D&D General The Old "Boil an Ant Hill" Problem

[atanakar]

When I still used XPs I devided the number needed into a number of sessions. At the end of each session I handed out that fixed amount to every player. No need for credit or one last orc.

 

[Lanefan]

Level-bumping in my game is staggered as a) everyone advances independently and b) different classes use different progression tables.

Therefore it's a common occurrence that someone comes out of an adventure just a little bit short of what they need to bump, and in these cases I've no problem with them doing a bit of side work or even a mini-adventure to get over the top. (but not without risk, I've seen the occasional character die doing this)

A famous quote here from many years ago went:

"I think all Judah needs now to bump is to go and bang in someone's fence posts".

Ever since then, fence posts have defined this type of top-up mini-adventuring.

 

[Fanaelialae]

If they are close I let them level on credit. Go ahead and level is you want, but just remember you "owe" a few XP for the next level. Saves me from the old, 'Can I go on a quick orc hunt?"

Most of my players don't care that much about it, but my sons are always anxious to level.

Yeah, we've done this for as long as I can remember too. Not sure who came up with it in my group, though I'm pretty sure it wasn't me. What we say is, "I'm y XP from next level. Can I take the deficit?"

 

[S'mon]

They get XP for a session account. I may occasionally let them level 'on credit'.
I don't give XP for non-game stuff like snacks.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Just let them go beat up some wildlife. If they're really that close, then it won't take much time at the table.

 

[Umbran]

These days, if I am using XP, it is because I am running a game that is not intended to have desginated story-beats to use as milestones. The XP are just a ticking clock for, "well, they have probably explored their characters at this level of power enough, time to step it up a notch."

So, everyone's getting the same amount of XP anyway. They'll all level up at the same time whatever I do. So, if they are just a touch shy, I just round up.

 

[Iry]

There's an old Dragon Magazine joke where someone in a tavern shouts "Run for it! They only have 17 XP to level!" And everyone is spitting out their beer and freaking out.

 

[Richards]

I think in my next campaign I'm going to stop tracking XP and just have the PCs level up after 5 adventures per level. 20 levels, 5 adventures at each, means a nice, even 100 adventures for the campaign. That sounds about right.

Johnathan

 

[aco175]

@Richards just remember that low levels go by fast and you could have 1 adventure for level 1,2,and 3. A couple for levels 4-6 and several from there up. You could still get 100.

I seem to have stopped doing XP and just went with milestone for now. I used to just let the few XP slide and let everyone level up or insert a quick fight to start next week and let everyone level as soon as they got to town or rested overnight at the inn.

I also remember giving bonus XP to players doing more stuff. This led to a problem with one player that felt that he could not spend any time doing anything extra and his PC ended up being a level behind some and 1/2 level behind others. I ended up stopping this, but to be fair I gave some XP for good roleplaying and such.

 

[Richards]

Well, low levels won't go by fast if I stipulate 5 adventures at each and every level - they'll go by at the same speed as all the other levels. I figure 5 adventures at each level should be long enough for the players to get comfortable with whatever new class abilities, feats, spells, and whatnot showed up at that level for their PCs before moving on. I'm going to give it a try - we'll see how it goes. (But in the meantime, I still have half a dozen adventures left to go in my current campaign - although we'll knock one of those out this Saturday.)

Johnathan