New D20 GM needs help

[Caspian]

First time running D20 for first time players, a very nice system, and rather quick. Problem is I'm kinda stuck in a reality bind. Putting some 1st level chars against a large force of well organized goblins, with worg cavalry, the works. Problem is that I need them to gain lots and lots of XP (so they can get to the main badguy at some point) and have it not look like I'm being Father GM. Any tips?




Jonathan

 

[Krug]

Well that sounds too tough for 1st level chars. Got to take them up slowly...
or meet the gobs slowly and let them get up to 3rd level before meeting the wolves? So dish out XP at the end of every night perhaps, though that might slow down the game.

 

[shivamuffin]

Give out xp for problem solving, roleplaying, and completing objectives.

Each geographic point reached: 300xp
Discovering where the goblin lair is: 500xp
Thwarting a goblin raid: 1000xp
good roleplaying/interaction with npc's: 100xp
Making you laugh: 50xp

Keep the awards secret from the players, otherwise they'll ham it up and or argue with you...

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

Look through the DMG at the encounter level and xp award rules. Now, presumably you're not going to have them fight the entire goblin army at once. Break the army down into a series of encounters, as balanced by CR, and base the XP around that. For instance, first they might meet scouts, then skirmishers, then a main war band, etc.

Going with shiva's suggestion, mix the goblin encounters in with other things in order to provide some variety. Just attacking groups of goblins is going to get old, but the players can rescue civilians from one group, protect a farm from another, that sort of thing. That way you get some NPC interaction into the mix as well, and you can also award them with problem solving/rp awards.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

Everyone is putting you on the right track. You can also have the party work as messengers for a bit, and then they'd only run into a few perimeter groups. You can also try having the party act as scouts. Little to no combat is required there.