre the players, you act and i can tell you how that affects the world.'

More frequently, though, there are moments when someone does or says something truly exceptional. Ive taken to saying "Plus 1 RP point for you!" when that happens (plus 2 for amazing RP, to stress how much i appreciate the creativity).

Can anyone think of a simple mechanic to convert these rp points into some reward? We dont use XP, and i dont want to give out extra gold (i stick close to wealth by level). Like, every 5 rp points can be traded for....?? Then, if someone does something particularly disruptive or anti-game (such as had a player look up a monster online because he thought the cr was unfair, then b#!!# about the mechanics and argue the cr was too hard... mid fight), i can also penalize, without altering game mechanics, too much.

Ideas? Thanks.

[Arachnofiend]

I think the Hero Points system might be what you want. I've never used it myself but it seems about right.

[Timebomb]

Well, you could turn role play into roll play. Allow a player to trade in X RP points into a re-roll. They don't like that fortitude save they just failed? Their glorious roleplaying helps their character survive. They dont like that the fumbled their charge on the BBEG? re-roll. You get the picture.

In my experience they have been valuable enough that players dont like to use them, waiting until things really fit the fan. Though we also did it differently, you got 1 per session which didnt roll over and it was a reward for providing a backstory and character sketch.

[Bodhizen]

You could mimic the "stunting" system that White Wolf uses, translating better playing into a +1 stackable bonus to their current action. Things that are more awesome and indicative of good role-playing could confer a +2 bonus, and things that are totally awesome could get a +3 bonus on the action. It would be a use-it-or-lose-it kind of thing that would encourage them to role-play constantly; there's no bank to keep RP points and save them for when you really want to use them.

Best wishes!

[MattR1986]

I would just do a simple system as was mentioned like each RP point transfers into a +1 on a d20 roll and its stackable and retroactive. That +5 to make a saving throw could really come in handy for a player and make them want to RP more.

[haruhiko88]

Hero points work, I've also found DnD Nexts advantage/disadvantage system works really well in pathfinder. Do something cool, here roll twice and take the better. Did you do something stupid? Roll twice and take the worse.