XP for skill challenges

[Quickleaf]

Is a skill challenge considered a major quest of the party's level in terms of awarding XP?

 

[Jhaelen]

According to the DMG a Skill Challenge with Complexity 5 is equal to a standard encounter of the appropriate level.

 

[Quickleaf]

Thanks. I found the DMG quote on page 74.

Skill challege XP = complexity of skill challenge * XP value of a standard monster of the skill challenge's level

 

[Tervin]

Thanks. I found the DMG quote on page 74.

Skill challege XP = complexity of skill challenge * XP value of a standard monster of the skill challenge's level

This is by the way another of the weird little things with skill challenge rules. Do skill challenges get easier with bigger parties? Meaning: Should a big party get less XP per member for succeeding in a skill challenge than a little party does?

Challenges will be easier for bigger parties if the DM allows "aid another" or skipping your turn - if that it is not allowed the challenge will instead be harder for bigger parties. Myself I have so far decided to base XP reward on the base that XP is rewarded so that a normal complexity 5 challenge will give the party as much XP as a combat of their own level. Then I divide that XP by five for complexity 1, give out 2/5 of the XP for complexity 2 etc. A bit more complicated, but not more than is easily handled. I also give out XP for partial success in a skill challenge, more or less according to the same system.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

No, it's scaled by party size.

At 1st level:

4 PC = 400 xp
5 PC = 500 xp
6 PC = 600 xp

 

[Tervin]

No, it's scaled by party size.

At 1st level:

4 PC = 400 xp
5 PC = 500 xp
6 PC = 600 xp

That is how I would do it for a complexity 5 challenge - where did you see it in the rules? The system I found is as follows: (p 74 of the DMG) "A skill challenge is worth the same XP as a number of monsters of its level equal to its complexity." Same thing said on p 121 with slightly different words. This only coincides with your numbers if you have a 5 character party.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

Maybe I just read too far into it. I don't see why a complexity 5 challenge would be worth the same amount to a party of 3 and a party of 10. The 10 party could fail it within one turn, it doesn't really make things easier to have 10 people. I dunno.

 

[Jhaelen]

Maybe I just read too far into it. I don't see why a complexity 5 challenge would be worth the same amount to a party of 3 and a party of 10. The 10 party could fail it within one turn, it doesn't really make things easier to have 10 people. I dunno.

Yup. They'll just finish the challenge faster (for good or bad). Personally, I believe most skill challenges should have some time limitation. In that way it would also make the 'Aid Another' option something other than a no-brainer.