How do you calculate XP?

[paranoid]

I have always used the 3.5 / FRCS variant (plus story-based XPs), because I think it is more fair towards both low- and high-level chars. Agreed, it required a little more calculation during the first sessions, but meanwhile - thanks to the system - every PC is 16th level now, which simplifies calculation tremendously.

cheers,
paranoid

 

[Ravellion]

I use the freeform XP variant offered in the 3.0 DMG (75xp per character level for a balanced encounter, 100 xp for hard, 50 for easy etc.). I haven't checked yet whether it has changed or not.

edit: However, before that I used the 3.5/FRCS method. I have a precalculated spreadsheet for 3, 4, 5 or 6 PC parties. (so you don't have to do the division yourself every time). You can download them from my webpage, or, alternatively directly from this direct link (Right click and "Save As").

Rav

 

[Buttercup]

I use a cross between 3.0 and Story-based. For random encounters, I use the 3.0 rules pretty strictly. But most of the party's XP comes from successfully completing tasks, and sometimes scales depending on how well they do.

Here's an example.

Find Matilda's missing daughters and bring them both back from the spider cave safely: 300xp per person.

As above, but one of the girls dies in the process: 200xp per person.

As above, but both girls die in the process: 100xp per person.

In addition, the rewards they receive are based on how well they do. If they come back with the corpses of Matilda's daughters, she will thank them, but be too distraught to offer them anything. If both of the girls are brought back safely, Matilda will give each of the party two healing potions, and Bertram, the bartender at the Ale Keg, will offer them a discount on room & board from now on, since Matilda is his wife's cousin.

 

[Davelozzi]

I give out XP based on the following categories. :

1. Combat
2. Skills (especially class skills), natural talent (ability score checks), and other non-magical abilities
3. Magic, psionics, and other supernatural powers
4. Roleplay (character interaction, behaving in character)
5. Adherence to values of your group (religion, order, race, culture, etc.)
6. Style (cool moves, creative use of skills, powers, the environment, etc.)

Each character is eligible for a certain amount of XP per session, but the amount is divided differently among the ategories based on character class, race and background.

I also give out a little bit of bonus XP for the following:
1. Attendance
2. Metagame (enhancing everyone's fun, keeping things moving, etc.)
3. Progress made towards character goals (must have goals to be eligible)
4. Progress made towards party and mission goals

Until recently, I used the 3.0 method but I switched because I found that it made the game too combat oriented because my players feel like they were wasting time when they weren't in battle gaining XP.

 

[Holy Bovine]

For monster bashing , trap foiling etc. I use the tables out of the DMG for the most part (I will tweak the CR up or down as I see fit however based on how well the party did - for example last the party took down 4 fighters in what was supposed to be a main fight without drawing an ounce of blood. They surprised them and took them prisoner before the NPCs knew what was happening. That gae them a bonus because it was very well done and the NPC fighters were simple lackeys capturing them gave the party a lot more information than their corpses would have!).

Story awards I assign a CR too (usually equal to the party's EL) and adjust up or down based upon how well they dealt with it.

For RP I tried something different last night. Being a 1st/2nd level party I asked each player how they felt they did in RP last night. Based upon how well they followed their alignment, class, personal vision of their character and interaction with NPCs and PCs. I asked them to score themselves out of 100 XP. It was an interesting excercise as some people thought they did rather poorly (one player rated himself at 20 - I felt he was closer to the 50-60 range) most average and one felt he was in the 70 pt range (I agreed - he did a very nice job with his cantakerous Druid with the low charisma - even to the point of getting the higher charisma PCs to do the talking). I gave my score for them as well and decided to average the 2 numbers. I probably won't always do that (and didn't in every case anyway).

Overall it was the first time that I felt comfortable with giving out RP awards. I always feel like I'm judging the players and feel guilty if I have to give some a high RP award and others a low one. I never want to seem like I'm playing favourites, especially since my fiancee is in the group too.

I also asked the players to rate my performance out of 100 'DM points' and asked what things I should work on to improve our game. I got some useful advice and the players seemed to like being able to give feedback in an open manner.

 

[kreynolds]

I chose other, 'cause I've always used the FRCS method, even though its now the 3.5 method.

 

[kreynolds]

And it's usually a bit quicker at lower levels and a bit faster at higher levels.

Don't you mean "a bit slower at higher levels"?

 

[Joseph Elric Smith]

I award EXP, basically, as I feel the party has earned it. I don't; use a formula, but rather the pace of the game, and the story line.
Ken

 

[Havlo]

Has anyone tried the XP awards in the revised Star Wars rulebook? I was thinking of trying them out and was curious if they work well for D&D...

 

[allenw]

I prefer level gains to slow down as you reach higher levels, similar to 1st and 2nd edition, so I've been using the 3.0 "average party level" method, but multiplying the average party level by 1.5 (rounded down, max of 20). It's getting a bit *too* slow now (10th-11th level, calculated as 15th level, therefore no XP for less than CR 8), so I'll be changing to the 3.5 "individual level" method, but reduced 5% per level (max of 95% at 19th level).