XP for NPCs
- Thread starter Quasqueton
- Start date
Trickstergod
First Post
I don't award NPC's, but some do level up.
Generally speaking, any NPC that might prove to be a consistent ally or enemy to the PC's goes up 1 level for every 3 levels that the PC's gain. It's the formula I've used for every NPC that I've leveled up in the past few years.
Doesn't matter if they beat the PC's or are defeated by them but run away. The PC's go up 3 levels, and the important NPC's go up one.
The one game where this has really mattered, though, did have some bonuses and negatives for NPC's that went up against the PC's. The PC's were essentially competing with another NPC over certain artifacts and the PC's success or failure, on top of where they went and when, gauged just what the NPC was able to get his hands on. But the penalties and bonuses weren't applied via experience.
Generally speaking, any NPC that might prove to be a consistent ally or enemy to the PC's goes up 1 level for every 3 levels that the PC's gain. It's the formula I've used for every NPC that I've leveled up in the past few years.
Doesn't matter if they beat the PC's or are defeated by them but run away. The PC's go up 3 levels, and the important NPC's go up one.
The one game where this has really mattered, though, did have some bonuses and negatives for NPC's that went up against the PC's. The PC's were essentially competing with another NPC over certain artifacts and the PC's success or failure, on top of where they went and when, gauged just what the NPC was able to get his hands on. But the penalties and bonuses weren't applied via experience.
painandgreed
First Post
Generic NPCs usually accrue XP at a certain set level according to their lifestyle and conditions. Perhaps with XP if they are involved in some bit of adventure above and beyond their normal lives.
As for getting XP for defeating the party, I don't think I've had the party get defeated by a reoccuring villian enough to worry about it. Usually the party never sees that NPC ever again or they kill them next thing. If such a situation happened where it might matter, then yes, I'd give the NPC XP for defeating the PCs. I like to keep PCs and NPCs working by the same set of rules so that there is some objectivity to everything.
As for getting XP for defeating the party, I don't think I've had the party get defeated by a reoccuring villian enough to worry about it. Usually the party never sees that NPC ever again or they kill them next thing. If such a situation happened where it might matter, then yes, I'd give the NPC XP for defeating the PCs. I like to keep PCs and NPCs working by the same set of rules so that there is some objectivity to everything.
reanjr
First Post
Quasqueton said:
No, because the PCs never constitute enough XP to be worth keeping track of. Most of the things an NPC would gain XP from are out of game and so I just level them when it seems appropriate.
As a rule of thumb, you can assume the NPC gains as much XP as the party. If the NPC is higher level, he'll be gaining levels slower. Add to that the fact that the PCs are EACH going up a level with a specified number of XP, and they can still quickly catch up to the NPC if that is how you like to play.
MonsterMash
First Post
That's usually what I do, except I had some NPC's with the party as allies for an extended period so I figured their XP and awards to have an idea if they should level during the adventure.BiggusGeekus said:
If an NPC has joined the party and acts like a regular party member (so-called "recruitable NPCs"), I calculate XP normally and level them up accordingly.
For non-recruitable major NPCs (key allies, villains, plot characters) I level them up as much as I feel is appropriate/necessary, though this normally only applies to recurring NPCs (since most villains in particular only meet the PCs once...)
For non-recruitable major NPCs (key allies, villains, plot characters) I level them up as much as I feel is appropriate/necessary, though this normally only applies to recurring NPCs (since most villains in particular only meet the PCs once...)
Illvillainy
First Post
This is basically what I do. Depends if they're in the party or not really.Al said:
Keeper of Secrets
First Post
If the NPC is part of the adventure, such as a full fledged member of the adventuring party, then they get a fair division of all the spoils. Bad guys and recurring characters kind of advance as needed, really.
robberbaron
First Post
Not exactly though, when an NPC gets away he is often advanced before the party meets him again. Don't add XP, just level up and add stuff.
Squire James
Explorer
I tend to award levels rather than XP to all my NPC's, whether they frequently join the party or not. A frequent party ally "maxes out" at 2 levels below the average PC, and I require the PC's to actually take him along on an adventure to level him up. Since the ally is an Artificer, he's an excellent "DM PC" that doesn't steal anyone's glory (they particularly like the fact he can stick all sorts of Bane enchantments on weapon given a few minutes).
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