Bonus XP?

[Gorilla726]

What sort of stuff do you give bonus XP to your players for doing?

I like to borrow from The Dying Earth (that game based on Jack Vance's novels) and have the characters develop a catch phrase. And whenever they use it in context (only once per session) I'll give them some bonus XP. :-D

What do you like to do?

 

[Elephant]

When a player rolls two natural 20s in a row, the opponent dies.

It just seems...fun.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I like to borrow from The Dying Earth (that game based on Jack Vance's novels) and have the characters develop a catch phrase. And whenever they use it in context (only once per session) I'll give them some bonus XP. :-D

I'm getting flashes of the game from Whose Line, where Ryan and Wayne have two phrases each that are all they're allowed to say, and it's up to Colin to make everything make sense...

-Hyp.

 

[kolikeos]

i give bonus xp after almost every fight

 

[haiiro]

I award bonus XP for things that enrich the shared fantasy (someone else said that, not sure who) or make my job as DM easier. Here's the list:

- Character Journals (50/XP level per journal)
- Adventure Notes (50 XP/level per entry)
- Sketches (50 XP/level per session)
- Site Artwork (50 XP/level per drawing)
- Videos (50 XP/level per video)
- NPC Notes (25 XP/level per entry)
- Battle Notes (25 XP/level per session)
- Digital Photos (25 XP/level per session)

Each player can do a character journal + one other thing each session, for a max of 100 XP/level (so a 3rd level PC doing a journal and the adventure notes gets 300 XP). 100 XP/level is 10% of what you need for the next level, which works out well when you're only playing one long sesson per month.

I had hoped this system would result in more players doing journals, but as it turned out a couple did those, and the less intensive things -- like NPC notes and photos -- were more popular. In any case, it's worked well overall.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Depends on the DM...

Most now give out roleplaying/advancing story xp. One gives for writing character journals. I used to write up journals but gave up when I got seriously backlogged and it got to be too much of a hassle to catch up; that and forgetting alot of stuff, even from notes.

 

[Macbeth]

I give bonus points for anything the players do that makes ME enjoy the game more. I already award XP at a rate that I deem appropriate, not absolutely according to EL or CR, so I only award bonus XP when the players make me have more fun, or laugh, or whatever. If I'm having a better time, the PCs deserve a bonus for it.

 

[Steel_Wind]

(All of the below examples are directly drawn from my online campaign journal here )


1. Roleplaying awards for delivering a particularly good line in keeping with their character at a perfect moment (rare, 1 in 5 sessions kind of thing)

Example: Roleplaying award for a perfectly delivered Kender line after falling down a hole into the lair of the Blue Circle +75 XP to Tobbin

2. For solving a puzzle or advancing the plot by determining something significant (as distinct from party based story awards – I give both party based awards and individual awards often, usually 1 or 2 per session)

Example: For determining the caches, food purchases, efficient storing, refrigeration, checking of carcasses and so forth was the complex work of quartermasters and is clear evidence of the preparations for a planned invasion of Solamnia; +100 XP to Preston

3. When playing a heroic good guy character – for selflessly doing the good guy thing – especially when it was disadvantageous to their character to do it (giving up a valuable magic item to aid an NPC, risking life to aid another, etc.)

Example: For selflessly sacrificing his sole potion of healing to heal the tortured Inalos: +500 X.P. to Gawgower

4. For inspiring moments where a spell, feat or skill is used to particular good effect

Example: For an inspired use of a very cunning illusion to save the party with little time to fashion it, yet still appropriate and very believable in all of the circumstances: +350 XP to Teleri.

5. Doing the “wrong thing” in metagaming terms – even when the player knows it’s the wrong thing in metagaming terms, because it really is what their character would do in the circumstances (encourages roleplaying)

Example: For continuing to attempt to detect and defeat traps, in the face of continuing difficulty and at the increasing cost of his personal health: +150 X.P. to Tobbin

6. For creating inspiring game aids:

Example: For preparing a letter for Stonesong to deliver to Garad uth Wardel warning the Solamnic Knights of impending invasion in the event the party does not return and doing so by means of a very cool prop for use in game: +350 XP to Lucius.

 

[Ibram]

Role Playing is the best way to get bonus XP in my games... that is by staying and acting in character... XP is also handed out to players whos characters take risky (but in character) actions. How much is hard to say, but its almost always in increments of 100