Individual XP

[rhammer2]

First, I discourage individual encounters (nothing is more boring for the other players).
Second, it sounds like he fought 4 NPC's of 1st level. He should get the XP of an encounter of a 6th level character with only 2 CR 1 creatures (most of the NPC classes are only CR .5 at first level), by the book this works out to 600 XP. I would also apply the half as difficult modifier, changing the reward to 300 XP and if he did this without the blessings of the rest of the group, I would half it again.

In the last game session I had a 6th level ranger go into a seedy bar on his own while exploring a city (the other PCs were busy with something else at the time) he was hostile and insulting, just waiting for a fight to start. In the end he took down four warriors and experts. They never even touched him.

So, my question is, do I award XP as if a 6th level party had faced a ECL 3 encounter (which is what it would have been as they had different levels in various NPC classes) or should it somehow be different?

At the time I awarded him a few hundred XP (which he was somewhat suprised about, he only wanted the 150 or so he needed to level up) but was unsure as how to handle XP for a single character facing an ECL of 1/2 his level or less.

Am I missing something? Or anyone know the best way to handle this?

 

[Saeviomagy]

If I were you, I would avoid individual XP, if only for the fact that it can lead to a single character gaining significantly more experience than the rest of the party.

As to all the people saying that characters who create challenges don't get XP. Poppycock. If that were the case, then the only experienced adventurers in the world would be jacky-chan-style unfortunates who happen to get embroiled in plots, and do all they can to avoid them. While that DOES make a good game every once in a while, it's not really the stuff that D&D is made of.

Characters go looking for adventure. Saying that they don't get any XP for doing so seems silly to me.

Finally - work out the experience that a 6th level party should get, and award it all to the one guy if you're set on it.

 

[Bryin]

EDIT: Those NPCs probably have friends. Perhaps powerful friends. Make the group pay for that character wanting to cause trouble solo, and you shouldn't see this kind of behavior again.

remember people he isnt you. but like andargor said, people have friends. let the ranger fight someone with the same level, skills, stats, ect., and/or with a few more things(class levels more the point) with the the four people watching that he beatup(presumming that their not dead)