Would you give XP for this?

[FireLance]

I don't want to start a discussion on alternative XP systems or whether traps have too high an XP to risk ratio. My question is: would you give XP to a character that encounters a trap that he is unaffected by?

Example:
A paladin is the sole survivor of an adventuring party. On his way out of the dungeon, he sets off three magic traps which hit him with the following spells: holy smite, contagion and cause fear, all of which he is unaffected by. Would you give XP to the paladin for "encountering" the traps?

Your views, please.

 

[Limper]

Yes I would... he survived and thats all thats required. Also the CRs on those traps aren't that high so it wont break anything.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

IMO, i wouldn't

the DMG mentions "surviving the damage" a trap deals, and if it couldn't possibly affect the character, i wouldn't award exp....

 

[Victim]

But if he wasn't a LG paladin, then he could be screwed. Paladins get fear and disease immunities in place of other class abilities, and the LG alignment can be confining.

If a character with Deathward and Freedom of Movement walked through a bunch of death magic and Hold person traps, wouldn't he get experience because he used his class abilites to defeat the traps? Same thing for the paladin. His abilities are always on, but they aren't as flexible.

 

[Caliber]

A little bit Off-Topic but I don't see a lot of reasons for giving XP for traps sprung. Sure it does damage and depletes resources, but its not like they really overcame anything. At least in my opinion.

Sometimes I give XP, but more often I do so only unless the trap is somehow circumvented.

So to be a bit more On Topic, no I wouldn't give XP for your situation. But by the acutual rules, I think you should.

 

[clark411]

Definitely gets experience for surviving... even if it's just stumbling through them as anyone who isn't a rogue will do.

However- I'd seriously consider weighing the circumstances into the equation by looking at the "Modifying Encounter Levels" p.167 as the CR.. EL.. whatever can be affected by his immunities.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Yes, of course. It's by the rules, and it's logical as well.

Emerging undamaged means that you planned ahead and put resources into making you invulnerable against those dangers. Being invulnerable should not be treated differently.

And the XP for sprung traps reflects the fact that you learn from your faults. You were not smart to step on that slightly higher tile, but you will know for later that you must me cautious around them. And even though this trap has not harmed you, the next one similarly conceiled might hold unholy blight, and now you know how to look for it...

 

[Drawmack]

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.

 

[hammymchamham]

As Drawmack said. If it was a rogue that disabled the traps, you'd give her XP right? Why not the Paladin? They both used their class abilities to survive the traps.

 

[kreynolds]

What Drawmack and hammy said.

EDIT: Oh...and KaeYoss too.