Tell me about this free GAMEMASTERING PDF, please

Poster Bard · Mar 5, 2005

Will THIS be available through at least midnight on GM's Day for people to download for FREE?

Southern Oracle · Mar 5, 2005

Wulf Ratbane said:
I'd like to see your numbers to double check my own.

Keep in mind the DMG flattens XP across the early levels (1-3, I think-- take a look at the chart) which will mean the results will vary a bit if your party falls into that range.

Wulf

Party consists of:

8th-level sorcerer with a +1 LA = 81

10th-level paladin = 100

9th-level druid = 81

9th-level favored soul = 81

4th-level rogue/4th-level fighter/1st-level Order of the Bow initiate = 81

4th-level bard/3rd-level druid/3rd-level dervish = 100

P = 524

Encounter consists of:

6th-level fighter/3rd-level chaotician = 81

6th-level fighter/3rd-level chaotician = 81

6th-level fighter/3rd-level chaotician = 81

CR 7 advanced howler = 49

CR 7 advanced howler = 49

CR 7 advanced howler = 49

X = 390

Relative XP Award:

300 x (X/P) = 300 x (390 / 524) = 223.28 rounded to 223

Group XP Award:

223 x (9 + 10 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 10) = 223 x 56 = 12,488 total XP

12488 / 6 = 2081.333 rounded to 2,081 XP each

Dungeon Master’s Guide Method:

Sorcerer earns (450 + 450 + 450 + 225 + 225 + 225) = 2025 XP

Paladin earns (333 + 333 + 333 + 167 + 167 + 167) = 1500 XP

Druid earns (450 + 450 + 450 + 225 + 225 + 225) = 2025 XP

Favored soul earns (450 + 450 + 450 + 225 + 225 + 225) = 2025 XP

Rogue/Fighter/OotB Initiate earns (450 + 450 + 450 + 225 +225 +225) = 2025 XP

Bard/Druid/Dervish earns (333 + 333 + 333 + 167 + 167 + 167) = 1500 XP

Total XP Award: 11,100 XP

JVisgaitis · Mar 6, 2005

die_kluge said:
You know it's a tough market when people are questioning whether or not they should download the free stuff. Damn!

I was thinking the same thing.

Wulf Ratbane · Mar 6, 2005

Thanks, SO.

The Chi-Rho method isn't going to produce results equal to the DMG, for a variety of reasons.

It will produce XP that is scaled to "13 1/3 encounters of your own CR to make a level" and it will ensure XP that are accurately scaled and awarded relative to the challenge posed by any particular creature or group.

In some cases it will award more XP than the DMG, and in some cases it will award less. The table in the DMG, in addition to necessitating a "rounding off" that a purely mathematical method won't do, also incorporates imprecise elements aimed at a particular game design result (ie, flattening, increasing, or decreasing XP in order to "pace" level gain).

Keep in mind that this system had its beginnings in a fresh look at CR and EL as they were originally presented in the DMG, and an overhaul of such, so an adherence to the tables provided in the DMG was never a design consideration. The aim was a "true" calculation of CR, EL, and XP.

If you're looking for a system that is going to mimic the DMG, just use the DMG.

Wulf

BryonD · Mar 6, 2005

Wulf Ratbane said:
The Chi-Rho method isn't going to produce results equal to the DMG, for a variety of reasons.
Wulf

Chi-Rho does two big things.

1) It calculates based on encounter instead of individual creatures. (Though the individual creatures "worth" is still buried inside the formula.)

and

2) It smoothes out the curves between XP steps. Instead of getting 400 XP for one encounter and 600 xp for an encounter 1 "level" more challenging, you can get 397 or 412, or 534, or whatever. And with the spreadsheet you get this added precision with no need to actually do the math.

If you hit exactly on an average encounter you will match the dmg results (except below level 2). But virtually every time you will get a little higher or lower because a given encounter is a little easier or harder. You also gain a trivial number of XPs for added weak creatures.

Southern Oracle · Mar 6, 2005

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't disparaging the system, simply pointing out that for the encounters I plugged into it, chi/rho awarded more XP than by the DMG. I intend to use the spreadsheet and the chi/rho system from now on, if only because it's quicker than calculating XP by each monster for each character by hand.

Nice work, and thanks again.

Elephant · Mar 6, 2005

I'm disappointed to see that I missed the free period yesterday. It sounds like an interesting PDF.

Wulf Ratbane · Mar 6, 2005

Southern Oracle said:
Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't disparaging the system, simply pointing out that for the encounters I plugged into it, chi/rho awarded more XP than by the DMG. I intend to use the spreadsheet and the chi/rho system from now on, if only because it's quicker than calculating XP by each monster for each character by hand.

I didn't feel disparaged but did want to be clear about what folks should expect from it.

Nice work, and thanks again.

No problem, I hope it works for you!

woodelf · Mar 7, 2005

Poster Bard said:
I just want to know if it is worth it to download this FREE product while it is available for the very limited time that it is. There is nothing wrong with asking people for their opinions before I take the time to download a FREE product. Some of us are just more discerning than others, I guess! Hrrrumph!

Well, let's try saying this in a different way:
cost=FREE
benefit=??
so, is ??>=FREE ? If so, then it's worth it. IOW, unless you think a PDF RPG product can have negative value, the answer is "yes, it's worth it", because, at the very least, you're getting what you paid for it (nothing, that is).