Are you a stingy DM?

[Hjorimir]

Are you a stingy DM? Apparently, I am.

Let's see, we started the campaign in March. At the beginning of the campaign everybody got to start at 3rd level (...I'm too generous). Now, here we are in September where they are currently 5th level and eager to hit 6th (something about wanting new Feats...pesky players).

I just had a player tell me that he was dreaming of my Saturday campaign (I run two set in the same world) and that after a huge upcoming battle they actually leveled! Also, my wife has made a habit of getting all sweet on me to only ask me (in her more innocent voice), did I level?

The other campaign I run on Monday nights hasn't started to complain quite yet...they took a huge step back with the last TPK.

 

[Pants]

It depends.
If your players aren't having fun, maybe you should accomadate them a little.

I find that my players usually level fairly quickly, but then I give out nice bonuses of XP for good roleplaying, plus most of the battles they participate in are of the 'EL > average party level type' so they're ALWAYS fighting for their lives.

 

[VirgilCaine]

It depends.
If your players aren't having fun, maybe you should accomadate them a little.

I find that my players usually level fairly quickly, but then I give out nice bonuses of XP for good roleplaying, plus most of the battles they participate in are of the 'EL > average party level type' so they're ALWAYS fighting for their lives.

I have to say, I don't really like putting the PCs up against some Equal EL encounters. It's too easy. I'd like a challenge if I were a PC. Unless I were first level, in which case two goblins a day is fine for me.

 

[Crothian]

I'm not stingy with XP, I'm stingy with magic. So, the characters might be leveling at a good rate but they don't have the magic that is assumed characters of their level have.

 

[Ed Cha]

Are you a stingy DM?

Yes.

 

[shilsen]

Nope. PCs have as much gear/wealth as recommended for those one level higher, and they go up level at a decent clip.

Does it stop players wanting more? Also, nope.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I am accused of being stingy. I do not think that I am. My players disagree. However, they deserve a kick to the groin.

Seriously, though, I think I am a little on the stingy side as I know I could always give them more if I need to. However, in my experience taking away from players is a fight that rivals taking a few pennies away from Scrooge. They kick and scream and cry and clinch their fists in the air when they rail at me. Just not woth the possibility of trouble.

 

[Herpes Cineplex]

Let's see, we started the campaign in March. At the beginning of the campaign everybody got to start at 3rd level (...I'm too generous). Now, here we are in September where they are currently 5th level and eager to hit 6th (something about wanting new Feats...pesky players)

...and you're playing weekly, or at least more than once a month?? :\

Dude, you're BEYOND stingy. You're the Ebenezer Scrooge of GMs. I'm surprised you aren't just kicking your players and shouting "HUMBUG!" at them instead of awarding experience points.

Still, I guess that's kind of a nice little tribute that your group is giving you, to keep playing for so long without the traditional reward of getting to improve their characters. (But personally, I'd loosen up a little. The game can still be fun beyond 5th level, and it does kind of suck to feel like your character is never getting better at anything.)

--
our usual gm tends towards stinginess unless forcibly pushed to abandon it
ryan

 

[DonAdam]

We have played for 6 semesters. They just hit level 11.

So... yeah.

 

[nopantsyet]

Yeah, I'm a bit stingy. But I give them cool stuff in different ways. They will go a long time on a handful of coppers and some complimentary meals, then wake up (for a very logical and believable reason that just happens to reference too much plot to include here), having gained the shocking burst enchantment. (Themselves, not on a weapon.)

My current campaign kicked off with a strange, somehow magical tragedy. Three of the current PCs were present and managed to survive. Two sessions ago, each of them awoke with intricate, find-stroked designs etched beneath their skin and a strange enchantment of their body. One now has tremorsense, another shocking burst (which he can manifest through a metal weapon), and the last magic fang.

I think it's important to give the players loot. It's fun--who doesn't want more loot? Mine get their loot. I just tie the delivery method to the story rather than to the rules.