XP: Party or Individual...

[S'mon]

When I DM largely party based, unless there is a compelling reason to give extras - writing story hours, completing individual missions, helping out the GM or the player and/or character is absent when a lower award is given.

That's exactly how I do it. By and large I think the game works much better if xp is party-based.

 

[Arc]

I've been trying a "flat-level" system recently, where I just keep tally of how much XP the group as a whole has earned, and give out level ups when appropriate. XP loss just means deleveling for a session or two.

Havn't played that much with it though. Is anyone else using a similar system? Any problems I should look out for? I got worried about item creation at first... but nobody's doing that yet or planning to, so I think I dodged the biggest bullet.

 

[Ravenknight]

Each player gets individual XP for roleplaying and solving different kinds of problem. In combat however everyone gets the same XP period since that is a group feat and everyone has different strength and ability.

 

[Psion]

Yes.

I use 50 xp/level/hour as a basis, then add a percentage for difficulty and acheivement of goals, and use that as a baseline.

Then individuals get potential individual awards and adjustments for contributions, cleverness, and for being ahead or behind the curve.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I always calculate the base level as a group award. Then, I look at each PC's accomplishments, roleplaying, and challenges defeated solely on their own and award XP based on that.

In 2e, you really had to do that, with the various XP awards PCs got depending on class and actions. The habit has stuck.

 

[GlassJaw]

I start out by calculating the XP for the party as a whole and taking each character's level into account. After that, I might give small bonuses for good role-playing, coming up with a clever plan, or doing something heroic.