One creature, multiple XPs?

[Jon_Dahl]

PCs encounter a Monster X. They fight with it for a while and then escape it. Monster is left in peace to live its own monstrous life, while PCs continue their quest. They have officially overcame the obstacle to continue their guest.

On a later occasion PCs return to simply kill the monster. It is not necessary, not at all. Actually killing it doesn't accomplish anything. It doesn't even have treasure or anything of any worth.

How should I award XP? During our last session my players skipped monsters - twice. It was heroic, epic, smart and they used their abilities in a smart way. PCs have absolutely no need to return and face those monsters again. However if they wish, they can do it.

I feel apprehensive about "XP-farming"... DMG gives me very little insight, perhaps you could give some good perspective... Next Wednesday we will play again and I need to give some XP. What to do?

 

[anest1s]

Either you give exp for what they kill, or you give exp for the obstacles they overcome.

I think the correct way is for overcoming obstacles. I would give exp for the monsters they sneaked around (not however if they decided that it isn't worth their time to get that item that would make their final fight easier/ because I would give the exp for the bigger final CR).

I wouldn't give exp if they had to turn back and fight the monsters on their way out in any case. They already got their exp. And if they decide to go kill the monsters they avoided then they win the treasure, but not exp because it wasn't an obstacle when they decided to.

I most certainly wouldn't give exp for "lets go murder a commoner to craft a scroll". Maybe I would remove some

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Was the monster healed up to present a challege a second time, or was it still licking it's wounds? Was it never wounded in the first place, but the PCs still had to expend effort and skill and risk to avoid it?
If it was just as much effort to deal with the monster the second time as it was the first, I'd be ok with awarding xp twice. I wouldn't see it as much different than skillfully avoiding monster #1 and therefore resolving an encounter, but fighting monster #2 of the same type later.

 

[Omegaxicor]

I think Exp is just that Experience, you learn something by sneak around monsters and avoiding fights and you learn things from fighting and defeating monsters.

If you learned something from avoiding a monster then go back and kill it you learn something entirely different.

I would give Exp for both encounters unless the players used some "underhanded" method of killing the monster

 

[HoboGod]

In my book, if they roll up a combat and win, there's an EXP reward. If they choose to avoid combat or kill the enemy in RP, why the flanking hell did we spend 30 min to an hour for creation time? I'm not awarding exp for that! If my players aren't using their 3rd level abilities, why advance them to 4th level? So they can take another 30 minutes to pick brand new abilities they'll never use? BAH!

 

[Empath Negative]

Kill one of them. In the game anyway. This monster... Its what ACTUALLY won the encounter.. Increase its HD, say it gained a level. Give it the leadership feat. When the party returns to kill it have 20 some kobold minions burst out of the woodwork, drop the portcullus and seal them in. Then introduce the would be xp farmers.to the big bads new friend, the dual wielding illithid assassin/rogue/pouncing barbarian with its ring of greater invis 3 times per day.

 

[Omegaxicor]

In my book, if they roll up a combat and win, there's an EXP reward. If they choose to avoid combat or kill the enemy in RP, why the flanking hell did we spend 30 min to an hour for creation time? I'm not awarding exp for that! If my players aren't using their 3rd level abilities, why advance them to 4th level? So they can take another 30 minutes to pick brand new abilities they'll never use? BAH!

By RAW this is right, but you say you wouldn't let them level up to 4th without using their 3rd level abilities I have 2 situations I genuinely want you opinion on:

1) 2nd level Wizard/1st level Fighter who goes an entire adventure without fighting in melee, hasn't used it's 3rd level abilities?

2) 3rd level Rogue who has focus on Hide and Move Silently (Skill Focus (Hide)/(Move Silently) & Stealthy feats) is hiding and avoiding a fight not his 3rd level abilities?

 

[Li Shenron]

PCs encounter a Monster X. They fight with it for a while and then escape it. Monster is left in peace to live its own monstrous life, while PCs continue their quest. They have officially overcame the obstacle to continue their guest.

On a later occasion PCs return to simply kill the monster. It is not necessary, not at all. Actually killing it doesn't accomplish anything. It doesn't even have treasure or anything of any worth.

How should I award XP? During our last session my players skipped monsters - twice. It was heroic, epic, smart and they used their abilities in a smart way. PCs have absolutely no need to return and face those monsters again. However if they wish, they can do it.

I feel apprehensive about "XP-farming"... DMG gives me very little insight, perhaps you could give some good perspective... Next Wednesday we will play again and I need to give some XP. What to do?

What you should do is tell them the truth, that xp-farming is pointless because whatever the XP and levels the PCs have, the DM is always going to adapt the adventures around them.

Levelling up more quickly accomplishes nothing, it just means you reach the end of the campaign sooner. Congratulations, they just managed to shorten their time of fun. Would your players enjoy movies and music more if they put them on fast-forward?

(edit: It has very rarely come up, but yes I would grant them the XP twice. Actually I normally give half XP for fights unrelated to their current quests including random encounters, but still)

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Multiple encounters with the same opponent occur in my games in the form of reoccurring Nemesis's (Nemesi? Nemesises?) I've had a Bounty Hunter, a miffed military guard who lost his job not being able to contain PC's, returning monsters like a Demon or Rakshasa, Assasins who tried to complete a botched job and an NPC Warforged with the Ghostwalker PrC. In each of these cases the opponent escaped and then later came for the PC's again. Often the opponent had gotten stronger with levels, HD and/or gear since the last encounter to match the PCs.

I've not encountered my PC's escaping an opponent then voluntarily going back to kill it, but as long as they put in some sort of effort both times, and the monster was still a challenge the 2nd time (They didn't gain 5 levels or something in the meantime), experience is experience.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

How should I award XP?

Award XP however you feel like.

I give experience at a consistent rate so that the characters gain a level about every fourth session.