Training

[Caliber]

I was hoping someone could help point out a rule that allows for XP to be gained while training. I know I read a rule that did so somewhere, but I have NO idea where. It could even have been a house rule on these boards.

Basicly I want to be able to explain why the Crown Prince is a somewhat high level Fighter, despite never leaving the Palace. Or how the Wizards who make magical items for the Kings army can afford all the XP drain.

Thanks for any answers.

 

[Crothian]

As long as he faces challenges he gets XP. You can assing CRs to anything, it doesn't have to be just fighting or even fighting to the death. The Prince fights gaurds of equal level, but they don't kill each other. As long as the Prince wins the encounter, he is successful. The same can be applied to anyone or any activitiy.

 

[James McMurray]

[EDIT] Forgot my on topic bit: The qizard's courtly maneuvering would count as challenges and thus grant XP. Also, finding an ancient tome or unearthing arcane lore would count as challenges and grant XP. [/EDIT]

On a related note, what would be a good rate of XP gain for training? In my campaign I have 3 players with the leadership feat. They all have followers.

One of the players has started her high level fighter cohort training her warior followers, as she expects a war soon. She has also started training her expert (entertainer) followers and some commoners to be bards, so they can join the units and sing for morale.

How long should it take those followers to gain a level? Should this be different if they are gaining levels in PC and NPC classes? I personally don't think it should, since the XP charts are the same, but would welcome some input.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Caliber]

I realize I phrased my question somewhat awkwardly, but I was really looking for something like what James is talking about here.

How much XP do you award for 'training'? Would you change it based on the level of the trainer? Higher level trainers give trainees more XP?

Thanks for the responses though.

 

[Crothian]

It would depend on the quality of the training, the ability of the student, and the time spent training. I think a high quality trainer with a good student can earn 1000xp a week assuming about 60 hours of training. It's really hard to say with so many varibles. I think your average XP for training would be no more then a few hundred a week (60hrs of training).

 

[AuraSeer]

1000 xp per week seems ludicrously high. That would give you 52k xp from one year's study, which would put you well into level 10! That's much too fast! I would say that even the best teacher, working one-on-one with a dedicated student, couldn't impart more than about 300 free xp per week (and probably less).

In any case, I'd allow only NPC classes to gain XP purely by training. PC classes are the heroic, exceptional types, and classroom learning is neither. If a character's only opponents have been the other recruits in his barracks, he may be a warrior, but he doesn't sound like a Fighter to me.

 

[Crothian]

1000 xp per week seems ludicrously high. That would give you 52k xp from one year's study, which would put you well into level 10! That's much too fast! I would say that even the best teacher, working one-on-one with a dedicated student, couldn't impart more than about 300 free xp per week (and probably less).

In any case, I'd allow only NPC classes to gain XP purely by training. PC classes are the heroic, exceptional types, and classroom learning is neither. If a character's only opponents have been the other recruits in his barracks, he may be a warrior, but he doesn't sound like a Fighter to me.

Who said anything about free experience? First your spending 60hrs a week. Not a lot of free time for much else. Second, it costs money. How much would depend on the campaign but I can see a top notch trainer going for at least a thousand a week. As I said on average I figure 300xp a week would be tops. The 1000 is for exceptional circumstanses. And this is all about NPCs, but I'd allow PCs to do this if they wanted. It would be done in down time like when the Wizard wants to spend 3 weeks creating magical stuff.

 

[James McMurray]

I think I'll allow 300xp a week tops. However, if actually training exercises are performed (i.e. mass combat scenarios that don't deal real damage) then I'll calculate experience for each side normally, but only award 25% to the losing side and 50% to the winning side.

I do think levels in PC classes can be gained via trainging, otherwise PCs would have to start out at 1st level as NPC classes and progress from there. Plus, with 60 hoursa week of training, you can learn a lot of stuff, including fighter feats.

What about the king's advisor who has never even seen a fight? Is he prevented from being a wizard and forced to be an adept only?

 

[hong]

I realize I phrased my question somewhat awkwardly, but I was really looking for something like what James is talking about here.

How much XP do you award for 'training'? Would you change it based on the level of the trainer? Higher level trainers give trainees more XP?

Question is ill-posed. XP is something reserved for those select few with the possibility of advancing in levels, namely player characters (and their cohorts). Asking how you award XP for supporting cast is just asking for trouble.

Just give the prince however much XP is required to allow him to play his part in your storyline. If your players are asking questions like "how did he gain all that experience?", tell them he got trained. If they ask how this training occurred, tell them he's rich and has too much free time. If they ask whether they can get trained too and go up levels without any risk, slap them upside the head and/or switch to something like GURPS. D&D is not about creating a simulation of a society, even a fantasy society.

 

[James McMurray]

The problem is that PCs and Cohorts are not the only ones capable of gaining levels. All characters and most monsters can gain levels. Asking what happens when a PC sends his followers through rigorous training is a good question. Sure, I could just say "they gain a level" whenever it feels right to me, but then if my PCs want to train hard during downtime, do I just tell them when to gain a level?

XP is not only earnable via adventuring. You gain it for any encounter. Under the right circumstances, getting a bowl of milk for your cat could earn you a few XP (say for instance the milk was still in the cow, and you don't have any legs or wheelchairs available). Sounds like at least a CR2 encounter to me as far as challenge level goes.