Chris Lawrence
First Post
[Repost from RPG.net]
I’m looking to give players more opportunities to customize their characters, in this case by choosing different ways in which their character can earn XP (something like TSOY’s keys). I’m calling these different methods of getting XP ‘experience tracks.’ I’d like to ask for any ideas on more experience tracks that I could add. However, I should probably note that I ignore the idea of black & white morality in D&D*, and PCs in my games tend to be much more like the pulp heroes of Moorcock, Leiber and Howard. In other words, the PCs are more-or-less on the side of good, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not complete bastards. Also, when I say 'off-time,' I mean 'time in between adventures.' So, any ideas on more XP tracks?
*I understand that some posters will feel that this is an absolutely horrible idea, but I’d like to ask that we save that for another thread. Also, although many posters will feel the urge to enlighten me about why these experiene tracks are a bad idea, I'd prefer to keep this as a thread for people who either like the idea or still feel willing to suggest experience tracks even though they don't like the idea themselves.
XP TRACKS
Body Count Track: The character gets a small XP bonus every time he kills something.
Casanova Track: The character gets XP for successfully getting NPCs of their preferred gender into the sack.
Devotion/Love Track: The character gains XP for spending off-time with the cherished character(s), and receives extra XP for things done in direct defense of the cherished character(s).
Encounter Track: The standard XP track, which all players have automatically. The encounter track cannot be lost.
Faith track: The character gains XP for giving to his religious order and also gains extra XP whenever he is doing something at the behest of his religious order.
Honor Track: The character must use the honor or family honor system from Unearthed Arcana. The character gains XP every time her honor increases and loses XP every time it decreases.
Lager Lout Track: The character gets XP for getting dead-drunk, for drunken brawls and for other inebriated escapades.
Loot Track: The character gains extra XP for everything she manages to loot from defeated enemies.
Loyalty Track: The character gains extra XP for doing things that have been ordered by his or her primary affiliation.
Patriot Track: The character gains bonus XP for anything they do at the behest of their nation. They get a small number of XP from off-time spent living in their nation and lose a small amount for time spent outside the nation, unless living there at the behest of their nation.
Prestige Track: The character gains XP for increasing his or her reputation and/or affiliation scores.
Samaritan Track: The character gets XP from giving to the poor and gets an XP bonus every time he or she helps a poor or defenseless NPC.
Theft Track: The character gains extra XP for stuff that she steals.
Training Track: The character receives XP for training in off-time.
Work Track: The character receives XP for doing his or her job during off-time. Commoners, experts and any other NPC classes that are focused on practicing a trade or profession receive this track for free.
I’m looking to give players more opportunities to customize their characters, in this case by choosing different ways in which their character can earn XP (something like TSOY’s keys). I’m calling these different methods of getting XP ‘experience tracks.’ I’d like to ask for any ideas on more experience tracks that I could add. However, I should probably note that I ignore the idea of black & white morality in D&D*, and PCs in my games tend to be much more like the pulp heroes of Moorcock, Leiber and Howard. In other words, the PCs are more-or-less on the side of good, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not complete bastards. Also, when I say 'off-time,' I mean 'time in between adventures.' So, any ideas on more XP tracks?
*I understand that some posters will feel that this is an absolutely horrible idea, but I’d like to ask that we save that for another thread. Also, although many posters will feel the urge to enlighten me about why these experiene tracks are a bad idea, I'd prefer to keep this as a thread for people who either like the idea or still feel willing to suggest experience tracks even though they don't like the idea themselves.
XP TRACKS
Body Count Track: The character gets a small XP bonus every time he kills something.
Casanova Track: The character gets XP for successfully getting NPCs of their preferred gender into the sack.
Devotion/Love Track: The character gains XP for spending off-time with the cherished character(s), and receives extra XP for things done in direct defense of the cherished character(s).
Encounter Track: The standard XP track, which all players have automatically. The encounter track cannot be lost.
Faith track: The character gains XP for giving to his religious order and also gains extra XP whenever he is doing something at the behest of his religious order.
Honor Track: The character must use the honor or family honor system from Unearthed Arcana. The character gains XP every time her honor increases and loses XP every time it decreases.
Lager Lout Track: The character gets XP for getting dead-drunk, for drunken brawls and for other inebriated escapades.
Loot Track: The character gains extra XP for everything she manages to loot from defeated enemies.
Loyalty Track: The character gains extra XP for doing things that have been ordered by his or her primary affiliation.
Patriot Track: The character gains bonus XP for anything they do at the behest of their nation. They get a small number of XP from off-time spent living in their nation and lose a small amount for time spent outside the nation, unless living there at the behest of their nation.
Prestige Track: The character gains XP for increasing his or her reputation and/or affiliation scores.
Samaritan Track: The character gets XP from giving to the poor and gets an XP bonus every time he or she helps a poor or defenseless NPC.
Theft Track: The character gains extra XP for stuff that she steals.
Training Track: The character receives XP for training in off-time.
Work Track: The character receives XP for doing his or her job during off-time. Commoners, experts and any other NPC classes that are focused on practicing a trade or profession receive this track for free.
Perhaps they should get the XP even if they fail, given that such statements and the subsequent attempts are likely to land the character in a fair bit of trouble.
