D&D General XP: How Do You Like To Earn It?

[Charlaquin]

The XP awards were originally granular because they represented treasure monetary values...ao less granular makes more sense out of the treasure context.

That is the origin of that granularity, yes, though by happy accident the granularity still has valuable utility to the modern combat and progression system. One of the clever things they did under the hood with 5e and for some reason never explicitly stated, is that monster XP is essentially a function of how much damage the monster deals before being killed. The 2014 monster building rules approximate the formula with offensive and defensive CR, and while it’s less precise than the actual formula, it gets reasonably close to the mark while being much more approachable. But, that’s why the required totals to reach each level and the XP granted by monsters of each CR look so random. They aren’t clean, round numbers because they aren’t arbitrary, they’re derived from some pretty complex math going on behind the scenes.

 

[Spellslinging Sellsword]

I'm kind of at the point where I think just giving XP based on sessions played is fine. I assume the people I play with will be active in pursuing whatever we find fun in the game whether that is intrigue, combat, treasure, etc.

 

[fuindordm]

If I'm playing D&D as a GAME, then I prefer XP to come mainly from treasure. This is the method that most closely aligns player incentives with their character's incentives, and it specifically de-incentivizes combat as a sport.

If I'm playing D&D as a collaborative STORY then I prefer to do away with bookkeeping altogether and level up after each "chapter".

None of the other methods in the poll are useful for me--too much bookkeeping for too little benefit.

 

[Zardnaar]

Depends on edition.

Generally dont use it on modern games. Happy to use it in OSR type games.

Everything on your list is great. 2E is my first with generous DM.

 

[Reynard]

Depends on edition.

Generally dont use it on modern games. Happy to use it in OSR type games.

Everything on your list is great. 2E is my first with generous DM.

I really like the individual xp awards based on class from 2E.

I mean, if I am being honest, I love most things about 2E. I just can't get anyone to play it.

 

[Zardnaar]

I really like the individual xp awards based on class from 2E.

I mean, if I am being honest, I love most things about 2E. I just can't get anyone to play it.

Ive played it thus year and C&C.

I used everything on your list for C&C. I dont like 1E treasure hoards.

Early 2E us very stingy xp wise. Late 2E they're a lot more generous.

So I woukd use milestone xp in 2E and individual rewards being generous with thieves. They get 2xo per gp pilfered. Unlike 1E theyre not stealing xp from the others.

Surprising what you find in old 2E books. 3E really warped perceptions in hindsight along with 4E (most xp from monsters).

D&D is an art form not a science. 2E is a beautiful canvas. Pity it's stuck with AD&D mechanics.

 

[TheSword]

I really like the individual xp awards based on class from 2E.

I mean, if I am being honest, I love most things about 2E. I just can't get anyone to play it.

I’m actually going back through old 2E dungeon magazine adventures and Forgotten Realms modules for inspiration for my next Dalelands campaign. There are some gems in there.

 

[Reynard]

Early 2E us very stingy xp wise. Late 2E they're a lot more generous.

What do you mean by this?

So I woukd use milestone xp in 2E and individual rewards being generous with thieves. They get 2xo per gp pilfered. Unlike 1E theyre not stealing xp from the others.

I don't understand mixing milestone xp and individual awards. Isn't the point of milestone XP that everyone levels simultaneously?

 

[Maxperson]

I voted for fighting monsters, overcoming obstacles, social encounters, and treasure. For treasure it's not straight up gold for XP(unless playing AD&D), but rather for acquiring something truly momentous, or managing to get the treasure out from under a monster without a fight. You might call that last part overcoming an obstacle, but since it's not set up to be an obstacle, I counted it under treasure.

I'd also like to add that as a DM I award XP for wondrous experiences, which isn't on the list. If you are a low level group and you manage to enter a fey land full of magic and mystique, I might award the PCs 500xp. If they actually met a god in person, they'd probably go up a level unless they were high level, and even then it would be a lot of XP.

 

[Zardnaar]

What do you mean by this?

I don't understand mixing milestone xp and individual awards. Isn't the point of milestone XP that everyone levels simultaneously?

2E DMG has advice for various xp awards. Theyre not that high.

Some of those late 2E books completing the adventure is 100k xp.

Back in tbe day I wouldn't give out 100k as a mission complete award. I woukd now.

Milestone xp. 2E xp tables are different. So the reward might be "milestone" xp eg 100k plus more for the other categories.

I dont do D&D the accounting though. Cant be assed.

Players keep track of theor individual awards when ot pings ask me and I'll grant the xp.

100k mission rewards.
Gold. I'll guess have 50k.
Magic items. Guess have 50k.
Roleplaying. 25-75k.
Everyone had fun 25-100k

Etc.

If they haven't leveled for a while double the xp. Handwavium.

Gold for xp you level a little bit slower than 5E but not that far behind running old 1E adventures (absurd loot).

Killing monsters isnt worth that much and I cant be bothered keeping track. Have 20k xp.

Divide the xp bucket by number of players.