D&D General XP: How Do You Like To Earn It?

[Yaarel]

Well, as a player, I don't want "chapters" and I don't expect pacing to be the purview of the GM (outside of things like con events). Player agency is key, and so as a player I want to know or be able to find out where the risks and rewards are, and decide with my fellow players what we are willing to try. I am not interested in the kind of adventure that necessitates milestones* or GM pacing.

*except personal milestones the player sets for themselves with some concrete XP reward attached. "Reforge my heirloom sword" or some such thing.

Is GM pacing the same thing as fiat?

 

[Reynard]

Is GM pacing the same thing as fiat?

I think fiat is required for the GM to control pacing.

 

[payn]

As a player, I prefer milestones over XP. I'm a power gamer by nature, and I find that when the DM uses XP, it's almost like a drug. I just want more so I can keep leveling up. Milestones, however, are more story-based. They make it so leveling happens when you achieve a goal in-game. I find this helps me focus on the story and the game more.

Yeap, I had players that took xp fishing to ridiculous levels. When I finally scrapped it there was some whining but after about 2 sessions nobody missed it.

 

[Parmandur]

Well, yeah. That’s basically what “milestones” are. Less granular XP awards.

The XP awards were originally granular because they represented treasure monetary values...ao less granular makes more sense out of the treasure context.

 

[pukunui]

Yeap, I had players that took xp fishing to ridiculous levels. When I finally scrapped it there was some whining but after about 2 sessions nobody missed it.

Unfortunately for me, that DM decided he preferred using XP. He also insists on always starting at 1st level because "that's where the fun is". I left the group mid-year and haven't looked back. In fact, the longer I've gone without being a player, the more I've slipped into forever DM mode. I can't even bring myself to bother reading UAs anymore because I have zero enthusiasm for the player side of the game. I'm not sure there is a TTRPG that would give me what I want as a player. Luckily, I have plenty of video games that do!

 

[payn]

Unfortunately for me, that DM decided he preferred using XP. He also insists on always starting at 1st level because "that's where the fun is". I left the group mid-year and haven't looked back. In fact, the longer I've gone without being a player, the more I've slipped into forever DM mode. I can't even bring myself to bother reading UAs anymore because I have zero enthusiasm for the player side of the game. I'm not sure there is a TTRPG that would give me what I want as a player. Luckily, I have plenty of video games that do!

Yeah I have a hard time as a player in 5E. I’m a 3E/PF1 guy and it took me awhile to figure out why. Part of it is the meaty system gives me a mini game to work on if I get bored of the GMs campaign (something that happens a lot to me) and the 5E mini game is too lite.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

XP should be for accomplishing things the game wants me to accomplish, whether killing monsters, overcoming obstacles, finding locations, hauling treasure back to town, just making successful checks, some sort of downtime training activity, or reaching some sort of milestone. The key thing to me is that it should be awarded for more than one thing. Any mono-focused system is going to encourage excessive focus on one type of activity (although absurd, illogical within universe PC monomania for one activity can make the game fun in its own ridiculous way, I just don't dig that long term or think of it as good design).

Which is why I'm not a big fan of pure milestone leveling. It has a high potential to penalize getting off the railroad and doing anything unintended, or sometimes even just completing all the intended sidequests. That's not to say it can't be done well by a DM actually picking appropriate milestones for their groups activities, I just think in pre-written adventures it has become a crutch for lazy design, and woe betide you if you have a DM rigorously following one of said pre-written adventures.

 

[TheSword]

I’m all about the actions… slaying/overcoming monsters and obstacles and achieving objectives.

I think the objectives are a big one missed off the list. A level appropriate XP award for achieving a level appropriate objective.

 

[Lanefan]

There are no xp.

An encounter counts if - afterward in hindsight - it proved to be moderately difficult and worked out successfully.

(Cakewalks are only worth half, and near TPKs one-and-a-half.)

The sweet levels 5 thru 12 require fifteen encounters to reach the next level.

The encounters can be combat, social, or exploration.

Are you talking as a player or DM here?

If yes, does this mean as a player you count the number of encouters your character has had this level?

The thread is asking your xp preference as a player.

 

[Lanefan]

The big thing milestone xp doesn't do is reward individual characters for what they do and-or not reward them for what they don't do. Everyone gets the same reward at the same time, which (unintentionally, I hope!) encourages a mindset - particularly in a larger party - of letting others take the in-game risk 'cause you know you're going to get the reward anyway..