EXPs for Repeat Buisness?

[FCWesel]

Hey all. The debate goes about CRs, ELs and EXPs and one thing I was wondering was how you other GMs handled "repreat encounters" and EXPs.

For example. You have a beastie that can plane shift or teleport away. The PCs beat on the thing and then it shifts away to come back a few days later and then, right before it is killed...shifts away again, only to come back again and again.

I mean the party could *just barely almost* kill these things dozens of times before they finally put it down.

Some would say that the shifting/teleporting stuff is counted in the CR, and thus accorded in the exp awardement of getting the EXPs when it finally is killed off.

HOWEVER. My arguement for that is part of the CR of the creature is meant to be how much powers, abilities, and magic and other stuff is used to defeat a monster. A tough encounter would use some 75% (+) of the groups resources, including spells and disposable magic (potions/scrolls). If the group had the same encounters over and over...they are using (over and over) the same amount of resources. Thus being depleted more and more.

Perhaps a 25% awardement for "driving the creatures off" should be given out, then the full thing when the PC finally end the threat?

(I also know some people ignore CRs/ELs/EXPs completely and give story-based EXP, as per SWD20 and WoTD20.)

Just some thoughts.

 

[Crothian]

I have taken to the give XP based on actual challenge of the encounter. So, even in an encounter they don't win I judge on how well they did, and how challenging it was for them and gave XP of off that.

 

[dcollins]

This is pretty clearly a call by any individual DM.

For my games, as you basically suggest, PCs can only ever get one unit of XP over the lifetime of an opponent. If they drive it off, they may get 25% or 50% the XP value. Drive it off again, maybe get half of what's left. Kill it and they get whatever's remaining.

I have had cases where villains get reincarnated, and PCs get a full share of XP when they kill him again.

I bet I'm in the minority with this method.

 

[AuraSeer]

IMO, forcing the monster to flee is effectively the same as killing it, and I give out full XP. In a world where True Resurrection spells exist, an enemy could come back even after being decapitated and cremated, so "death" doesn't mean all that much.

Some folks seem to think of XP as a limited resource, with only a certain amount available from a given monster. I don't think that makes sense. XP is just a measure of how much the PCs have learned from a given situation, so it's effectively unlimited as long as they're challenged. If you fight the same great wyrm ten times, and each time it's a challenge with real risk, you get just as much XP as if you had fought ten different dragons.

Another way to think about it is this. Say the PCs are being pestered by a teleporting baddie. The PC wizard hits him with a Melf's Acid Arrow just before he teleports away. If the baddie survives, do the PCs get full XP? What if the acid kills him one round after he gets back to his hideout? Since it's the same encounter either way, I don't think the villain's death should have anything to do with the XP award.

Of course it's a different story if the villain's death is integral to the adventure. When the party has been assigned to "stop the raids on the fishing villages" or whatever, just driving the culprit away is a step in the right direction, but they don't get full XP for the story unless they end the threat for good.

[Edited for typos.]

 

[jodyjohnson]

Retread Xp

In general your receive experience for overcoming a challenge. The XP gained is based on the CR modifed by the relative EL.

If the challenge is to kill/eliminate the opponent then you get no XP until he's eliminated.

If the challenge was to pass, defeat, or overcome the opponent than you could get multiple sets of XP from that opponent in separate adventures. If you meet the opponent again in the same adventure, he wasn't overcome or defeated the first time. An opponent that will leave or escape lowers the EL which will lower the XP reward.

YMMV

 

[EC432]

I'd probably give some minor XP for "lessons learned", but only minor story-wise XP. Let them figure out a way of finishing him off (or of making it so that his attacks aren't anything to be concerned about) before giving them the full award.

 

[0-hr]

I'd give out XP each time the bad guy was defeated.

What if you drive him away and he never comes back? That should earn full xp.

But what if he changes his comes back the next day? You lose the previous xp until you kill him again?

What if he waits a month before coming back? How about a year? When has it been long enough? What if an opponent killed 10 years ago is resurrected? Does everyone suddenly lose the xp?

What if you drive the bad guy away and he never comes back, but then you run into his evil twin? It just gets goofy.

Each encounter overcome should garner xp based on the challenge. Fighting a series of 12 Balor is just as tough as fighting the same Balor 12 times. You should get xp if you kill the bad guy. You should get xp if you drive him away. You should get it each and every time you defeat him.

BTW: I give xp for summoned creatures too

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

This is a DM call.

In general, experience is awarded for success in an encounter. Driving a monster away is usually the same as defeating it. Yes, it is possible to encounter the same opponent over and over again. Do not confuse "defeating" with "killing".

Keep in mind that powerful monsters are there for a purpose, and do not keep harassing a party for no reason. The purpose is an important consideration in judging the result.

If a demon lurks in the catacombs and its purpose is to prevent the party from investigating the area, and it so badly mauls the party before escaping that the party has to immediately leave the area to recupe, I would call that a minor victory for the demon. Give only a little xp to the PCs.

If the PCs trounce the demon and continue investigating, that is a victory for the white hats. Give them full xp. If the demon shows up again tomorrow, they get more xp then, too.

There was an excellent example a while a ago: PCs are guarding a princess, and they are ambushed. The ambushers are attempting to kill the princess. An enemy sorceror spends all his spells and runs away, but the PCs do not pursue because they are mopping up other combatants. The princess lives. I would definitely give full xp for defeating the sorceror, because the sorceror was thwarted in his goal. Even though it is certain they will have to fight that sorceror again.

 

[Henry]

Of course, it IS a DM call, but think about what a CR is: a Challenge Rating. If the PC's thwarted the enemy's plans, they should get XP as if they had defeated him in combat. After all, the enemy brings its full resources to bear against the PC's, so they should be rewarded for victory.

 

[gfunk]

I agree it is a DM decision. Though the DMG points out that XP should be given when PCs "overcome" a monster, I interpret this rather strictly.

If a Monster is killed (-10 or below) or subdued completely (below 0 hp), then I give the party full XP. Otherwise, I seldom give XP. Some monsters, for instance can Plane Shift or Tport out to fight another day.

In one rare case, the party killed an NPC receiving full XP. The NPC was then raised and lost a level. The party killed him *again*, though the CR was less the 2nd time around