Dms keeping player experience points secret

[the Jester]

Does anyone dm, or play with a dm, in such a way that the players don't know their xp totals?

I've read a number of comments about this over the years on the boards here, and I was just contemplating the idea- as the dm, I would just tell the players when they leveled, and just track it myself.

What are the benefits, as a dm, to doing this? What are the drawbacks?

As a player, how do you feel about this idea? Does it work? Is it lame? Would you hate it? Would you enjoy not knowing how far you had to go?

Discuss away.

 

[tonym]

I'd want to know why all the secrecy all of a sudden, but I wouldn't be annoyed or anything. Unless the leveling slowed down to a crawl, in which case I'd yell, "Ah HA! So that's what you were up to!"

Tony M

 

[Crothian]

I do. I makes the players not meta game so much abotu XP in fact out of sight out of mind works really well.

 

[Endur]

Sure I do this.

Benefits as a GM: I don't have to calculate XP if I don't feel like it (I can wing it). Characters level when I want them to level.

 

[Shemeska]

Pros:

People don't go out of their way to get into fights just to gain XP because they're thaaaaat close to going up a level. Me keeping XP behind the screen makes the game more interactive storytelling and moves more and more away from hack'n'slash. RP takes a front seat, and I've noticed that ever since I stopped giving out XP totals to people compared to the game that I did.

I also have the ability to simply have them level when I want, as it feels appropriate to what they've accomplished, how long a time period it's been, and how much if any downtime they've had.


Cons:

Very few.

Only hiccup is magic item creation, and certain spells that use XP. In that case I'll provide a total if asked, but then and only then. I'm even tempted to let them use the spells, but just keep a rough tally of it and let them know if they should slow down on it.

 

[kolikeos]

Sure I do this.

Benefits as a GM: I don't have to calculate XP if I don't feel like it (I can wing it). Characters level when I want them to level.

you know, that is a very good idea. i think i'll start using it, its not as if i was calculating xp at all in the past, i just gave it in a freestyle way. this way the players will level up a lot faster because every time i feel like going up a level, every three or four sessions, i'll have them going up a level.

 

[Jeb McDonald]

One of our DMs does experience points this way--

Start at 1st level: End of one session, advance to 2nd level
2nd level: end of two sessions, advance to 3rd level.
3rd level and beyond: advance every third session.

Basically....

 

[the Jester]

So far the responses are very interesting.

It also goes without saying that I also welcome input from my players who post.

 

[smootrk]

I would think most players want to know... not for any good reason, just because that is the way it has always been for most.

Other than that, I think it is a good idea. I like the thought of leveling the characters when I feel like leveling them instead of being held to a table of stats. I will think on this aspect as well.

 

[Darkness]

I exclusively keep track of 'em myself (as I'm the guy with the computer) but tell players their totals if they want to know (which is rare). Yeah... Not quite what you're looking for, I guess.