Have You Ever Given 0 XP, or Taken XP Away?

[BobbyMac]

We scorn games that are supposed to be 100% in character. Because they are impossible. Nothing is ever 100% in character. How do you pass the popcorn?


Negative XP for punds, bad or otherwise? Really? You'd get kicked out of ALL the groups I ever played with so fast it's not funny... We're here to have fun. If my jokes disturb your theatrical countenance, please feel free to write a play, start a troupe and become the play director, and leave us poor humans to our more humble entertainments.

I dread DMs who dish out negative XP punishment...

I dread DMs who mistake PCs for players and players for PCs...

I gave serious lip to a DM friend who penalized one of his players under the following circumstances: party has finally slain the opposing orcs. One heavily wounded fighter turns one orc corpse to face the ground, stands above it, grabs the collar and lifts, squeezes corpse between his legs and jumps up and down.
DM: "What are you doing?"
Player: "Rider of the Last Ork"
(Raiders of the Lost Ark was then a current release)

We DIED laughing! Why should that get penalized. Of COURSE, the adventurer in the dungeon wouldn't do that. Who cares? No sense in killing the fun.

That pun deserved positive XP!!


Never let the game get in the way of the entertainment, my momma always say....

 

[WayneLigon]

I...hm. I'm not sure how I'd categorize what I've done. I've gone "by the book" per the DUNGEON MASTER'S GUIDE and rewarded less EAXP for an encounter than a player's character "should have gotten" for bad behavior, or for generally not playing well with others.

I dunno if that constitutes "taking XP away" or not, hm.

Somewhat, but I'm more looking for "You. Deduct 1,000 XP from your character."

 

[megamania]

I have given 0 XP before. It was several years ago but something like dumb luck mixed with player knowledge used ticked me off. The players were okay with it after a few minutes of "Say What!!!!????".

After they laughed and agreed that maybe they were something they read from a book.

 

[megamania]

Somewhat, but I'm more looking for "You. Deduct 1,000 XP from your character."

Never removed points.

Though once I recall an entire game session where EVERY creature involved had level draining powers. It was wrong but felt so good. So in a way maybe I did take away XP once.

 

[pogre]

Nope never. I have kicked plenty of players to the curb though.

 

[RichGreen]

Never deducted xp. I don't think anyone has ever done nothing either in one of my games which is the only reason I wouldn't award any.

Cheers


Richard

 

[Darklone]

I've used the Atonement spell a lot to deduct XPs.

 

[Kwitchit]

I've only ever threatened to take off XP as a joke.

 

[shilsen]

PCs in my campaign get XP based on the speed of advancement I want. What they actually do in the session, whether they kill a dragon or spend the entire session walking around town talking to people, is irrelevant to the XP they gain. I don't consider XP a reward or something that links objectively to anything in the game. Instead, I view it as a primarily metagame tool which exists to facilitate level gain, simply because level gain is something most players enjoy.

My idea of a successful session is one that involves us all enjoying ourselves, and that might be achieved by furthering the plot in game and that might be achieved in a lot of different ways. If I have a problem with something occurring in the game, I'll talk to the players, not deal with it via XP. I'm already a professor. I don't need to be grading my players.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Logos!

I don't penalize lousy players ... I just kick them out of my group.

-Samir