Alternatives to individual XP awards

[jkohlhepp]

I just started a new campaign. For the most part I prefer to keep all the PCs at the exact same XP so it is easier to keep track of, easier to balance encounters (since everyone is at the same level), etc. However, I do struggle when I want to reward the players for things that they do as individuals that help me out. For example, I would like to give some sort of bonus to players that write up a summary of a session.

Has anyone run into this problem? Any ideas on alternative rewards to XP?

Thanks,

~ Justin

 

[Mort_Q]

I've played in a campaign where we were given chips (literally a cheap plastic poker chip) for doing something clever/special.

In that campaign it could be spent to add a d6 to a die roll. Best of all, in my opinion, was that a player could freely give them to another player at any time. That was a 3.5 campaign.

You could easily do the same, or make it a special 'action point' that doesn't count towards the normal limit.

 

[Prestidigitalis]

I'm playing in a campaign now where the DM simply tells us all when we can level up, as a group. The players don't track XP at all, though I don't know whether the DM is tracking or just eyeballing it, i.e. "now seems about right".

To reward behavior you want to encourage, I'd seriously consider Mort_Q's suggestion about chips for special bonuses, such as extra Action Points, skill bonuses, saving throws, or rerolls. Alternatively, you could give the character a very specific bonus such as "+2 on Diplomacy checks with the Duke during the upcoming war council" or "+4 on the next Endurance check against poison".

Truthfully, I think that type of reward might actually be a better motivator for good play, though probably not for the "I wrote a 50 page backstory on handmade vellum" thing. After all, an XP bonus simply gets you where you were going to go anyway, but a bit faster. The special bonuses are like little get-out-of-jail-free cards that the player can savor for their future tactical use or for their possible plot-related implications, e.g. "With this bonus I might just be able to keep the Duke from declaring war!"

 

[Piratecat]

I've been giving an extra action point for this, although I'm not really satisfied with the reward, and would like to find something better. I like Mort's idea.

 

[Amaroq]

We've been using Awesome Points for this purpose.

Our Awesome Points can be used to promote a Miss into a Hit, or a Hit into a Critical; to automatically make a Saving Throw or a Skill Check; to regain a Daily Power; or converted into an Action Point which doesn't count against the usual AP restrictions (eg, one per encounter).

 

[Destil]

I just started a new campaign. For the most part I prefer to keep all the PCs at the exact same XP so it is easier to keep track of, easier to balance encounters (since everyone is at the same level), etc. However, I do struggle when I want to reward the players for things that they do as individuals that help me out. For example, I would like to give some sort of bonus to players that write up a summary of a session.

Has anyone run into this problem? Any ideas on alternative rewards to XP?

Thanks,

~ Justin

I use shared XP, and I just give group XP rewards for individuals doing well. It's a nice positive feedback cycle, since the other players should generally appreciate it.

 

[Phaezen]

I am trying out rewarding players with plot rewards in my current campaign, so favour of a noble, guild or organization, story items and artifacts as appropriate

Currently one of my players is carrying a dormant artifact (a tattoo which attached itself to him) which is in the process of being woken as a reward for maintaining the campaign journal and responding to my emails and requests promptly.

The idea is to use the rewards to help develop the game and encourage the other players to become more involved.

 

[DracoSuave]

I use shared XP, and I just give group XP rewards for individuals doing well. It's a nice positive feedback cycle, since the other players should generally appreciate it.

This.


I find giving the entire group XP for individual excellence really inspires the group to work together, and they feel less competitive. Of course, I tell them 'Tommy did a really good job solving that puzzle, so everyone's getting 50 extra XP.' Tommy feels he did good, which is the point behind a reward, and everyone pats Tommy on the back.

 

[Benlo]

One player impressed me so much, I gave him an ogre as a mount. Granted, it also fit in the context of the story, but he was very pleased.

 

[DanmarLOK]

Perhaps use these and let the ones that go above and beyond draw a card from the deck?

Key Our Cars » Blog Archive » Player Bonus Cards