Dms keeping player experience points secret

[yangnome]

I've do this as well. I feel that it tends to focus them a bit more on story and roleplaying versus getting the next level. I also like the flexibility it gives me for planning the adventures. Sometimes I can level them a bit quickly and sometimes I can hold back a bit. I can level them when it makes sense.

When it comes to xp laden spells or magic item creation, I really havent had any problems. If the players want somethign, I'll tell them if they can do it or not. Sometimes I might fudge a bit and cut into their balance to let a something slide that they otherwise couldnt have done.

 

[BSF]

Spells and magic item creation are the big ones for me. Fortunately, that isn't a problem initially.

 

[Turanil]

Benefits as a GM: I don't have to calculate XP. Characters level when I want them to level.

That's the whole point of it indeed!

 

[IronWolf]

When I DM'ed I always posted XP totals to the message boards we used for between session conversations. In a new campaign starting at the next session where I will be the player it looks like the DM will keep track of XP. It does not make a big difference to me one way or the other as a player.

 

[Baron Opal]

It's only been once when I was a player, and it didn't do anything for me. The DM said he did it because he felt that there were some players who were leveling a little too quickly. This way, he would know exactly how much experience was given out and he could be sure that no one was artificially boosting their XP total. (This was a 1e game).

For myself, I keep tract of the experience so that I don't feel I have to come up with totally accurate XP for combats and dilemmas. Every one levels as the same time. At least until they start making magic items or make deals to gain abilities, and thus spend XP.

 

[derbacher]

I give XP at the end of every session, based on what I feel appropriate to get them to the point I want them to level at. I keep track of points, but I don't keep them secret. And if their totals don't match up with mine, I pull out the 15d6 orange dice of fireballs and have at them!

 

[Gold Roger]

Re

Hmmm, I see this version of giving xp as taking away the function of xp as an award. However, xp don't have much of this funktion these days anyway. So, unless you often give xp as award for good roleplaying and inovative actions it should be allright (pure fighting xp are nothing but paperwork anyway)

 

[Buttercup]

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.

I've tried lots of methods, but not this. It makes the most sense to me. I don't think I want to switch in mid-campaign, but I'll be adopting this when I start my next one.

 

[KB9JMQ]

I don't keep track of it at all as a DM. I just tell my players they level up when I feel it is needed. I try for about a dozen encounters but it seems I tell them about every 8 now.

As for magic item creation and such things, none of my players ever try to abuse my system but if they did I would just tell them they hit their limit.

 

[Brain]

So far the responses are very interesting.

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

I'd want to know the general reasoning behind a change. Is it a flavor thing where you want it to feel different and less mechanical? Is it a bookkeeping thing where you are tired of people not knowing their own experience totals and being irresponsible?

From my personal point of view, I don't think its necessary to switch anything. It works fine for me this way and I like to know where I stand and I also like to have a sense of progress as we go along.

P.S. For all those who are talking about just leveling up whenever the DM feels like it, that's not what the Jester is proposing here, at least I don't think it is. He keeps track of experience down to the 1s place and calulates it all out each session. He would just hide those numbers from the players, I believe.