XP division: All for one or does it vary?

[Leopold]

Here is my dilema. I thought early on that you give out to PC's XP based on their level for what they do and don't get. If one PC is higher level he gets less than one that is lower level.

Now one of my players said "Everyone gets the same XP no matter what level based on the average party level (i use the encounter calc to determine xp)' and we have been using it that way since then.

What way does it go? Do you get more XP for lower level than if you were a higher level if you have different level PC's in the mix. Such as a 2 level 5's would get more than the level 7 would?

I am baffled but would like clarification on which way the rules state to go.

thanks..

 

[Crothian]

The answer is whatever you want. The DMG suggest giving them all the same XP based on average level as that is the easy way to go. In the Forgotten Realms (I think that is where it is) it does have an alternate option of doing it so lower level characters get more XP.

Personally, I do the lower level PCs get more XP and have been doing it that way since I first read the DMG. It allows for lower level characters to have a chance to catch up to the higher level characters.

 

[Aluvial]

I do the same. I believe it is in the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting Book, page 299? It is near the back.

I prefer this method because it bases the experience on the character's level. It is more calculations, but worth it in the end.

I have a modified experience generator that works on excel for this. It supports up to 12 PC's, and uses Fleshed out experience charts for encounters that are more or less than 8 levels of the character (i.e., if you are level 9 you can still get a little experience for a 1st level CR). You can set an encounter so that you receive a percentage of the experience earned or you can set the table so that the percentage happens all of the time. I regularly give only 90% of the experience in my campaign. It also comes with a report page that you can hand out to your players describing their various awards.

I only bring this up because of the lack of xp generators out there. Unfortunately, I have modified the sheet from an earlier version someone else produced. I have tried to contact this individual many times so that I may let out the improved version, but I'm afraid I've never heard a response back. I would feel negligent if I didn't ever hear back a response for approval.

What do you guys think about this? Should I let this sheet out for use by others without hearing permission?

Aluvial

 

[Leopold]

there's a program on the front page that does this and then some. i just dl'd it and used it. I think it works awesome!

I will consult with the party and see how they feel..

 

[Aluvial]

Yeah I saw that too. Not bad, but pretty simple. I wonder if you can enter fractional CR's?

 

[Li Shenron]

I have always given them the same share of XP, anyway for a lower lever character the same amount of XP is more valuable, since less is required to advance to the next level!

 

[android]

I have always given them the same share of XP, anyway for a lower lever character the same amount of XP is more valuable, since less is required to advance to the next level!

Agreed. I really started thinking about it when I had a fairly large level discrepancy in a previous campaign. By the FR method, the lower level characters made less of an impact on the battles and what not, but still received a greater amount of experience. Not only was the absolute number of experience greater for them, but the relative value was greater as they were lower level so needed less XP to gain their next level. This left the higher level PCs feeling like they did more and got less (again, both absolutely and relatively)

I then toyed with the idea of the higher level PCs getting more because of their increased responsbility in the party. I quickly discarded that as it didn't help to heal the level difference.

I finally settled on using the average party level and giving everyone the same. Doing it this way seemed most agreeable as no one felt like they were shafted. The lower level guys got to catch up a bit because they need fewer XP to get that next level. But in terms of them surpassing the higher level guys (which sometimes occurs with the FR method), that just wouldn't happen.

 

[the Jester]

I use the FR method, but I give half xp for monsters and traps and also give rp awards. These are based on the character's level (25 xp times the character's level for each of four categories), so it evens things out somewhat.

 

[Leopold]

i tossed the idea to the players and i will see what they say..

 

[Thanee]

It's really the best way to use the FRCS method (XP based on individual character level, not average party level)!

This way, lower level characters will slowly keep up with the higher levels, which means more fun for everyone.

And it's also quite reasonable, that a lower level character will gain more experience out of an encounter with (to him) tougher opponents!

Also, this method does somewhat lessen the harsh penalties of level loss or other experience losses (item creation, spellcasting, etc).

Bye
Thanee