Do you use Xp Penalty and when ?

[Keeper of Secrets]

I have never taken xp away from someone (but have reduced awards). Even the award reduction is rare. I would rather just tell the player what they are doing that irks me or disrupts the game.

 

[TerraDave]

After posting yesterday that I would no longer use XPs as a prod for player behaviour, I started thinking this morning of just doing that!! (for a lack of participation in some between session play be email)...I guess old habits die hard...but I have thought better of it (he did post something)

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I don't do xp penalties... although I only award xp for challenges overcome - social, quest or combat. Used to give out bonuses, but found them too devisive. Tend to reward good roleplaying with in game bonuses - status, favours, stuff, etc.

If the 'challenge' was totally unecessary then there is no xp award. I'm talking extreme cases here - i.e. In a normal game, a PC who attacked and killed random bystanders without reason is not going to get xp for the combat. Although that would probably be the least of their problems.

 

[werk]

...

Depends on how you award XP. Ways to distribute XP that I can think of as follows.

Combat XP should not be reduced unless you are especially picky about metagaming in combat or you have a player who actually LOOKS UP the monster they are facing during the fight.

Roleplaying XP should only be docked to people who consistantly play against how they say their character is. Examples would include someone who describes their character as a one who tries to talk their way out of trouble, but constantly uses violence as the first option.

Quest-based XP should only be docked if they actually fail to fufill the quest.

I do it this way as well. I don't remove xp ("you are struck by a blue-bolt-from-above and lose a level") but I do dock xp...in my own way. When I think something needs done along these lines, I calculate party xp pretty low, split it up, then reward the other players for better play with xp bonuses. That way I'm not actually penalizing the offending player, I am instead rewarding good play which should encourage the player rather than discouraging or causing hard/hurt feelings.

 

[Ashrum the Black]

I've never docked XP, and the few times I've awarded some bonus XP for good roleplaying or problem solving it has caused hurt feelings so I don't even do that much anymore. I try to keep things simple and pad XP based on their rolplaying as a group. So they might all see an extra 200 xp for the night, but since its rolled in they never know abot it.

The bonus though means on the night when everything gells they get a few more and it make s the night even more memorable when they see the number. Besides, it makes me feel better to do it.

But never have I docked XP. To me that is just, not right. The XP is the ruler measuring their growth, and if they've screwed the pooch they don't get the xp for succeeding, but to take away the XP earned before for their sucess's ... (shrug) Just wouldn't be right and would feel way to heavy handed.

-Ashrum

 

[Mallus]

Do I use XP penalties?

Never.

And whatever bonus XP I give out is to the entire group. If the general level of roleplaying and strategizing is above the norm (I guess this could be lumped togther as 'involvement'), I hand out a bonus.

Otherwise, I just gets too subjective for me. I'd hand out bonus XP to players who played in the style I enjoyed the most. And hand out awards for doing inane, swashbucking things, rather than for 'smart' and 'carfeful' play (if I wanted to play a smart and carfeful game, I'd play chess...)

So no penalties. And common bonus awards. Everyone gets the same XP. Rewards for whatever I deem 'good play' are all handled in-game.

In fact, with my current group, players who miss sessions get full XP (why penalize someone for having the curtesy not to show up when sick and contagious, or for having familial obligations?).

My game is a pleasant social experience, albeit stuffed to the gills with violence and absurdity...

 

[Jdvn1]

There you go, letting the players walk all over you like that. Pussy.

Rav

Hey, they know that if they tick me off enough, I can find ways to kill them.

"Oh, okay, the little squirrel next to you? It turns into a Great Wyrm Red Dragon. So do its three friends. Here's their surprise round... oh, you can't take 420 damage? Sorry, roll up a new character."

That's punishment.

 

[TheEvil]

My DM would either kill you character out right or kick you out of the game for good if you continually looked up the monsters during the fight. That is a absolutely unbreakable rule that no one in our group tolerates!

Whereas I agree, I have been suprised by the number of stories I have heard of GMs who did nothing.

 

[Tom Cashel]

I sure wouldn't want you as my DM ever! Only because I have a hard enough time affording to feed myself and supporting my own habits much less the Know it All DM!

Just so you know, the above qualifies as "backtalk."

 

[focallength]

Of course, If I feel the pcs blew through an encounter, didnt put any effort into it, poor role playing, etc... I just dont give them full xp, I never tell them "ok you get 5000 xp but Im taking away 1500 because I felt you werent in character" this is stupid as the players will just get pissy. If they have no idea how much their going to get at the end of the session they are happy no matter what they get. With xp ignorance is bliss, Because at the end they will be all jazzed that they are only 3000 away from next level instead of feeling jipped and being sad that they are 3000 away from next level. xp. is prozac for your players, dont abuse it and they will be "calm and peaceful as hindu cows"