Xp!!

[Tiberius]

I concur. XP is awarded for defeating a particular encounter. While typically defeating is parsed to mean "killing in combat", it is possible to defeat an encounter through diplomacy or simply circumventing it. This being the case, your PCs did not defeat the encounter, they were defeated by it. Therefore, I would award no XP for the PCs, but would award it to any guards who survived or were subsequently raised.

-Tiberius

 

[Dr. NRG]

I say you should award exp to the 12th-level fighter for defeating the party, not vice versa.

NRG

 

[Willtell]

ep for everyone!

Give the survivers the ep for defeating the 10 4th lvl fighters or 10 4th lvl warriors. Give the commander ep for defeating the 3 8th lvl PC's.