Handing out XP: CR vs EL

[Gulla]

It should be the same (or approximately the same, subject to rounding in the XP table). I do this myself simply as a method to not be multiplying CR by number of creatures by modifiers; just take the EL and the results is fundamentally equivalent.

I used EL for a while, but switched back to CR the first time the PCs got past the level where they don't get any XP for lvl 1 CR. Using EL then suddenly gives them XP for something they should get nothing for (like the 200 kobolds in front of the Dragon to slow them down while it casts Divine Favor, Rightheous might and Divine Power)

Håkon

 

[dcollins]

Well, technically the EL rules don't support groups of any more than 16... if you expand it beyond that, you need to make reasonable judgements about the EL in the first place.

 

[Darkness]

Well, technically the EL rules don't support groups of any more than 16...

12, no? At least in 3.5.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

I'm still not understanding how calculating XP by EL instead of CR can make much of a difference... I tried looking it up in the DMG last night and only succeeded in confusing myself further.

I think I will have to go with just handing out levels as I see fit, and get some kind of point pool for people wanting to do things that normally take XP - like crafting magic items and the rare spell.

 

[Darkness]

I'm still not understanding how calculating XP by EL instead of CR can make much of a difference...

As mentioned a few times in this thread, it generally does not.

 

[Philip]

I'm still not understanding how calculating XP by EL instead of CR can make much of a difference... I tried looking it up in the DMG last night and only succeeded in confusing myself further.

I think I will have to go with just handing out levels as I see fit, and get some kind of point pool for people wanting to do things that normally take XP - like crafting magic items and the rare spell.

There are a few instances where it does. Examples:

A 12th lvl party defeats a Young Adult Red Dragon (CR 13) and his horde of 64 Gnoll (CR 1) servants. Together they are EL 15. Calculating XP by EL gives 10,800 XP to the party, calculating XP by CR gives 64 * 0 XP + 1 * 5400 XP to the party. Quite a difference, calculating by EL gives more XP than by CR in this case.

A 1st lvl party defeats 2 Gnolls (CR 1). Together they are EL 3. Calculating XP by EL gives 900 XP to the party. Calculating XP by CR gives them 2 * 300 = 600 XP. Now, calculating by EL gives more XP than by CR, as in the previous example.

A 5th lvl party defeats 4 Triceratops (CR 9). Together they are EL 13. Calculating XP by EL gives 0 XP to the party. Calculating XP by CR gives them 4 * 6,000 = 24,000 XP. In this case, calculating by EL suddenly gives less XP than by CR.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

Wow, now there's a difference. Hmmm maybe it will work, after all it's one of the recommended ways of doing XP in the WLD. Still weird though hehe

 

[Darkness]

A 5th lvl party defeats 4 Triceratops (CR 9). Together they are EL 13. Calculating XP by EL gives 0 XP to the party.

That's a common mistake.

 

[The Souljourner]

The only time EL gives different XP is when there's a huge disparity in relative level between the PCs and the NPCs. Generally, in these cases, the DM has to make a judgement call as to how difficult the encounter actually was. 64 CR1 monsters could be really hard for a level 10 group, or it could be really easy. The same goes for the other direction: if a 5th level party defeated 4 CR 9 monsters, you gotta look at how this was possible. By all rights, they should have just gotten their butts kicked.

We usually just do individual CR xp, and adjust as necessary.

-The Souljourner

 

[dcollins]

12, no? At least in 3.5.

You're right of course (in both 3.x), the 16 was off the top of my head.
We can agree that it's less than 400.