Alternatives to XP Loss for Casting Certain Spells

[Piratecat]

....but I need an email address or phone number for Kevin.

Hey, no stalking! And I've got a web cam pointed into your bedroom, so I'll know if you try it.

Seriously, my email address is in my sig if you need it. Glad it may be useful.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Hey, no stalking! And I've got a web cam pointed into your bedroom, so I'll know if you try it.

Seriously, my email address is in my sig if you need it. Glad it may be useful.

Nah, I was referring to the "Improve Feat" section of the document where it says "Ask Kevin for details."

Thanks again. This looks fantastic.

 

[Piratecat]

Whoops! Mostly it's all the UA stuff, but I was trying to fit the whole thing into a single double-sided page and didn't have room.

A good example of improving a feat would be making dodge not suck for a round, or doubling improved initiative, and the like. It's a little bit "squishier," so I handle it on a case by case basis if a player asks.

We hammered these rules out in the house rules forum after I ran into the same thing you have -- having no xp at all really creates annoying ripples. For me, this is the best of both worlds.

 

[Gerion of Mercadia]

PirateCat - wasn't referring to your post; I just saw this "Action Point" system, and I don't think it would ever fly with My players.

You no longer gain, or need, XP to level. PCs level when the DM decides (which is usually pretty obvious, about once every 10 sessions for us.)

Personally, I run with status quo encounters. My players are generally interested in finding a CR challenge "worthy" of them - and have a great deal of fun trying to take down encounters over their CR. They also firmly believe that "what is good for the goose is good for the gander" crowd. As NPC's don't get Action points, they actually wouldn't like it. They have come to expect that I use the same rules as them.

I would love to try it once, but they won't let me.

 

[TarionzCousin]

I would love to try it once, but they won't let me.

To quote the Knights of the Dinner Table "Take back the screen!"

Yeah, I know this doesn't really work in real life; if the players revolt, it's game over. But I allways liked that quote.

 

[Piratecat]

Well, the easiest solution there is to give NPCs action points, right?

There's no reason not to use xp if you and your players like calculating it. I don't, personally, so this is my solution. We all definitely like the action points either way; they're a lot of fun.

 

[darthkilmor]

My third thought was to post this thread and mine the creativity of these boards.

And in the vein:

-Substitute XP costs with rare / expensive spell components.

-Make any spells that costs XP simply very rare (hard to do if they already have them). Maybe the NPC archmage will only share the spell for a high cost, effectively making the spell an "item" they'd buy. If you had to pay 30k gp just to be able to scribe a spell, that upfronts the cost and unless they were totally spamming the spell would balance out I would think?

-Spells that cost XP are restricted by god(dess) of magic divine decree, and/or inevitables come after anyone who casts them. "What, every time I cast this spell one of those jerks is going to come and try to destroy my spellbook?!"

-Learning a spell that costs XP costs instead permanent ability score damage to casting stat. (Mean).

-Spells with XP cost are "Very Unstable". Pull out the wild magic chart!

-XP cost spells have a random % chance to cause petrification(or some other unpleasant condition, say loss of spell casting ability for 2d10 days))(no save) on the caster.

 

[hong]

Instead of deducting 300 XP per casting of limited wish, you can increase the amount of XP needed for the next level by 300. Same cost, but no "rippling".

 

[UltimaGabe]

Instead of deducting 300 XP per casting of limited wish, you can increase the amount of XP needed for the next level by 300. Same cost, but no "rippling".

...except he's not using XP.

 

[hong]

Details, details.