D&D 3.x Please Explain Difference Between 3.0 and 3.5 XP Awards.

[Aluvial]

Like the thread title. I've heard there are differences, what are they?

Aluvial

 

[Laman Stahros]

In 3.0, you added all characters levels together then divided by 4, that was the groups level, that was compared to a chart (with the CR) and all characters got the same amount of XP.


In 3.5, you compare each characters level to the chart (with the CR) and that amount is divided by the number of characters and that is what that character gets. Repeat for each character.

 

[nhl_1997]

3.0 XP Rewards (for defeated creatures)
The average party level is used as the party level to be cross-referenced with each creature's challenge rating. Suppose a party consisting of one 5th level PC, two 4th level PCs, and one 3rd level PC overcome two challenge rating 4 creatures. The average party level is 4. Cross reference that with a CR4 creature to come up with an award of 1200. Divide that number by the number of PCs, so each PC would receive an XP award of 600 (300 for each creature.)

3.5 XP Rewards (for defeated creatures)
The average party level no longer exists. Instead, each PC receives the award based on his or her own level. Using the save example as above, the 5th level PC receives (1000 + 1000) / 4 = 500XPs. Each 4th level PC would receives (1200 + 1200) / 4 = 600XPs. The 3rd level PC receives (1350 + 1350) / 4 = 675XPs

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

It basically causes those who are lower in level than everyone else to catch up; the farther behind you are, the faster you catch up.

 

[irdeggman]

It basically causes those who are lower in level than everyone else to catch up; the farther behind you are, the faster you catch up.

Or you get more by risking more and you get less by risking less. A lower level character is risking more in an encounter since 1 blow could kill him.

 

[Kalendraf]

My group found the 3.5 exp system to be an absolute godsend!

Previously, when characters died, they tended to start lagging behind with no hope of ever catching up in terms of level. To compound the problem, several of the deaths occured for folks who had crafters burning some exp to make items, and those same folks were sometimes unable to make sessions as well. In the course of a very short time, there was as much as a 4 level gap in the party which is pretty nasty.

Enter the 3.5 rules. Now when someone falls behind, they catch up rather quickly. At the levels my group is at, it tends to be about an extra 20 to 30 percent exp per encounter for the folks behind on levels. Even though the cleric is currently a couple levels behind the rest of the party due to dying twice, he's not afraid to spend exp for crafting.

If there is any downside to it, it may be the fact that the new exp system makes it very easy to power-level newbie characters. That's probably not a concern for most folks, but if a 10th party decides to invite some 1st level character along for whatever reasons, that character can quickly gain several levels in a very short time should they manage to survive. Of course, the party members are giving up a share of their own exp to do that, but the amount gained by low-level character far outbalances the amount lost by PCs - PC's might be giving up a few hundred exp each while the low level character earns several thousand exp.

 

[Bauglir]

If there is any downside to it, it may be the fact that the new exp system makes it very easy to power-level newbie characters. That's probably not a concern for most folks, but if a 10th party decides to invite some 1st level character along for whatever reasons, that character can quickly gain several levels in a very short time should they manage to survive. Of course, the party members are giving up a share of their own exp to do that, but the amount gained by low-level character far outbalances the amount lost by PCs - PC's might be giving up a few hundred exp each while the low level character earns several thousand exp.

The alternative was worse. Consider 3 10th level characters who defeat a CR10 encounter. They each would get a 1/3 share of 3,000XP - ie 1,000XP each.

Now add a fourth character - this one only 2nd level. The party now has 4 members but the average party level is now (10+10+10+2)/4 = 8.

For the same encounter, each member is now entitled to 1/4 of 4,800XP - ie 1,200XP each.

The presence of the low level character actually results in the high level characters getting more xp. Nuts.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've been using the 3.5e system for years now (it was first given in the FR campaign book) and it is really useful - although the rate of catchup is slower than you might think, it won't get everyone back to level parity any time quickly!