Would you give XP for this?

[Chacal]

Please allow me to rephrase the question:
Should I give a charact XP for adaquately using their class abilities?


Look at it this way and the answer is obvious. Yes you should.

A paladin surviving something he's immune is not what I'd call an adequate use of their class ability.
He's not Using anything, he doesn't have to make any decision about it, so I would not give XP.

A human can usually walk and breath, these are part of its abilities. Would you consider walking and breathing "adequate use" of its abilities and give him XP ?

YMMV
Chacal

 

[IceBear]

So, a fighter walking down the trapped corridor gets XP and not the paladin? Walking and breathing is not the same as a class feature so I think that's a bit of a stretch.

I would give XP, but given that the DM is allowed to modify the XP given based on circumstances, I'd probably not give as much to the immune paladin as I would to the fighter.

IceBear

 

[Chacal]

Yes I would be tempted to give XP to the fighter and not to the paladin

I know that breathing and walking aren't class abilities, it was just to illustrate that if you don't have anything to do/think/risk for doing something, you should not get XP IMO.

I'm just saying that the paladin didn't experience anything (if he's supposed to be aware of its own abilities) so he doesn't deserve XP.

Chacal

 

[IceBear]

Well, I just consider that unfair to the paladin. "Gee, I picked a class that has some cool abilities and is a roleplaying challenge, and you're saying that because I have these abilities I don't get any XP? Is it too late for me to switch?"

Just because he doesn't have to choose to use the abilities doesn't mean that he shouldn't be rewarded for those class abilities. However, because those abilities negated, completely, the threat from those traps I would considerably lower the XP gained from them because they weren't much of a challenge, and yes, depending on the circumstances that XP might be 0. I do consider that different than just saying - "No XP for you!" which is what I think you're saying.

IceBear

 

[hammymchamham]

Part of the Paladin is his class abilities. He used his class abilities wether he is aware or not.

A monk or rogue doesn't choose to use evasion, so if they evade a trap with a reflex save would you not give them XP?

 

[Darklone]

Archer and monster on two different sides of a deep chasm. Archer kills monster. No XPs cause it was not dangerous for him?

Honestly, if the paladin would have saved against some enervation traps, he would have gotten XPs. Do you make a difference if he only made his save due to his enormous CHA mod bonus on his saves?

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

Look at it this way:

Paladin walks in a corridor, steps on a pressure plate. A big flash of light hits him. He comes out of it unarmed. "Whew, thank Pelor He gave me all those abilities!" Next time, when he's walking down a corridor, he'll probably be more cautious, henceforth: XP.

Maitre D

 

[Maitre Du Donjon]

Archer and monster on two different sides of a deep chasm. Archer kills monster. No XPs cause it was not dangerous for him?

Darklone, could you edit that so it says "Archer and very stupid monster ..."

Maitre D

 

[Chacal]

I always ruled that no challenge = no XP, but YMMV.
IMC You're rewarded for what you do, not for the class ability you choose.

I'm quite freeform with xp and I usually use CR/EL only as guidelines.
If I were to give an EL for an encounter which has no chance to be a challenge, then it's 0.
(Let's remind that the paladin in this case was the only one to encounter the traps)

If there was another PC, then It might have been a challenge for the paladin :
keep him alive, taking it back from running in fear ...


Chacal

 

[Chacal]

Look at it this way:

Paladin walks in a corridor, steps on a pressure plate. A big flash of light hits him. He comes out of it unarmed. "Whew, thank Pelor He gave me all those abilities!" Next time, when he's walking down a corridor, he'll probably be more cautious, henceforth: XP.

Maitre D

That's sounds too easy for me, I would try to put another pressure plate later to see if it really deserve that XP for
learning to be cautious

Chacal