I just killed 1000 orcs! How much xp do I get? None!?

[ArcOfCorinth]

If you make it all count as one encounter, then the EL is 20.9 and its worth 103125 xp.

http://www.enworld.org/cc/fiend_factory/elc/encounter_calculator.htm

 

[Bauglir]

EL 18.9

Orcs are CR 1/2.

Although it's acknowledged that the EL system breaks down fast as the numbers climb...

 

[Piratecat]

My high-level group recently wiped out around 800 low-level creatures in something like 2 rounds; have you seen the area of effect for firestorm? So yeah, I think that XP should be based on threat.

Even if you don't get much XP, think of the fame you'll receive for killing a thousand ravenous and bloodthirsty monsters!

 

[BLACKDIRGE]

Ok, folks I will admit I did exaggerate in the tag line a bit. We didn't really kill 1000 orcs it was more like 50. But my point is that at high levels monsters that could potentially provide a challenge are worth no XP because of their low CR.

So here is another example that might make my point a little better. My group of 4 11th pcs get's no xp for creatures with a CR 3 or lower. Now that means when we are confronted by 10 1st level ogre barbarians, which in my humble estimation present a very real threat, we get nothing. So in some regards I like the old days of Monster X = Y experience, period. So I guess what I will do when I DM is determine what the xp should be for "worthless" creatures and award accordingly.

Thanks for the responses.

Dirge

 

[Datt]

Well if you killed all 50 in one fight and not a bunch of little fights, then according to the above mentioned calculator, then you should have recieved a total of 1084 XP for that big fight. You guys would have been an EL of 11 and them an EL of 10.3.

 

[kigmatzomat]

Ok, folks I will admit I did exaggerate in the tag line a bit. We didn't really kill 1000 orcs it was more like 50. But my point is that at high levels monsters that could potentially provide a challenge are worth no XP because of their low CR.

Actually I believe that those entries on the XP table are * or - not 0. The difference is that the GM is supposed to determine the actual EL as it is too situational for a simple table to identify. Were these orcs all armed with bows? Did they operate balistas and trebuchets? Was there a single, comparable-level warpriest in their midst to cast dispel magic on your gear to keep you groundbased? Were you trapped in a 100' diameter cavern with 8' ceilings as the orcs poured in around you?

It's not automatic 0; it's not automatically anything. That's the point.

 

[BLACKDIRGE]

Actually I believe that those entries on the XP table are * or - not 0. The difference is that the GM is supposed to determine the actual EL as it is too situational for a simple table to identify. Were these orcs all armed with bows? Did they operate balistas and trebuchets? Was there a single, comparable-level warpriest in their midst to cast dispel magic on your gear to keep you groundbased? Were you trapped in a 100' diameter cavern with 8' ceilings as the orcs poured in around you?

It's not automatic 0; it's not automatically anything. That's the point.

Good point. And yes we were in a cramped underground complex, under attack by orcs with missile weapons while standing in the middle of an insect plague trap. They did have a CR 14 Half-fiend orc barbarian/sorcerer leading them (he actually killed one of us). So I think we were certainly challenged by the orcs. But as I said you make a good point about the * not a 0. I think our group and my DM just need to have a discussion about this and come up with a workable way to ward XP in the future.

Thanks

Dirge

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Well if you killed all 50 in one fight and not a bunch of little fights, then according to the above mentioned calculator, then you should have recieved a total of 1084 XP for that big fight. You guys would have been an EL of 11 and them an EL of 10.3.

You don't get XP based on EL, but on the CR for each creature.

 

[Darkness]

My group of 4 11th pcs get's no xp for creatures with a CR 3 or lower. Now that means when we are confronted by 10 1st level ogre barbarians, which in my humble estimation present a very real threat, we get nothing.

Ogres are broken.

Heh. Seriously, I think that "threat" is too strong a word here. Still, they will eat up some resources. And 'no xp' is a DM choice, IMO. IIRC, the DMG doesn't say 'no xp', but rather that the DM has to judge for himself.

 

[BASHMAN]

This is why Challenge Rating is Broken

Challenge Rating is broken. It says that orcs are not worth any xp against a party of 11th level characters regardless of tactics! If these orcs were using poison arrows, that did +5d20 damage, fortitude save -20 for 4/5th damage, they would STILL be worth no xp. that is stupid. Does anybody here remember a little dungeon treck called "DRAGON MOUNTAIN"? That second edition adventure pitted a party of 10+ level characters on an EPIC dungeon hack, where they barely managed to survive each session, and the vast majority of the enemy were KOBOLDS. Kobolds using good tactics, in their own environment, with superior weapons and poison and traps than standard kobolds. Because the game took this into account, people got more xp.

The bottom line is a 1 hit die monster with no asterisks (special abilities) should be worth say 10xp. If a 1st level character kills one, it is worth 1% of what he needs to level. If a 20th level character does, it is worth .0001% of what he needs to level. So what if you kill 1000? I think xp should be done the way it was in the older editions-- where if a 1 hd kobold had a bow with poisoned arrows-- save or die-- he was worth more xp than a kobold with a rusty dagger.

Anyhow, that is my opinion