Fight Your Own Summon for XP, would you allow it?

I would not tell them if they got XP for the encounter or not. (I wouldn't give them XP for it but I'm not telling them that). It would be up to the summoner to summon the thing and to have them fight it. If that's what they want to do then they can do it.

That probably works if you don't show your players how you got to a certain amount of exp after a whole session or even a story arc, it doesn't really apply if you have players who wish to know what goes on behind the DM's curtain.
 

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That probably works if you don't show your players how you got to a certain amount of exp after a whole session or even a story arc, it doesn't really apply if you have players who wish to know what goes on behind the DM's curtain.

They can wish all they want. I don't tell them if an encounter is worth XP. I don't tell them what encounter is worth what amount of XP before hand or after. If they are that focused on XP then they can find another group to play with.
 

They can wish all they want. I don't tell them if an encounter is worth XP. I don't tell them what encounter is worth what amount of XP before hand or after. If they are that focused on XP then they can find another group to play with.

Haha, I see! Well, it wouldn't work with my group, but that's okay because I like it when they're on the same page as me. Little problem areas get discussed and they're usually pretty mature about it when I give my reasons for wanting to do something in a certain way. No two groups are alike, of course.
 


They can wish all they want. I don't tell them if an encounter is worth XP. I don't tell them what encounter is worth what amount of XP before hand or after. If they are that focused on XP then they can find another group to play with.

This.

Also, I might handle it.....creatively. Things like storytelling, world background and internal plot logic are significantly more important than rules lawyering in my game. I probably wouldn't want to game with someone who would attempt this in the first place. But if one of my players ever did try something like this, the outcome would be in keeping with the storyline no matter what the book rules might say.

I might let this apparently work for awhile, if the idea of practice drills with summoned monsters appealed to them. Why not? If it made logical sense that they actually would learn something by summoning and examining a creature they had never seen before, fine. But it wouldn't take long before they wouldn't be able to learn anything new that way. And at some point, the piper would have to be paid.

"Those gateways that rip through the very fabric of the planes are fraught with peril, especially for the less experienced Seekers of the Ways. There are balances that must be kept, bargains that must be made, and currents that run unseen through the storm-tossed aether. Young wizards who use these tools crudely for mere profit, without a deeper understanding of those balances - they risk more than they know. Much more."


- Ourmphorous the White, First Scholar of the College Arcane


I wonder who or what might end up unhappy about the repeated abuse of a summoning spell? Whatever it is, it won't be much fun for the PC's. My long-time players know me well enough that if a new player tried something like this, they would probably sit on his head until he promised not to go there.

Or they'd cheerfully go with it as a plotline, knowing full well that payback would be a witch. I am blessed with some very good roleplaying gamers who value storytelling and character development over "winning".
 


This.

Also, I might handle it.....creatively. Things like storytelling, world background and internal plot logic are significantly more important than rules lawyering in my game. I probably wouldn't want to game with someone who would attempt this in the first place. But if one of my players ever did try something like this, the outcome would be in keeping with the storyline no matter what the book rules might say.

I might let this apparently work for awhile, if the idea of practice drills with summoned monsters appealed to them. Why not? If it made logical sense that they actually would learn something by summoning and examining a creature they had never seen before, fine. But it wouldn't take long before they wouldn't be able to learn anything new that way. And at some point, the piper would have to be paid.

"Those gateways that rip through the very fabric of the planes are fraught with peril, especially for the less experienced Seekers of the Ways. There are balances that must be kept, bargains that must be made, and currents that run unseen through the storm-tossed aether. Young wizards who use these tools crudely for mere profit, without a deeper understanding of those balances - they risk more than they know. Much more."


- Ourmphorous the White, First Scholar of the College Arcane


I wonder who or what might end up unhappy about the repeated abuse of a summoning spell? Whatever it is, it won't be much fun for the PC's. My long-time players know me well enough that if a new player tried something like this, they would probably sit on his head until he promised not to go there.

Or they'd cheerfully go with it as a plotline, knowing full well that payback would be a witch. I am blessed with some very good roleplaying gamers who value storytelling and character development over "winning".
While I understand everyone's responses mechanically, I like the creativity of this suggestion. This furthers the enjoyment of gameplay, and I'd like to play along with something like this. Thank you.

Now, [Called] monsters, on the other hand...

This hasn't come up, but I'd also keep this in mind. This might be more permissible mechanically, but it would almost definitely have a backlash like [MENTION=87695]TanithT[/MENTION] has suggested.
 

This might be more permissible mechanically, but it would almost definitely have a backlash like @TanithT has suggested.

Taking care of the game mechanics part would actually be a pretty easy tweak.

"I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."
- J. Wellington Wimpy


The PC's get the XP for the summoned monsters. No problem. Happy PC's. Until the Gatekeeper shows up, enraged at their abuse of the delicate aethyric pathways that weave through the Gates of such summonings.

How much XP is the Gatekeeper worth? Pretty much the total of what the PC's already got from killing "his" monsters. Except the PC's already got it. No loot either, since he dissolves back into the aethyr upon defeat.

Note I said defeat, not death. I don't imagine you can actually kill such a being. So he's still out there, in case the PC's feel like repeating the abuse so that they can enjoy another completely XP-less, loot-less fight against a very mean boss. :devil:
 

Until the Gatekeeper shows up, enraged at their abuse of the delicate aethyric pathways that weave through the Gates of such summonings.

Uh... What Gatekeeper? The Gatekeeper for all-things-summoned? Every animal, vermin, outsider and elemental?

I think I see what you're saying, but I find it hard to imagine "The Gatekeeper" as a plausible entity. Especially one whose exp is exactly the same as the all-things-summoned put together.
 

Uh... What Gatekeeper? I find it hard to imagine "The Gatekeeper" as a plausible entity.

Tell that to her:

2732115758_sigourney_weaver_in_ghostbusters1_answer_2_xlarge.jpeg


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnJvsBbELvk&feature=related[/ame]
 
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