Alternate XP.
- Thread starter Bob5th
- Start date
Depends...
Generally, I like giving XP at the end of a session because then players do their level up stuff out of game. If I give out XP in the middle and someone levels up, then everyone has to wait, or we have an unresponsive player. ("Um, what was that again, I was updating my spell list. Oh, the spider ate me and I have to roll a new character? Well THAT SUCKS! I was busy trying to level up. I didn't hear the bit about the spider the size of a house!")
But some groups don't mind waiting, and in some groups everyone has the same XP anyway. If either of those apply to your group, then the "instant XP" idea could be really cool!
Generally, I like giving XP at the end of a session because then players do their level up stuff out of game. If I give out XP in the middle and someone levels up, then everyone has to wait, or we have an unresponsive player. ("Um, what was that again, I was updating my spell list. Oh, the spider ate me and I have to roll a new character? Well THAT SUCKS! I was busy trying to level up. I didn't hear the bit about the spider the size of a house!")
But some groups don't mind waiting, and in some groups everyone has the same XP anyway. If either of those apply to your group, then the "instant XP" idea could be really cool!
CRGreathouse
Community Supporter
Crothian said:
Why would it detract from the game?
Crothian
First Post
CRGreathouse said:
Well, the After the battle the DM has to tell everyone the experience they get and after pauses to add it in. Then when someone gains a level like is said above, that person is momentarily out of it updating his character. Some people can do this fast, others take a long time. I've seen people take about an hour to level up their character. Others, can do it less then a minute.
EOL
First Post
There is only one random roll which needs to be made when someone levels up and that is hit points everything else can be done in advance. It should be pretty obvious if your character is about to level so rather than leveling after the experience is given out do all the leveling (with the possible exception of the hit point roll) before the session. Then you have two copies of your character sheet, the minute you level you make the Hit Point roll and 30 seconds later you're ready to roll.
Magus_Jerel
First Post
If you mean "boom" as in make the award on the spot - you have some issues when it comes to leveling up -
Getting new spells in your spellbook just seems problematic when it would have to happen at near instantaneous speeds.
I see little to no problem "updating your character at the table."
Most of the time - this takes less than 30 minutes or so - unless you are having to make some serious choices - such as the possibility of multiclassing into either a PrC or a normal class.
If I am "updating" a non-arcane caster, I can usually do this within 5 minutes. PrC's - depending on what is available; complicate things.
Now - if your GM is considering just "awarding XP" without regard to doing the mathematics involved; this is generally a BAD idea.
I have seen one group imparicular where this leads to a whole lot of issues. One thing is for sure - NEVER make XP awards a "percentage of going up a level", as the lower level members get the serious shaft in this setup. I saw one league where this happened - and that absolutely stunk on ice (expletives come to mind - but you get the point)
Granted - you can do some spontaneous awards for stories, goals or "non combat" type encounters; but it is usually better to have a "mathematically objective" method - than an ad hoc one. A GM is advised to be careful with this however, because some encounters (such as one that involves securing aid, helpful information or other assistance) can be "rewards" in and of themselves.
My "test" is as follows
The following questions must be answered in the negative:
1. Does achieving this goal involve combat of some kind. If so, award the combat XP
2. Does achieving this goal involve a gain in and of itself - such as securing valulable information, material, or assistance (e.g. free spells cast on your behalf, allies to assist in "jobs" (thieves guilds ect.)? If so - the gain itself is reward sufficent for the PC to be doing it.
The following questions must be answered in the affirmative:
3. Does achieving this goal involve some risk to the PC's person or possessions other than combat? (ex - a spying mission of some kind) If so, this is a candidate.
4. Is this sort of goal unachievable in merely one adventure? If so - a story award may be appropriate.
Getting new spells in your spellbook just seems problematic when it would have to happen at near instantaneous speeds.
I see little to no problem "updating your character at the table."
Most of the time - this takes less than 30 minutes or so - unless you are having to make some serious choices - such as the possibility of multiclassing into either a PrC or a normal class.
If I am "updating" a non-arcane caster, I can usually do this within 5 minutes. PrC's - depending on what is available; complicate things.
Now - if your GM is considering just "awarding XP" without regard to doing the mathematics involved; this is generally a BAD idea.
I have seen one group imparicular where this leads to a whole lot of issues. One thing is for sure - NEVER make XP awards a "percentage of going up a level", as the lower level members get the serious shaft in this setup. I saw one league where this happened - and that absolutely stunk on ice (expletives come to mind - but you get the point)
Granted - you can do some spontaneous awards for stories, goals or "non combat" type encounters; but it is usually better to have a "mathematically objective" method - than an ad hoc one. A GM is advised to be careful with this however, because some encounters (such as one that involves securing aid, helpful information or other assistance) can be "rewards" in and of themselves.
My "test" is as follows
The following questions must be answered in the negative:
1. Does achieving this goal involve combat of some kind. If so, award the combat XP
2. Does achieving this goal involve a gain in and of itself - such as securing valulable information, material, or assistance (e.g. free spells cast on your behalf, allies to assist in "jobs" (thieves guilds ect.)? If so - the gain itself is reward sufficent for the PC to be doing it.
The following questions must be answered in the affirmative:
3. Does achieving this goal involve some risk to the PC's person or possessions other than combat? (ex - a spying mission of some kind) If so, this is a candidate.
4. Is this sort of goal unachievable in merely one adventure? If so - a story award may be appropriate.
Shirt Guy John
First Post
I think it's completely up to how the group works when playing. My group has been playing with on the fly Exp since the begining, and we've had few problems with it. However, the only advatage to it is that you gain levels while adventuring. Most groups could probably do without this, but my group needed these levels, as our DM was giving us encounters for a full group of 4-5 when we were only 3 people. It works, but it does take time, if the party isn't prepared.
I wouldn't want to do that as a GM because I often don't give the "true" CR experience for the encounters to the players. Some times I give less; some times I give more than what they actually earned. It's my way of keeping my players around the levels I'd like them to be.
--Bruce
--Bruce
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