Awarding XP to npc classed characters

[Kahuna Burger]

I occasionally enjoy having players create characters with several npc levels (adept, expert, etc) before their standard class levels (allows some background skills and durrability while still letting them enjoy the 1st to last PC power up expereince) and I'm wondering how this would effect standard XP assignment. npc classes are not equal to PC classes on the CR side of the equation, are they for determining level for XP assignment?

 

[Infiniti2000]

You're already in houserule territory. I'd advise granted the NPC class levels as "free" for purposes of XP if you do it at all (i.e. don't count the NPC class levels on the XP chart at all). You'll have to use your judgment for balancing encounters regardless, so I don't see any extra work on your part. Since you're probably making the players use levels as story anyway (otherwise you're royally screwing them), I don't see any downside to this approach.

 

[smootrk]

It is an interesting idea. IMO I would task all the players with creating a backstory for their characters, then based on the level of depth they put into the story (very subjective, I know) I would award them with 'x' number of levels in the class(s), with a small spread of 1-3 levels max. I would also not really count those levels or XP, similar to what Infiniti2000 said.

At the worst end of things, 1-3 levels of NPC classes (depending on the NPC class) is worth about 1/2 to 1 total class levels IMO, so you could adjust things from there.

 

[irdeggman]

Pg 38 of the DMG for characters with levels in NPC classes - count them as having 1 less level. This is a total level adjustment not 1 per levelof NPC class.

You can back this out of the tables since PC CR = their class level (plus any LA and any bonus hit die counts as class levels).

I personally don't like forcing PCs to have levels of NPC - now if they choose to, well then . . .Personally I'd up the NPC classes some to make them viable PC classes - but that is into house rules.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

I personally don't like forcing PCs to have levels of NPC - now if they choose to, well then . . .Personally I'd up the NPC classes some to make them viable PC classes - but that is into house rules.

It helps if you think of npc3/pc1 as an alternate to pc1, not to pc4.

 

[irdeggman]

It helps if you think of npc3/pc1 as an alternate to pc1, not to pc4.

Hmm but per the RAW it is equivalent to PC 3 (-1 level for levels of NPC class not do not count at all).

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Hmm but per the RAW it is equivalent to PC 3 (-1 level for levels of NPC class not do not count at all).

I meant in terms of forcing them to have npc levels - I don't think of it as "you have a 4th level PC but three levels have to be npc classes," but rather "We're starting at first level of the standard classes, but you can also have 3 levels of npc classes for durability and background."

 

[smootrk]

I meant in terms of forcing them to have npc levels - I don't think of it as "you have a 4th level PC but three levels have to be npc classes," but rather "We're starting at first level of the standard classes, but you can also have 3 levels of npc classes for durability and background."

I think this approach has merits, although the classes are not at all equals of each other. The expert's skill pack can be quite impressive, especially with some INT bonus to boost it. It may be best for an expert to have its skill choices be exclusively based on history/bio with DM approval for choices. The other classes don't seem to be excessive on the order of the expert otherwise.

I had a thread that discussed NPC classes that you might find mildly interesting. A couple of new npc class ideas came about in the short discussion.
http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=139751

 

[irdeggman]

I meant in terms of forcing them to have npc levels - I don't think of it as "you have a 4th level PC but three levels have to be npc classes," but rather "We're starting at first level of the standard classes, but you can also have 3 levels of npc classes for durability and background."

What I meant was they are treated as 3rd level characters. Slightly different meaning. Mine determines the type of challenges that are appropriate and exp awards gained while the other appears to be "background" oriented, but downplays the game-mechanic effects.

If going with a background oriented system - then have them pick a single NPC class to use for this - similar to what is done in d20 Modern.