Oots 439

[sckeener]

By that calculator, he should not get any xp...but at least he'd get 4108.2 gp which should be just fine by Belkar.

 

[Nyeshet]

By that calculator, he should not get any xp...but at least he'd get 4108.2 gp which should be just fine by Belkar.

You missed the second block, which stated that one PC of 12th level had a party equivalent level of 8, and if you entered 20 CR 1/2 five times it will also state in that middle block that the encounter has an equivalent level of CR 11.

Then go back into the calculator and enter in 1 CR 11 creature (rather than 100 CR 1) in the first slot and zero for the remaining creature slots. You can keep the party as 1 level 12 or change it to 4 level 8 - the next results are the same: 1800 xp, 7500gp.

The calculator cannot handle more than 20 at a time, and it computes xp per line. 20 CR 1/2 creatures will result in 0 xp, but once you figure out what the CR is for 100 of them, *that* can be entered to determine the xp for the actual encounter.

 

[delericho]

So it is impossible to determine the CR of an encounter involving, say, 8 Half-elf Fighters (half 2nd level, half 3rd level), 1 Human Wizard (8th level), and a Wight Fighter 4 (CR 7)? Granted, you would use an Encounter Level calculator, but if the Encounter level has a given CR that could result in an xp award then xp should be granted, I think.

Encounters don't have a CR, they have an EL. (The confusion comes because an encounter with a single monster always has EL = CR, but that's coincidence.)

4 2nd level half-elf Fighters = EL 6 (2 for the first fighter, +2 to double, +2 to double again)
4 3rd level half-elf Fighters = EL 7 (3 for the first one, +2 to double, +2 to double again)
The Wizard = EL 8
The Wight Fighter 4 = EL 7

Two ELs 7's = EL 9 (7 + 2 for doubling)

According to the DMG, an EL 8 + an EL 9 = EL 10

And then adding an EL 6 isn't quite enough to make it EL 11.

That's a very rough calculation (since the rules don't really cover combining four CR 3's with a CR 7) as I have done, but since CR is a rough tool anyway, it's probably good enough.

A party that defeats such an encounter will gain 4 times the XP for CR 2, 4 times the XP for CR 3, the XP for CR 8, and the XP for CR 7. This may or may not equal the XP for CR 10 or 11 (probably not).

The thing is, as has been mentioned earlier in the thread, large numbers of very low CR creatures don't make a meaningful challenge for a high level group. One well-placed fireball can easily take out a dozen Orcs, while a properly-equipped Fighter likely has an AC beyond the capabilities of the Orcs to hit more than a few times. In effect, then, any creatures with CR less than 8 below the party level can almost be considered not to be a challenge at all, regardless of numbers, and so aren't worth any XP. (Unless, of course, you use the Mob template or equivalent.)

Whether Belkar would gain role-play XP is for the DM to decide. I don't give out such things, primarily because role-play is essentially its own reward. But there certainly is a strong argument for doing so.

 

[Donovan Morningfire]

I want a black shirt with the last frame on it.

I'd buy that in a heartbeat.

As for the Belkster gaining no XP for the single-handed mass slaughter of hobgoblins, I'd definitely give him an XP award, as he's only a solitary character, where as the EL is based on a group of 4 equal-level characters. Might not be a whole lot, but considering that Belkar's player is dutifully role-playing the pint-sized murder machine, it'd be justified.

 

[boolean]

small dagger d3
raging Str 16? +3
magic +2? +2
favored enemy (goblinoid) +2

He might not have +2 daggers. The OotS seem to have a much lower number of magical items than standard in 3.5. On the other hand, it's possible they do have the standard collection of +X gear, but little attention is paid to it.

It's also likely that Belkar's bonus vs. goblinoids is larger than +2. As a 10th+ level ranger, he's got three favored enemies. Either +4/+4/+2 or +6/+2/+2

Of course, now I'm curious why Belkar doesn't use shortswords? He should've gotten himself ret-conned after converting to 3.5.

Two reasons:
1. He can throw daggers. Halflings get +1 to hit with thrown weapons. He probably considers the versatility worth the 0.5 points less damage per attack.

2. The first strip wouldn't have been as funny.

 

[Pbartender]

THIS!
IS!
AZURE CITY!!!

 

[Quartz]

Looks like Belkar has Combat Reflexes, Spring Attack, and Cleave.

Who thinks the next strip will show someone saying, "Now fight me"?

And what does this do for Belkar's build? Something like Ftr 6 / Rgr 6 / Bar 2? He's clearly taken MWM twice (Slashing and Piercing) for his daggers.

 

[DaveyJones]

Of course, now I'm curious why Belkar doesn't use shortswords? He should've gotten himself ret-conned after converting to 3.5.

see strip numero uno

 

[Hussar]

Pbartender that was great!

 

[Quartz]

I wonder if Belkar is going to have problems once his Rage subsides?