A House Rule

[Psion]

I sort of do this already, but with a bit more of a "glass is half full" philosophy. I, as a baseline, award a standard award that is about half of the supposed per-session award as calculated per the DMG. Then, I award bonuses for clever play, good roleplay, meeting goals, or other player driven actions.

So obviously, if you aren't there to take these actions, you can't earn bonuses for them.

 

[BryonD]

I think it is perfectly fair.

I also think you'll have more fun if the group all agrees (more or less) and that is more important.

 

[iwatt]

I used to do exactly the same thing. half XP for the absentee player's PC, though he was usually run by comitee. Teh only problem that arose is that I had a cadre of 3 players that went to every session, and 2 that missed 1 in every 4. Divorced parents trying to score some time with their kids is a much higher priority in my book than an RPG game. Very soon the level lag began to get intolerable, and ended making up even more work for me to develop balanced encounters. I finally just ditched the system and kept the PCs a level behind the rest with some ad hoc xp rewards.

 

[Lockridge]

A lot has already been said that I agree with.
Personally, I wouldn't have any penalty or reward. If you are all mature players who are indeed friends then this shouldn't be an issue. As Iwatt said, scoring time with family or a work obligation takes precedence over RPGs. Period.

Personally I don't see the validity in another player pointing out that they don't miss games and have put in the work of building their character but only get the same award as the ocassional player. This isn't work - its a game that we all enjoy and I don't see the point in penalizing someone who is not able to enjoy the game as much as the others. This will only squeeze them out.

To me its the same as telling someone who can't make it to Monopoly night that they only get $100 when they pass Go the next night they show up.

As someone earlier pointed out though, you need full agreement from everyone otherwise you'll have some bad feelings stewing.

 

[Cedric]

I just have someone else run the character for combat purposes, I make any non-combat decisions for the character that may come up and the character gets full xp.

I'll also pull punches and won't kill the character off unless it's a TPK. That character definitely gets last pick of any loot that may drop, unless it's just perfect for the character. If that's the only archer and a totally rockin' bow is found, they'll get it. But if an item is found that is of use to multiple people, they won't be in on it.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I think that's a pretty reasonable system you've got there... although I know at least 1 player who'd probably start sabotaging peoples transport if there might be +10% xp in it for him.

Like you, I prefer to play if we're only missing a single player. Seems a shame to spoil an evenings RPGing for everyone else.

At worst case, like a critical player missing, then we'll play a board game, muck around with another system or watch movies - but will still find something to do. Couple of people use RPGs to escape their families for an afternoon - I wouldn't want to get in the way of that


/This is what I do:

I'll generally find a reason for the PC not to be involved in the evenings session - if in a town, they have business. If in a 'dungeon', then they fade into the background.

They get full xp.

What they will lose out on generally is a cut of any loot gained, or having any of their side plots develop.

Figure they miss the entertainment of roleplaying, which is bad enough. No need for their character to fall behind mechanically?


As for the ECL adjustments - I'd go for 'making it up' to the other ECL+0 players in some way. Magical item they can improve cheaply, in game contacts, a wibbly innate power or something along those lines.

 

[Lanefan]

I don't like it.

Why? Because whether or not the player is there shouldn't matter; if the *character* would normally do whatever and earn x-amount ExP for it, then that's what the character does. ExP are a character reward, and I think you're only asking for trouble if you cross the line into making them a player reward...though from what I've seen in various threads here a surprising number of DM's seem to do this for a variety of reasons.

By the same token, though, just because a player's not there doesn't make a character immune to bad things happening; they've the same random chance of getting hit by the falling boulder as everyone else, if it comes to such.

If you miss a session, you're trusting the other players with your character, simple as that. But characters don't disappear when their player's not there; nor do they just stand around and do nothing.

When a player drops out of the game completely, we usually keep their character going until the next logical opportunity to retire it (usually the next time the party gets to town).

Lanefan

 

[irdeggman]

We have pretty much usd the same system over the years.

A PC whose is being run on "automatic" - that is the player is not there, is usually relegated to the background and thus has less risks. They earn 50% of the xp.

Everyone has thought that fair over the past 15+ years.

No one gains any bonus for "running" someone else's PC, if no one steps up to run the PC then the DM does.

Oh and that LA imbalance - sorry but they are there for reasons. We all start out on equal footing and that is what they are there for. But if everyon, and that means, everyone agrees that not all PCs need to be the same starting ECL then that is fine. But make sure they know that there is a limit to what ECL you are going to start at (that is for the DM based on EL). Which really has the same effect as everyone starting out with the same ECL.

 

[maggot]

I've always done 50% XP for no-shows (regardless of reason). And I've never had a complaint. Complaining about XP that you get when you are not at the game seems a bit like asking for none.

Some players are more motivated than others. They show every game. Others are more casual. This system rewards the more motivated while keeping the more casual involved.

Besides with 3.5's XP rules, those that don't show can catch up very quickly.

 

[Rel]

I've moved this to House Rules.

As for the OP, I used to do almost exactly the same thing. And then eventually I stopped. I came to the same conclusion as some others here did that for me and for my group, the reward for gaming is not about XP. It's getting to actually game. Having to miss a session is usually penalty enough.

I'll note that this shift in attitude probably has a lot to do with us having gotten older (we're all in our mid-30's now). The guys in my group don't miss sessions because they are out clubbing and macking the honeys. They usually miss the session because their kids are sick or they have to attend some dull family function with their in-laws. It sucks bad enough to have to miss the weekly game night, which for most of us is our only really scheduled free time during the week. No XP penalty needed.

On the other hand, I'd probably stay tough on the level adjustment for non-standard races. I really like having the game start out with something similar to a level playing field I guess.