Why punish a player if they can't come to the game?

[ThirdWizard]

The funny thing is that the thread started as a direct challenge to people who do not give out XP to absent players. The original poster wanted people to justify themselves and implied that if they did it that way, then they were wrong. I think that combative tone set the stage for the entire thread.

I agree, however, at the same time, I don't think it would have been this interesting had it just been a question of whether or not you award XP for missing players. So, its a mixed blessing.

Acting confrontational (within reason) can get the job done better sometimes.

 

[Mallus]

Munckkinism is being more worried about your characters numbers than with what is going on in the game. A Munchkin is far more worried about how his stats measure up than he is about whether or not is fair that he missed the last 2 sessions and yet still got enough exp to level up.

In that case, I've eliminated munchkinism in my game completely. By giving everyone the same (XP) numbers!

All that's left to focus on is how you play your character on any given gameday.

I hadn't realized I was quite so clever...

 

[rgard]

I'm really starting to think that people in this thread are upset because they are seeing people getting XP without playing, and they feel it cheapens their hard earned XP which they've gained in their own games. It's really starting to sound like they feel threatened by the idea of someone else on a message board gaining XP for "free."

Is this accurate?

Nah, I don't think so. I personally don't care if some GM awards xps to no shows. It's their game and they can do whatever they feel is fair.

The reality is that the player who earned all of his character's experience by playing will in the long run be a better player than the one who misses game sessions. This is important if you feel (which I do) that part of the fun of any hobby is getting good at it.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[ThirdWizard]

The reality is that the player who earned all of his character's experience by playing will in the long run be a better player than the one who misses game sessions.

That is completely untrue, and I have no idea how you arrived at that conclusion.

 

[Troll Wizard]

with this logic, by the same token, shouldn't "getting xp on weeks i miss" also not even be a concern for you?

Huh? We do not get xp if you miss a session and it does not bother me or the other players.

its seems you are saying xp isn't an issue for me, playing is" and i really get that but don't see how that at the same time translates into so xp shouldn't be given out if i am not there.

Not sure I understood you correctly. Are you saying that it should not bother me if the DM choses to "give out" xp to players not attending the game?

It has never happened, but in my view it would cheapen the value of xp for the player and his character. I play to see my PC grow/develop/improve, the xp values may be noted on the character's sheet - BUT it is the player that receives the satisfaction in seeing his character get stronger. It is an inclusive bond between the character and the player who controls the character; and wants to see it achieve a certain level of success through adventures. I want the xp but I want to earn honestly and expect the same level of dedication from other players.

 

[swrushing]

[/QUOTE]

Munckkinism is being more worried about your characters numbers than with what is going on in the game.

Ok but see, my players aren't worried about these numbers. They don't worry about Xp at all. I don't get any groanin' about how unfair it is this or that because NO ONE GETS XP IN MY GAME.

Now, by your definition, wouldn't being more worried about how its unfair for someone else to get xp be munchkin?

A Munchkin is far more worried about how his stats measure up than he is about whether or not is fair that he missed the last 2 sessions and yet still got enough exp to level up.

iuhhh, so its not worrying about the game now but rather he should be worrying about how fairly xp pts are given out that makes you not a munchkin?

As a thought exercize, can you imagine a munchkin who is hung up on making sure he gets his Xp and others don't get Xp he feels they shouldn't?

if you can, you might see a benefit in not using xp at all.

Try and justify it all you want, something for nothing is something for nothing.

but in my game its not. its nothing for nothing for everyone. everyone levels up at a point in time and no one ever sees xp.

heck, with my stargate game, when the campaign started i posted the level up schedule for the first two years, before a single dice hit the table.

are you somehow confused into thinking that drove my players to be more focused on xp and levelling up??

i ran a two year campaign and a three year campaign before it never wasting a moments time for me or my players on calculating, counting or adding xp.

if that makes us munchkin, then the definition has sure changed.

 

[Mallus]

The reality is that the player who earned all of his character's experience by playing will in the long run be a better player than the one who misses game sessions. This is important if you feel (which I do) that part of the fun of any hobby is getting good at it.

That hasn't been my experience.

Some players never really get it.

Some players never get good at certain aspects of play (like roleplaying, or tactics). In the case of roleplaying --or more specifiaclly, acting and characterization--, a first-time player could outdo a 20-year veteran (who simply doesn't enjoy that facet of gaming).

With experienced players, it's a moot point. They 'know' the game, and now they play for different kinds of play experiences (my group falls into this category).

And really, since different players want/get different things from the game, in all its myriad incarnations, you're going to have a hard time defining what 'getting good at it' even means.

 

[swrushing]

The reality is that the player who earned all of his character's experience by playing will in the long run be a better player than the one who misses game sessions. This is important if you feel (which I do) that part of the fun of any hobby is getting good at it.

Thanks,
Rich

this has not been a reality in my experience. Some of the worst players i have had never miss a session.

 

[ThirdWizard]

The reality is that the player who earned all of his character's experience by playing will in the long run be a better player than the one who misses game sessions.

Looking at this again, this seems to be a statement that XP is a status symbol. The more XP you have, the better player you are. Thus, XP becomes important because it is your measuring stick as to your ability to roleplay in a campaign.

 

[rgard]

That is completely untrue, and I have no idea how you arrived at that conclusion.

Hmmm...take any activity. The more you do it, the better you are at it.

Look at it from the reverse...

The use of the word 'you' is totally anonymous and not directed at anybody on the board.

1. You don't do your homework assigned at school. Unless you are a genius, you will not do well on test.

2. You want to be an olympic athlete, but you only train 2x a month for 4 hours. I don't think you'll make the team.

3. You want to be an astronaut, but you get somebody else to take all of your tests in college for you...and as a result you don't know your butt from a black hole. Then you wash out of astronaut school.

And more specifically:

You roll up a 1st level wizard. You miss most of the game sessions, but your GM gives you the xp anyway. You played once at 1st level, twice at 3rd level, once at 4th level. Now your character is 7th level. How well do you know that character? How well do you know his/her strengths and weaknesses, what the spells do, what the ranges are?

You don't. Then you waste the other participants' time looking up stuff you would already know if had played the character and earned all the experience the character has.

Thanks,
Rich