How do you like to get XP?

[Quasqueton]

I see on this forum that many DMs use non-standard ways of awarding experience points.

As a Player (not the DM), do you prefer getting xp "by the book" or getting xp according to a DM's house rule or "other formula"?

Quasqueton

 

[Mouseferatu]

No formula at all, really. Story, problem-solving, and RP awards, all the way.

When running a game, I figure a rough estimate of how fast I want the group to advance, and then modify that amount of XP based on the above criteria. I prefer the same when playing in a game.

 

[just__al]

I started a game about a year and a half ago where the DM just told us when we "dinged". I'm not entirely sure he was even keeping strict track as we generally just leveled after a significant game event like completing a mini-arch.

I have taken to this approach in the two different games I'm running right now (they are both the worlds largest dungeon) I just level them when it seems appropriate. They actually get nervous because they assume I'm leveling them just before a big fight (which is almost always the case)

I will be running another game not in the WLD and I'm toying with actually awarding XP and letting the players know what their totals are, but I haven't decided. It's probably going to have a lot to do with wether or not anybody takes XP burning feats/spells.

 

[Wombat]

I prefer XP awards that put somewhat less emphasis on combat (even though that is the core of what most people look at as D20) and rather more for non-combat situations -- clever Feat/Skill use, good characterization, puzzle solving, social interaction, interesting ideas, etc. I also prefer all XP being handed out at the end of an adventure, rather than on an encounter-by-encounter basis. At the end of the night (or a couple of sessions, if the adventure carries over) a total can be given, player by player, and then checked to see if the character goes up.

 

[Lobo Lurker]

Eh, I'm a lazy bum. To me, I see no reason to deal with divvying out XP and whatnot (though I recognize that this is a way to encourage/discourage different types of player activity). I prefer to just level the players or be leveled whenever the game calls for it 14-16 encounters ought to do it, less for high-powered games.

 

[Odhanan]

One should note that the XP awards by the book use Challenge Ratings. CR representing not only the threat foes present, but the basic challenge any task can represent. This means XP can be earned by the book for problem solving, diplomatic encounters, combat of course, trap disarming and so on and so forth.

I prefer to be rewarded by the book, personally.

 

[diaglo]

i don't like to get Xp. i like to earn it.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

Ok. Let me be the first in this thread to state that I like getting my XP "by the book." I like the feeeeeel of gathering XP and letting them dribble through my metaphorical fingers as I drool and plot on what I'm going to do with my character the next level.

To me, the gathering of XP is as much part of the game part of Roleplaying Games as rolling the dice and leveling.

That said, there are a couple of varient methods for XP that are by the book that I'm also happy with such as Story Awards and such. Which is fine.

I also like knowing how I'm getting those XP and how I can get more if need be, because, sadly enough, the construction and creation of magic items is tied to XP (possibly the only aspect of D&D3.x that I can honestly say that I loath).

 

[jodyjohnson]

Odhanon nailed it. XP by the book isn't just killing monsters.

 

[RangerWickett]

I like to get XP intravenously. That, or sucking it directly from the marrow of my fallen foes.