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D&D deserves a better XP system
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<blockquote data-quote="eryndel" data-source="post: 1337477" data-attributes="member: 13120"><p>A few points:</p><p>1) Going over the thread again, my post stands out as one of the more snarky. I apologize for that and will retract at least the tone of the statement. (The example I still feel serves well to describe my point of view.) </p><p></p><p>2) I still <em>strongly</em> disagree with the thesis statement of the post. I do not feel that the current system for XP awards is inadequate nor does is encourage one single type of play, and thus I don't see a need in a new one. You can come up with a new one if you like, whip it up in a thread title something like, "Here's my new system for XP awards," and shove it in House Rules or something, but the need for a new system still hasn't been proven to me.</p><p></p><p>The "lack" of story/RP awards in D&D 3.x is an often heard criticism and one, I feel, has the least basis in fact. I'll grant that in 3.0 the story award system felt like it was an afterthought but IMO this really isn't so for 3.5. The system is very vague on what constitutes a challenge, and leaves the determination of what "dealing with an encounter" really entails up to the DM. Thus, it is DM, not the game, that decides how to distribute these awards and thus it is the DM that encourages one type of play over the other. My games really don't have a lot of combat in them and I get by with what is printed in the DMG just fine.</p><p></p><p>I think why D&D gets this sort of indictment is because they do have a very nice and tidy, formulaic way to determine XP for Traps and Creature Encounters. These things tend to only deal with two variables (CR and Party Level.) However, dealing with other sort of encounters with creatures is a little more vague (I generally give some fraction of the CR - requesting a (CR 16) king to grant you a foef is generally less challenging the defeating him in combat.) These deal with alot of variables. It gets even worse with story awards, where stories vary greatly with different campaigns.</p><p></p><p>In the end, D&D (3.5) seems to me to have the stance where it comes to XP of "here's some nice pretty table to determine XP for some situations, use this as a guide but really give out what you think is appropriate." If you ask me, this solution appeals to the broadest range of people. Adding more complications will appeal to some while irritating others (for being to railroading). Some people might want to add more details, which the 3.5 system accomodates nicely with the "give what you think is appropriate." Really, more power to you, and I'm certain there are several already in House Rules.</p><p></p><p>And I still really don't see how the above message encourages a specific sort of game. But maybe it's just me.</p><p></p><p>YMMV</p><p>Werner</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="eryndel, post: 1337477, member: 13120"] A few points: 1) Going over the thread again, my post stands out as one of the more snarky. I apologize for that and will retract at least the tone of the statement. (The example I still feel serves well to describe my point of view.) 2) I still [I]strongly[/I] disagree with the thesis statement of the post. I do not feel that the current system for XP awards is inadequate nor does is encourage one single type of play, and thus I don't see a need in a new one. You can come up with a new one if you like, whip it up in a thread title something like, "Here's my new system for XP awards," and shove it in House Rules or something, but the need for a new system still hasn't been proven to me. The "lack" of story/RP awards in D&D 3.x is an often heard criticism and one, I feel, has the least basis in fact. I'll grant that in 3.0 the story award system felt like it was an afterthought but IMO this really isn't so for 3.5. The system is very vague on what constitutes a challenge, and leaves the determination of what "dealing with an encounter" really entails up to the DM. Thus, it is DM, not the game, that decides how to distribute these awards and thus it is the DM that encourages one type of play over the other. My games really don't have a lot of combat in them and I get by with what is printed in the DMG just fine. I think why D&D gets this sort of indictment is because they do have a very nice and tidy, formulaic way to determine XP for Traps and Creature Encounters. These things tend to only deal with two variables (CR and Party Level.) However, dealing with other sort of encounters with creatures is a little more vague (I generally give some fraction of the CR - requesting a (CR 16) king to grant you a foef is generally less challenging the defeating him in combat.) These deal with alot of variables. It gets even worse with story awards, where stories vary greatly with different campaigns. In the end, D&D (3.5) seems to me to have the stance where it comes to XP of "here's some nice pretty table to determine XP for some situations, use this as a guide but really give out what you think is appropriate." If you ask me, this solution appeals to the broadest range of people. Adding more complications will appeal to some while irritating others (for being to railroading). Some people might want to add more details, which the 3.5 system accomodates nicely with the "give what you think is appropriate." Really, more power to you, and I'm certain there are several already in House Rules. And I still really don't see how the above message encourages a specific sort of game. But maybe it's just me. YMMV Werner [/QUOTE]
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