How shall I calculate XP for a party with some cohorts?

[Shin Okada]

What does "the cohort earns XP at one-half the rate a PC would." mean?

Say, a 12-the level Cleric, with 4 other 12th-level PCs, got a 11th-level Cohort. Asssume the party overcomed an Encouter worth 10,000 XP.

a) When calculating XP, I do not count the cohort, because that cohort is just part of PC Cleric's power. So I devide the total XP by 5 (2,000 XP). Then, the cohort will get 1/2 of the XP the PC Cleric gained (1,000 XP).

b) I devide the total XP by 5.5. Each PCs will get that amount of XP (1,818 XP). The cohort will get half of that (909 XP).

c) I devide the total XP by 6. Each PCs will get that amout of XP (1,666 XP). The cohort will get half of that (833 XP).

 

[smetzger]

b

 

[Chriskaballa]

My easy-to-follow system for cohort XP, providing you have a calculator handy.

1) Divide the amount of XP by 2x+y, where X is the number of PCs and Y is the number of cohorts.

2) The result represents one 'share' of the XP. Give 2x this number to each PC and 2x this number to each cohort.

Example. A party of 5 PCs and 2 cohorts earns 9000 XP. X = 5, Y = 2. So 2(5)+2=10+2=12. Divide 9000 by 12 to get 750. Therefore, award 750 to each cohort and 750x2 or 1500 to each PC.

I apologize for any confusiopn I may have caused as I have not consumed any sugar/caffeine yet today to start my brain up.

~Chris

 

[dcollins]

The proper answer is option (B).

One method is given on DMG p. 147, under "Cohorts", paragraph 4. It apparently assumes that dividing by "0.5" is too conceptually difficult for people, and hence gives an approximation to option "B".

 

[Shin Okada]

Thanks! I have been overlooking P.147.