Opinions Wanted - Variant XP/CP system

[Taren Nighteyes]

I would like some opinions on the system I currently use for my gaming group:

I tally up all the exp rewards for a session based upon the usual stuff - completing a mission/adventure, defeating monsters/traps, and other such things.

I take that total XP reward and divide the number of players by it and give out the same exact number of experience points to all players.

NEXT - I look over some notes, and remember some things the players did during the session. I take some reminders (begging) from the players on the things they did or accomplished that had nothing or little to do with fighting monsters. I then give out Character Points (CP) to my players, usually between 1-6 based on their role-playing/good ideas throughout the session.

CP - These points can be used to re-roll a missed check/save/to hit, etc. They cannot be used to re-roll damage dice or force me (the DM) to re-roll dice.

CP are similar to EDGE in Battletech. Some other game systems used something like them as well.


Why did I do this? First off, I found a couple of players "cheating" or making mistakes adding the experience rewards they were getting. This system now makes experience equal, their can be no cheating.

Second, it is easier for me to keep track of individual CP, and they get used up like they are going out of style in some sessions. They really do reward the good role-players by keeping their characters alive

Third, it has pulled the party's fat out of the fry on more than one occassion, and really gives the player an opportunity to do something heroic at climatic moments when the dice might have not allowed it the first time!

Tell me what you guys think. I've used this system for over a year and it seems to work very well. Players have been really happy with it.

Note: I know spell casters use XP when making items, but I've developed altnative methods using CP for this as well.

Thanks for your opinions,

Taren Nighteyes

 

[Desdichado]

If it's worked for you for over a year and your players are happy with it: why do you want our opinions? Sounds like you've got a winner there.

 

[Taren Nighteyes]

Why opinions?

A couple of reasons really.

1) Additional input might give me ideas on how to tweak or add to the system to improve its quality.

2) I was wondering if anyone else out there used or has used a similar way to dish out rewards, and how it worked for them.

3) I am always interested in hearing what people don't like or like about ways of doing things. This place seems like the best place to hear that kind of input

Thanks!

Taren Nighteyes

 

[kengar]

This is similiar to what I do except that I just hand out some "bonus" XP.

I like the CP idea. If it works for your group, then go for it.

My only concern would be -and granted, this is more for my group than in general- rerolls. I have some "tacticians" in my group that would take would slow things down too much if that extra variable were added to the mix. But, like I say, that's my impression of my group. If it hasn't been a problem for you & yours, then don't sweat it.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Surely this should be in the House Rules, right?

 

[reveal]

I give out 2 different XP amounts. The first XP amount is derived from the game dynamics themself: combat, quest completion, etc. That is an equal amount given to every member.

The 2nd amount is "personal xp." It is given out for good role playing, good use of skills, etc. Both are given out usually a day or two after the last session. No one is ever more than 300 xp away from anyone else at any one time, so it's not imbalanced.

As for in game stuff, I give out brownie points. Basically, you get a penny for doing cool stuff. You can have up to 5 pennies at a time, they are cumulative, and you can do stuff like add 4 to your next attack/skill/damage roll, etc. It is also not imbalancing because the players usually forget they have them.

 

[Taren Nighteyes]

Takes extra time

I haven't noticed an increase in the amount of time combat or other rolling intensive areas take.

A point of clarification - The player may only re-roll on the spot. They cannot "go back" or change their minds once their turn is over or they have taken another action.

Thanks!

Taren Nighteyes

 

[Kerrick]

I came up with a similar system several years ago, but I call them Karma Points (the write-up for it is on my page, here: www.geocities.com/mistmane/karma.html ). Shadowrun uses something like that, where you gain points that you can use for skills or abilities. I've never gotten to playtest my system, because I haven't had a group in ages, and I don't play 3E, but yours sounds a alot like mine, and I'm glad to note that it does actually work. I've got a system of sorts for handing out KP, too, so you can check that out if you want.