Awarding Experience

[Prism]

I look at WotC's site, and I see this, it tells me I use EL correctly, unless there's the 3 level diference in CRs between creatures in the group (in which case, the lower CRs don't really matter).

When it comes to creatures 3 levels lower its fine i guess to say that it doesn't affect the EL since EL is simply a guideline to help the DM plan an encounter. But if you also use it to reward xp then it can penalise a party

a 6th level party fights a CR9 single creature (EL9)
a 6th level party fights a CR9 creature and its CR5 and CR4 henchmen (EL9)

By rewarding based on EL the party gains no extra xp for the second fight even though its probably significantly harder. In DM written stuff it generally doesn't matter since the DM is balancing xp and EL's anyway but in a prewritten module the players may end up lower level than expected

 

[taliesin15]

Not to be a moist towelette here, but many DMs insist that PCs must go through actual *training* before advancing levels.

Personally, I think doing that depends entirely upon the flavor of the game. In any case, I don't think I've ever awarded new levels until either the conclusion of a gaming sessions, or say, until the PCs lug the booty back to town, and hoist a few pints of mead first...at which point I've awarded them new stats, and they can return to the Tomb of Horrors if its not yet 10:30 yet.

 

[glass]

Not to be a moist towelette here, but many DMs insist that PCs must go through actual *training* before advancing levels.

Indeed they do, but I don't see what that has to do with calculating XP awards.


glass.

 

[Arnwyn]

My first instinct is to award 900 XP divided between the 4 players (225 each), but does the EL of the room give any bonus?

As others have said - EL has nothing to do with calculating XP, it is only used as a guideline for the DM to determine how tough a particular encounter is.

You use CR to calculate the XP.

 

[billd91]

Perhaps I use it wrong, but I'd like to know where you find out what EL is intended for? (not being sarcastic, just curious)

I look at WotC's site, and I see this, it tells me I use EL correctly, unless there's the 3 level diference in CRs between creatures in the group (in which case, the lower CRs don't really matter).

Again, out of curiosity, do you change the ELs listed in Dungeon adventures (for example), or do you just ignore them and calculate via CRs?

EDIT: For example, I see "weakened" owlbears in the Age of Worms adventures which list an EL lesser than the CR.

In most cases, if the encounter is weakened, Dungeon will include a note with the creature to decrease the XP award by some factor. They do the same for advanced creatures and increased XP awards too.

But I can see a good point to using EL if you so choose for certain circumstances. A large number of low CR creatures who are well equipped are worth little or no XPs for a reasonably high level party (think of CR 3 creatures taking on level 10 characters) even though the EL of the encounter might be estimated to be 10 or more. In other words, the PCs may face a significant challenge and get no XP award for it.

 

[andargor]

Thanks for the clarifications on EL. I'll however continue to use this system, since it has served us well in Age of Worms: the party level is spot on with what is indicated.

You are probably correct that sometimes the PC deserve more or less if you base yourself on CRs, but using ELs has saved me a lot of trouble.

To each his/her own.

 

[Geoff Watson]

Often the XP based on EL and XP based on the individual monster CRs turns out to be the same, so don't worry about it.

Eg: the example above: 3 CR 1 monsters are worth 300 XP each, for a total of 900 XP.
A EL/CR 3 encounter is worth 900 XP.

Geoff.