Progression without XP, XP cost and Level Behind

[Herzog]

About two years ago, our DM switched from giving out 'regular' XP to just stating when we would go up a level.

This gave him more control over when we would advance, but introduced a difficulty, especially for my PC.

At the time, I was playing a new character, my previous character having died several sessions before and still being a level behind because of that.

I recently commented on the fact that, using this format, my character would remain behind forever, and he has agreed to investigate a way for my character to 'catch up'.

An extra complication is that my character has been using Permancy, a spell that costs XP to cast.

At first, I tried to use the following to check whether my character would have caught up by now:

I took the last listed XP values and levels of my PC and one of the other characters.
I then calculated how much XP the other character would have needed to get to the latest level up.
I then added 20% to that XP amount, and added it to my PC's last listed XP.
I then substracted the XP I have spent on Permanency.

The total took my approximately to the same level as the rest of the characters. (in fact, slightly over it)

However, this method has some flaws, which is why I've come here for advice:

1. Is this 20% extra XP correct? I couldn't find an actual reference to this, but I used the d20 XP calculator to find out how much 'bonus' XP I would get given encounters that provided the XP necessary to gain the required level gains, and this percentage came up.
2. Is it reasonable to assume this 20% extra XP for all levels gained since? I realise my character should have been at the same level as the rest at least part of that time, so a lower average may be in order?
3. If I do give my PC this much XP, she will actually gain two levels, which seems wrong somehow. Any opinions on that?

Of course, if I would give my PC less XP than I had calculated, he will STILL be a level behind, even if by only a very low amount of XP, and the same problem will rise at the next scripted level up. Also, casting more XP costing spells will set me back in XP in relation to the rest. Which leads me to the following question:

4. Given that the DM is giving out scripted level gains, how should he (or would you) handle PC's of different levels, and spells/magic item crafting/X costing XP?

 

[delericho]

About two years ago, our DM switched from giving out 'regular' XP to just stating when we would go up a level.

I do something similar with my current campaign, except that I do give out XP - I just give out a fixed number every session.

This gave him more control over when we would advance, but introduced a difficulty, especially for my PC.

At the time, I was playing a new character, my previous character having died several sessions before and still being a level behind because of that.

I recently commented on the fact that, using this format, my character would remain behind forever, and he has agreed to investigate a way for my character to 'catch up'.

An extra complication is that my character has been using Permancy, a spell that costs XP to cast.

Okay.

The total took my approximately to the same level as the rest of the characters. (in fact, slightly over it)

Indeed. There's a glitch in the RAW whereby a character who is just slightly behind the other PCs (but enough to be a lower level) can actually end up ahead next time XP is given out.

1. Is this 20% extra XP correct? I couldn't find an actual reference to this, but I used the d20 XP calculator to find out how much 'bonus' XP I would get given encounters that provided the XP necessary to gain the required level gains, and this percentage came up.

I don't think it's just as simple as that, though it's been a long time since I looked at the XP/CR tables from the DMG.

Ultimately, I would suggest you not look to the system to see where you 'should' be, but rather let your DM make a ruling. And, unless it's totally unreasonable, just accept whatever that ruling is.

4. Given that the DM is giving out scripted level gains, how should he (or would you) handle PC's of different levels, and spells/magic item crafting/X costing XP?

Okay, here's what I would do...

For characters who are full levels behind, due to level-drain or death/resurrection, then I would give them an extra level every 5 sessions, over and above the normal progression that everyone gets. This means that the character will be behind for a good while (and so is appropriately penalised), but they do eventually catch up. In cases where this would mean the PC gaining 2 levels at a time, I would defer one of these by a single session, just to smooth things out.

For characters who spend XP on spells/crafting, I would probably dig out the "Crafting Reserve" rules from "Unearthed Arcana" - each time you gain a level, and each time you take a Crafting feat, you get a reserve of points that can be spent on crafting items, casting spells, and the like (in place of XP). However, you now cannot spend your own XP for this purpose, and so once the reserve is gone, that's it - no more contingency for you!

 

[kingius]

I have absolutely no idea why you would want to ditch XP for levelling up and then keep it as a cost for spells and magic items. It is no wonder tha you have run into difficulties: you need to ditch it everywhere if you are ditching it as a measure of when you level up. Perhaps have Permanency cost gold instead. Your DM really should have thought this through more thoroughly before deciding to arbitarily ditch XP as a reward seeing as though other parts of the system relies on it to work this way.

 

[Omegaxicor]

It is simple really, just say that you have reached the point where the other party members are, you have the same Xp as them (even though you don't record the exact figure)

I understand why you have abandoned Xp but why are you calculating it yourself, just ask your DM to level you up differently to the other PCs (say a quest or two early) until you are equal