New DM here, calculating experience questions?

[Storm Raven]

Thanks - it seems to be a very long way to say CR1 + CR3 = 1,200 for a party that is 1st to 3rd level. For 4 PCs, divide 1,200 by 4 and you get 300 per character.

It flows much faster in actual practice, and is complicated by the fact that you calculate the total differently for characters of different level.

Now, if next time out, there are four 1st level PCs and that one 2nd level NPC, and they encounter this evil same 3rd level cleric, but with 4 1st level warrior minions, it would then be 600 + 900 = 1,500 total XP and then divide by 5 for 300 XP again.

Your numbers are correct.

It gets a bit confusing when, say in a few sessions when there are three PCs of 4th level and one of 3rd level (no NPC this time). They encounter the 3rd level cleric's 5th level boss (CR5) and then the boss' eight 1st level warrior minions (CR4 total?)
Then, it would be: ((1,200 + 1,600) x 3) + (1,350 + 1,800) for a total XP of 11,550 divided by four PCs, so each PC gets 2,887.50. Is that correct?

Close.

First: when you add up creatures of less than 1 CR, you only add them into groups of 1 CR. So your 8 1st level warriors would be treated as 4 CR 1 creatures, not as one CR 4 creature. It makes a slight diffference in the experience point total for the 3rd level character when you go through the math.

Second: you don't add the 3rd level total to the 4th level total and then divide by the whole. You would calculate a third level total, and divide by 4, giving you the 3rd level character's award, and then calculate a 4th level total and divide by 4, giving you each 4th level character's award. Using your example:

3rd level character: (4 x CR 1 = 1,200) + (1 x CR 5 = 1,800) for a total of 3,000 divided by 4 = 750.

4th level character: (4 x CR 1 = 1,200) + (1 x CR 5 = 1,600) for a total of 2,800 divided by 4 = 700.

 

[Storm Raven]

No, that IS how it works.

His version isn't.

Not trying to be rude but, while your method got the same result in this instance its not whats spelled out in the DMG.

It is exactly the method spelled out on page 37 of the DMG borken down into small steps. Perhaps you would like to back off a little bit.

 

[darthkilmor]

It is exactly the method spelled out on page 37 of the DMG borken down into small steps. Perhaps you would like to back off a little bit.

It seems a little roundabout is all, like you're trying to combine some steps, not really clear if you mean to add all the xp up for everything and then divide by # of players?, which would of course result in everyone always getting the same amount of XP. :\

Horray for the calculator though, I didnt know about that and will certainly be using it from now on, less time spent is always better.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Let this free web page calculate it for you. I never do that stuff by hand.

Thanks - very useful!