Action points and extra XP awards

[Elf Witch]

Last night we had a discussion in our group over awarding action points ala UA for things like really heroic actions or a smart plan and for good backstories and a certain amount of journals.

Some of us are for it and some of us are against. The ones against are feeling that it is to subjective except for the writting and mostly likely only going to be given to those who are really good at tactics which some of us are not as good as others.

None will be given for good role playing because we are supposed to do that anyway.

I was wondering do any of you have a reward system in your game what kind and how does it work?

 

[Ranger REG]

You could follow the Star Wars method: When spending an AP to perform an exceptionally heroic deed (or heinous misdeed depending on your alignment) and succeed, you should be awarded an AP as reimbursement, right then and there. Of course, it is the GM/DM responsibility for creating an opportunity so that PC can take advantage of.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I don't like the idea, but I don't much like cinematic games. I don't want my PCs to have any inherent advantage over NPCs they encounter.

This is a play-style issue, and we all enjoy different things. If some people in your group don't like the idea, I doubt they'll change their mind.

 

[MarauderX]

I use it to keep players from facing all-or-nothing situations with no way out but a really really lucky die roll.

I agree with the subjective part, and I give them out on a per-level basis, as the steady conservative players should be rewarded as well as the wild risky player. Heroic actions may need rewarding, but so do smart actions, especially the kind that keep the party out of trouble day after day.

 

[Stone Dog]

This is an interesting option. I may not use it, but it looks like it is worth looking into.

http://www.atlas-games.com/pdf_storage/Personality.pdf

Sorry about the lack of any html style there. I don't post over here often. Basically it works like White Wolf's Nature system. It looks good, but I'll have to see the full version to make sure.

 

[Elf Witch]

Well the group I was talking about no longer exists I guess we had bigger problems than action points.

I am starting my first game as a DM in a few weeks and I have come up with the idea to use action points because I like the idea of giving the players some tools to make the game a little more fun.

I am going to let then get an action point every other time they level and as a reward for great role playing or coming up with good plans and things like that.