How would you decide this?

[Li Shenron]

I am shocked to read how much you guys care for your "XP prize"... did you notice at least that the gp treasure isn't real? :\

Frankly I am glad that in our gaming group we treat experience in a very relaxed way. Yes, we too have some sort of "rules" for it, incidentally they are that you get xp only when you play, but there's no "punishment" inherent with missing a session, it's just a common practice which guarantess some occasional differences in the party's characters.

Eventually I would see no problem is freely raising the level of someone who has lagged behind and seems to be lost effectiveness in the action. As a matter of fact, after enough years of gaming when I DM I often just ask the players if they feel they need a level increase to try something new or they prefer to wait and improve their strategy more.

We still use CRs as guidelines, but all is really a matter of (1) keeping the party in line with the difficulty of the adventure, and (2) keeping the party level adequate with what players want, because the higher the level the more complex is the game, and how fun it is depends on how the players can manage the complexity so that it's neither too easy nor overwhelming.

 

[Nellisir]

I have to say, it sounds like a less-than-stellar job by the DM of laying out guidelines and expectations for the PCs, players, and the campaign in general.

HD was asked several times if he wanted to leave the character, but never told (it sounds like), that not doing so would result in a substantial penalty.

The DM should've made it clear to HD, once it was clear he was leaving and the knowledge wouldn't affect his gaming, that a major encounter WAS in the works and would NOT be delayed because of his nonpresence.

HD has certain understandings of how psionics work that might be different from the DM's -- at the very least, I'd make the point (as the character) of stating my reservations and concerns, so the other PCs are aware of why I'm holding back.

I voted full XP. 1) HD didn't blow off the session to sleep or eat dinner with his mom. He got called into work. 2) The logic of awarding XP simply because a sheet of paper was present never made sense to me. XP is really a reward for the player -- the sheet of paper doesn't care whether it "levels" or not.

As a DM, I keep character sheets - they're invaluable to me in determining the course, challenges, and rewards of an adventure (what do you mean, you already have two bags of holding...each?). Players can keep copies, but I get the working version. I also tell everyone that plays that if they are not there, their character will be roleplayed if necessary, usually by the group as a whole ("Should Buddy cast charm person?" "Nah. Buddy's still asleep.") People who consistently don't show up receive disinvitations to come back. People who do make the effort to show up get their characters levelled. Someone who is called away, or has to miss a session for a good reason, usually loses out on material rewards for the character ("Ah, dude...I was so looking forward to my third bag of holding!", but not XP.

Cheers
Nell.

My "Qualifications"? DM for 12 years. 4 multi-year campaigns, numerous short-term campaigns.

 

[Thanee]

I'd like other opinions on this situation, how would YOU rule here?

In general I think it is right to not give out XP for parts, that a character misses completely. It's also right to not let others play a character (unless it's just for the last bits of a combat, when the player must leave suddenly for example (happens), not the whole combat - in that case the character would get full XP for the combat).

Tough luck, if you had to leave because of other issues, but you would catch up later, using the proportional XP awards.

The loot should be distributed among the whole party usually, but that's up to the party to find a solution for, of course.

What I find weird is, that it seems like your party got massive amounts of XP from a fight, but zip from the investigative work before. I think those should be roughly equal and your character participated in the first part, so should be awarded appropriate XP for that.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Piratecat]

I'd be a lot more annoyed about the player drowsing off during the game than I would be about him having to leave to go to work. That sort of thing happens. When it does in my game, I generally give half xp (or what's appropriate from the build up) and the PCs generally give equal shares of the treasure.

I'll also point out that if a player aired their dirty laundry in public here at EN World, instead of to me as the DM, I'd be pretty damn upset. That's one of those things that I just wouldn't do. But each gaming group is different!

HD, since you've resolved the issue, do you want this thread closed?

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

GM Preference

Not knowing much about the session, here is how I look at it.

backdrop: GM sfor 15+ years in a variety of game systems

If your character has an impact on the encounter/story, your character earns XP for that impact.
Party Treasure is an in-character issue, potentially having characters earn XP for proper story impact.

Assuming what you has been said is true, I would have granted HD a portion of the story award for the 2/3rd session he was in.

In regards to leveling, 3rd edition is the first DnD experince point system I have liked enough to use. The best part is that level imbalances work themselves out over time... and if the lower level character does not continue to impact the encounter/story equally, they *earn* their lower level. Its a built in incentive to be on time, stay awake, and play!

If I was the GM, I would have highly encouraged HD to leave his character, but I have had players refuse as my rule is that you can't go back and 'fix' what happens to your character that you left in someone elses hand.

One thing I noted in the above exchange, HD apparently has not read the campaign setting information provided him. As a player, but more so as a player of a Bard, that is an impolite treatment of the GM's art.

JHMO

 

[Ferret]

I would say it was selfish if you hadn't of gone. Choosing leisure over covering someone. What I find odd is that they took away your EXP and Loot not beacuse you weren't there but because your C. sheet wan't there...

I'd give you some consolation, and possibley full loot and EXP.

 

[Tatsukun]

Wow, if I played with a DM who…

1) Didn't give out XP for anything but fighting
2) Complained when people role played
3) Kept whining that the players weren't getting to the kewl fight he set up,
4) AND made the only fight 6 CR over the party's level

…the question wouldn't be "How much XP should I get?". It would be "Anyone running a game I can join?"

Then again, it sounds like HD was being a rather poor player that day too.

Maybe a new group is best for all.

-Tatsu, not willing to put up with crappy DM's / Players

 

[Nail]

In our group we generally have the PC played by someone else, if at all possible. Really, it's not that hard to find someone in the group that can play even a complicated PC.

As for XP awards: I only give combat XP to the PC who's player missed. Role-playing and puzzle solving XP is only given to those that attend.

However, in this case, I'd give practically no XP for role-playing (falling asleep? Go home and take a nap!!) and no XP for the combat (PC wasn't there, so no XP).

 

[ironmani]

I would say you should get something for the rp part, but you werent there for the combat, and it seems you wouldnt have been there even if you stayed. I could be wrong. This is why with the group I play in, we give copies of our character sheet to the DM so that if something happens, IE you cant make it, your character can be there. We all agree on letting someone else run our character, (Well most in my d20 group, thers always one ) Thats just my two cents. And IMHO, I think this problem could have been resolved in private, and not thrown out to the public. I hope there are no hard feelings in your group after this.

 

[Maliki]

I voted for the partial XP, the character should get something for gathering the clues(even though the player was falling asleep) The character was not there for the fight however and so he should get no XP for the battle, the charcter wasn't there to learn anything. Had HD left his character behind and the character was present then he should have gained full XP. Being called into work is a pretty valid excuse to leave the game.