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

[swrushing]

Probably the same generation. Started playing in 1976 and dming in 1979.

so its probably not a generation thing then.

see, one issue resolved!!!

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

Why the hostility?

EDIT: Forget it. Sorry, that I remain lost.

I believe what he's trying to say is that he equates XP on the character sheet with time spent getting to know THAT character's abilities, personality, etc.

That XP is a numerical represenation of how much that player has experienced as that character.

I don't fully agree, but I think that's what he's trying to say.

 

[Mallus]

Which is why I said previously, if the lack of XP got so bad for a player that he could no longer survive the enemies in the game, I would increase his level artificially.

So, in the end, we do the exact same thing. The only difference is that I make the 'artifical level increase' the default condition.

I haven't had to do this yet, no one's missed enough sessions to be more than 2 levels behind, which is acceptable to me.

And I doubt I've handed out enough 'free XP' to equal a single level.

 

[rgard]

so its probably not a generation thing then.

see, one issue resolved!!!

At the end of the day it's the DM's decision (with the players' agreement) on how to handle the xps with respect to session absences.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Mallus]

I see being a D&D game I run like being in a softball team. You might get together with your friends to have fun and play some softball, but if a player kept missining games to the detriment of the team (let' say in the case of softball, losing*) I would want to replace them with someone who could make it - even if it were my best friend, my brother or my girlfriend.

Extending your (maybe) analogy...

The PC's team always plays the same opposing team (though they try to hide that fact by assuming various disguises, changing species, and occassionally cross-dressing). And the coach of the opposing team --me!-- is a nice guy whose only goal is making sure the other side has a good time facing an appropriate level of challenge.

So if the other team is down players, he takes a few people off his roster. Really, he ought to be fired...

 

[ThirdWizard]

I believe what he's trying to say is that he equates XP on the character sheet with time spent getting to know THAT character's abilities, personality, etc.

That XP is a numerical represenation of how much that player has experienced as that character.

I don't fully agree, but I think that's what he's trying to say.

Hmm... So if one character has, say 30,384 XP and another has 26,284 XP, then the one with more XP will be able to better play his character. Eh, that would mean that a wizard who makes lots of items or the barbarian who died in my previous example isn't as good a player as the guy who only shows up to 80% of games but never died or used his XP for an alternate purpose.

EDIT: My point being that XP does not equal ability in and of itself. It is far more complex. A 20 year veteran will play a 10th level barbarian just as well or better than a newbie who leveled his character up to 10 in his first campaign.

 

[rgard]

I believe what he's trying to say is that he equates XP on the character sheet with time spent getting to know THAT character's abilities, personality, etc.

That XP is a numerical represenation of how much that player has experienced as that character.

I don't fully agree, but I think that's what he's trying to say.

lol, gee thanks... Yep, what I 'tried' to convey in posts 243, 273, 280 and others.

Thanks again,
Rich

 

[ThirdWizard]

lol, gee thanks... Yep, what I 'tried' to convey in posts 243, 273, 280 and others.

Thanks again,
Rich

You'll note that noone said they agreed with you and several people said that they disagreed...

 

[rgard]

I think some are confusing a lack of reward as a punishment.

If you go to the game you will get the following:
fun
socializing
XP

If you don't go to the game, you won't get anything for it, but you also won't lose anything. You will in fact, stay in place. Relative to the Jones's, of course you are falling behind. however, the fact remains, you're simply not moving, and thus you're not being punished.

A punishment takes something away from you, it sets you back. Not getting any XP for a missed adventure leaves you at the same level you were last week. A real punishment would be to take away XP for missing the game.

Most GMs would prefer to make a missing player's PC disappear for the adventure. In those cases, no XP is likely. Some DM's will NPC the PC or entrust it to another player. That might earn some XP for the PC. That's the mechanical nature of the game and there is nothing wrong with the system of getting XP for what your character did, and thus getting no XP for doing nothing.

Now in the meta-game, perhaps there are some players that get left out more often, and others for whom the scheduling is more tolerant. That's a people problem. If you've got a problem like that, talk to your group. If you've got cancer, for god's sake, work on surviving that and quit worrying about your stupid PC getting XP for a game that is of far less importance than your life.

If after all that, you find your PC is still getting behind in XP, talk to your DM. Perhaps he can run a side quest. A side quest makes perfect sense for a PC that has been disappearing due to an absent player. If the DM has the time, he'll probably be more than willing to prepare something.

If you just came back to the table after surviving cancer, be happy you're still alive. Maybe your group will give you some survivor XP in honor of your accomplishment. Maybe they'll just be thankful to have you back.

Yes, a punishment would be to remove xps from no-shows. I like your reasoning in the post.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[KenM]

Which version of D&D are you playing? Unless I'm mistaken, lower level characters get more experience points than higher level ones don't they? That is something I haven't seen enough GMs to, taking care that each PC gets an appropriate amount, instead using 'blanket' amounts of XP for each character regardless of level differences.

It was either 3ed or 3.5, but its frustrating when you are the only character that dies and gets raised. The whole point of the game, IMO is to get XP and become better at what you do. Its not fun when you keep losing XP.