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

[Parmandur]

Yeah the reward system is going to incentivize play. So if xp comes from killing stuff well…

I think that’s why milestone is appealing to me because players, at least proactive ones, employ all kinds of solutions based on their tool kit and their interests! Though, I know that can be too daunting or vague for some play styles.

That's what I appreciate about the DCC system: it has a certain objective predictably and rhe zero to hero arc like standard D&D XP progression, but it incentives creative engagement rather than any specific "gameable" behaviors.

 

[el-remmen]

Here’s a question (that might be better as its own thread) but for those of you who do milestone advancement, do the players know what the milestone goal is? Sometimes? All the time? Never?

Curious.

 

[payn]

Here’s a question (that might be better as its own thread) but for those of you who do milestone advancement, do the players know what the milestone goal is? Sometimes? All the time? Never?

Curious.

Sometimes verging on usually. I’d say immediately after level up no, but with some session progression it comes into picture like working on a jigsaw puzzle.

 

[Parmandur]

Here’s a question (that might be better as its own thread) but for those of you who do milestone advancement, do the players know what the milestone goal is? Sometimes? All the time? Never?

Curious.

My experience for D&D milestone os that itbisnoften nebulous and at DM discretion (fiat), but that went back to the start for me as my 3.x DM used plot based XP thst effectively worked like the current milestone approach.

That is what I like about the Cosmere RPG approach: it is milestone based, but on a per character basis and the goals are written on the character sheet after negotiation with the GM and marked of when they are accomplished.

 

[billd91]

Here’s a question (that might be better as its own thread) but for those of you who do milestone advancement, do the players know what the milestone goal is? Sometimes? All the time? Never?

Curious.

They may not know exactly where it is in the narrative structure, but in many cases, it's pretty easy to predict the story beat and when the milestone is coming. This is particularly true when working with an adventure path organized into chapters or episodes. They'll often involve dealing with a boss of some sort or resolving a story/situation within the overall AP's structure or even a relatively self-contained stretch of some PC effort.
For example pulled from an AP, the PCs spend 2 months working for a caravan en route to its destination and identifying/monitoring smugglers who have infiltrated the caravan - at the end of the journey, they've hit a pretty obvious and predictable milestone.

 

[el-remmen]

Other question, are milestones always level ups or are they ever just XP awards that might not be enough to level?

 

[payn]

Other question, are milestones always level ups or are they ever just XP awards that might not be enough to level?

Typically, just a level up. Though when I’m running Traveller I tend to allow a skill bump after an adventure wraps up. That’s like 1/4 of a level or less.

That said, I liked his in Dungeons and Dragons Online they had milestone bumps between levels to do what you suggest.

 

[Parmandur]

Other question, are milestones always level ups or are they ever just XP awards that might not be enough to level?

What we did back in the primeval days of 3.x were XP boosts for plot events, but these days it is just "Everyoke Level up for the next session!"

 

[Jolly Ruby]

Usually if I'm playing 5e I like XP for combats and overcoming challenges. Treasures are aalready a reward, no need to double down on it (unless I'm playing old-school), and social encounters only if they're some kind of challenge.

But I like to play with what gives XP too, to tune the tone of the campaign. Want an exploration heavy game? XP for discovering new places, new monsters and uncovering secrets.

 

[Reynard]

Other question, are milestones always level ups or are they ever just XP awards that might not be enough to level?

I think typically in linear campaigns, milestones are level ups between chapters. But you can do a sandbox with XP milestones for specific accomplishments.