XP/Leveling Up Variants?

[mvincent]

geez.. what level are they now?

7th currently (as stated, this was covering three campaigns... i.e. we are on our 3rd campaign)

 

[ValhallaGH]

Not what the original poster was asking about but possibly of interest to some...
I've always been fond of the system of giving one XP per gold piece spent on partying. If you don't buy booze and companionship then you don't get XP. It makes for a very entertaining chunk of RP in a hack&slash campaign. (Where do you think all that spending money comes from?)
No, buying magic loot doesn't count for XP gain; only frivolous spending upon worldly pleasures counts. Yes, this creates a very mercenary campaign with few magic items. No, I haven't had any problems with that yet.

 

[Tharian]

Not what the original poster was asking about but possibly of interest to some...
I've always been fond of the system of giving one XP per gold piece spent on partying. If you don't buy booze and companionship then you don't get XP. It makes for a very entertaining chunk of RP in a hack&slash campaign. (Where do you think all that spending money comes from?)
No, buying magic loot doesn't count for XP gain; only frivolous spending upon worldly pleasures counts. Yes, this creates a very mercenary campaign with few magic items. No, I haven't had any problems with that yet.

Oh my god, this idea so very much rocks. I may have to stea... err... borrow this idea for a campaign down the road.

 

[mvincent]

Not what the original poster was asking about but possibly of interest to some...
I've always been fond of the system of giving one XP per gold piece spent on partying. If you don't buy booze and companionship then you don't get XP. It makes for a very entertaining chunk of RP in a hack&slash campaign. (Where do you think all that spending money comes from?)
No, buying magic loot doesn't count for XP gain; only frivolous spending upon worldly pleasures counts. Yes, this creates a very mercenary campaign with few magic items. No, I haven't had any problems with that yet.

That is indeed a good idea. However, note that someone with craft wondrous item feat can (effectively) trade 1 XP for 12.5 gold, and paying a spellcaster to burn XP cost 5 gp per XP. But still... I really like it (assuming the money is spend in game, and the players state how it is being spent).

 

[shilsen]

That's fine (especially if that works for you and your group), but you understand that is much slower than the norm?

Absolutely, and completely intentionally. It's a high RP campaign, usually with no more than one combat a session (which lasts 4-6 hrs), so if I awarded XP by CR, the PCs would actually get less than they curently do. I also tend to be very good at challenging the PCs with weaker enemies, so that would contribute further to lower XP.

Incidentally, I have to say that as a player I would absolutely hate a campaign where PCs went up levels every session or every couple of sessions. For me, not only would that be too little time to enjoy using the new abilities the character gets, but also to explore the effects such change has on the character internally and his interactions with the external world. As they say, different strokes...

 

[Legildur]

Our group is currently stumbling through the World's Largest Dungeon.

Between the recommended method of awarding XPs based on the EL of the encounter (rather than the CR of individual creatures) and the large size of our party, progression has been slow. We've been at it for a year (probably 12-15 sessions in total) and only just progressed to 7th level. This seems to work for us as long as the module is designed for the slow progression.

 

[Piratecat]

I've gone to an XP-less system, using action points to still allow for item creation costs. It's working incredibly well. Details attached!

Also, I'll slide this into House Rules.

 

[reanjr]

Divide the XP required for the magic item, etc. by the character's effective character level. Divide this number by 1,000. This is the percentage the character is behind everyone else.

5th level character makes something requiring 1,000 XP.
1,000 / 5 = 200
200 / 1000 = 0.2

20% of a level behind everyone else. Once this accrues to 100%, you can grant levels to everyone else but not them.

 

[airwalkrr]

Not what the original poster was asking about but possibly of interest to some...
I've always been fond of the system of giving one XP per gold piece spent on partying. If you don't buy booze and companionship then you don't get XP. It makes for a very entertaining chunk of RP in a hack&slash campaign. (Where do you think all that spending money comes from?)
No, buying magic loot doesn't count for XP gain; only frivolous spending upon worldly pleasures counts. Yes, this creates a very mercenary campaign with few magic items. No, I haven't had any problems with that yet.

Such a beautiful idea! Consider it yoinked.

 

[Aikuchi]

oh dear ..

one of my longest campaigns (3+ years); ... party leveled probably once per 8 sessions. eep .... too harsh mayhaps?