How do you prefer to earn/award XPs?

[Winterthorn]

Hello folks. This question popped into my head today:

How do people prefer to earn XPs as players/award XPs as DM's? I'm thinking a very simple choice, either from combat - slaying with sword and spell - or from outside combat - specific goals and treasure.

I would prefer, as DM, to do 50/50 in awarding points to my players, but the system and convenience seems to push me closer to 80 for combat and 20 for goals.

As a side question, wonder if there will be anything new or different in this matter in 4E?

 

[howandwhy99]

We receive rewards for all sorts of things. I'm not sure exactly what, but it adds up to rewards for acting as our class and for general group accomplishments. It could be killing, stealing, starting a church, damning a heathen, casting a spell, or just plain accomplishing our own goals.

 

[blargney the second]

I take candy from strangers.
-blarg

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

For systems where I prefer to use XP, I like to have players set character goals and GMs set campaign goals, and to hand out XP as those or completed. Mostly games like HERO or SilCore where you gain comparatively small amounts at a time.

For d20, I usually prefer to just use one session/one level.

 

[shilsen]

I prefer to not earn/award XPs for anything to do with in-game events. I'd much rather that XPs be awarded to keep the party advancing at a speed the DM is comfortable with. That also, in my estimation and experience, frees players up to have their PCs do precisely what they think they should in any given situation without worrying about whether it would earn them XP and how much.

In fact, I'd rather just drop XP and have PCs advance a level every few sessions.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Other. I give XP arbitrarily. As long as my players play the game, have fun and keep the game moving, I give them XP.

 

[Snapdragyn]

Other. Forget XP - level at the speed of plot. As a player, I much prefer this.

 

[Khairn]

I award XP based on a mix of combat, acting "in-character" and accomplishing goals that the players have accepted / chosen. I usually give a bonus for good RP'ing, keeping track of party loot / actions, character write-ups, or anything else that supports the group. I also award a healthy bonus for anyone who brings the GM a 6-pack to help keep my throat from becoming dry.

 

[Telsar]

I prefer to not earn/award XPs for anything to do with in-game events. I'd much rather that XPs be awarded to keep the party advancing at a speed the DM is comfortable with. That also, in my estimation and experience, frees players up to have their PCs do precisely what they think they should in any given situation without worrying about whether it would earn them XP and how much.

In fact, I'd rather just drop XP and have PCs advance a level every few sessions.

I agree with almost everything. I prefer advancement every 5-10 sessions.

If you award for combat, you're telling the players 'Don't play a coward who eventually overcomes his fear, because until he does, he's screwed." If you award for goals, you're telling the players "Don't have your characters decide their own goals, and don't worry about your characters' reasons for accomplishing my preset goals, you're just doing it for the level."

 

[HelloChristian]

I would prefer, as DM, to do 50/50 in awarding points to my players, but the system and convenience seems to push me closer to 80 for combat and 20 for goals.

I like your 80/20 system. I use something similar.

The only thing I've never liked about story awards and role-playing awards, however, is that they can feel a bit arbitrary. At least if the xp is the result of combat, it's pretty clear whether a character was successful, and therefore deserving of an xp award. If criteria for earning non-combat xp are established before play, then I'm okay with it.