How do you prefer to earn/award XPs?

[Dalamar]

I voted 90/10, though I count succesfully avoiding a fight as combat (within reason; successfully staying at an inn does not count as avoiding a barroom brawl).

 

[Glyfair]

As a DM, I prefer to give out a set amount of experience so the PCs at a rate that serves the campaign best. Once I determine that amount, I give out bonus experience for other things.

Bonuses can be as simple as keeping an online journal, or it can be for things that extraordinary roleplaying (taking an action at a disadvantage to the character because it makes sense) or coming up with an innovative solution to a problem.

 

[Desdichado]

I prefer to not use XP at all, and just have "random" GM initiated levelling.

 

[barsoomcore]

I award XP based on how much grovelling my players do.

 

[Nail]

It's all about how much chocolate and/or snacks the players bring.

 

[Ahnehnois]

I assign free-form XP. Whatever I feel like, whenever I'm not busy. Never liked formulas and CRs and such.

I prefer the same when I'm playing.

I give out combat XP (which oddly enough comes out very close to by the book values every time I've checked), smaller awards for non-combat feats (such as important skill checks or interesting in-character interactions), as well as "quest XP" whenever major plot points hit.

I give slightly different XP to each character, which is another style I prefer. Most of my players are sensible enough not to get too competitive about it.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I give 100% xp of NPCs defeated (Whether or not combat takes place) plus xp for staying single classed (10% bonus) and xp ewards for fleshing out the campaign.

 

[ppz]

XP for doing stuff*. Since stuff changes every session, some weeks can be heavy on combat, others not so much.


* where stuff == combat, non-combat, goals, traps, puzzles, social encounters, etc.

 

[jmucchiello]

The players are made aware of this award process in the beginning, and we move forward from there. I feel it encourages a progress-oriented game instead of a combat-oriented game.

Maybe I should make a new thread but I could be on topic...

When you don't discuss this ahead of time, do your players really start gratuitous combats to gain extra xp? I'm not sure that what you've implied, but it's what I've read. I play in a heavily combat oriented group and even they don't just start a fight so they can gain a few xps.

We use the CR system for all tasks but I plan next campaign to just go 2-4 sessions a level, ie. at the speed of plot.

 

[Voadam]

I tend to give out levels at the end of modules or at good midpoints in long modules. I generally say "Everybody level up" and don't worry too much about individual xp.