Skip to main content

On XP

Referencing this:

Individual, group, and no XP?
I look at each obstacle that must be overcome and award XP based on whether this obstacle is overcome by the group or the individual.  For example, a monster or a trap in most cases something that the group will work together on, so everyone gets equal XP for contributing.

However, there are obstacles that are individual.  Everyone has to walk the tight rope to the other side of the bridge, or fall in and swim.  XP for this task is given individually just like they must individually complete the task.  If they figure out a group method (we take a boat across) the task becomes a group task with group XP again.

Absent player XP?

Absent players don't get XP.

Awards for roleplaying, miniatures, backgrounds, pizza, etc?
I use karma points as a reward for these things.  Karma points give you a save from death, allow you to autostabilize to zero hit points, allow you to take extra actions, allow you to reroll any roll, and other things you wound't normally be able to do.

Other awards come as flexibility from the GM.

Recently I had a player realize that playing a male paladin was not for her.  To keep her as a happy, contributing member of our group, I threw in a story line that got her paladinic powers taken away (letting her become a fighter) and soon she will find a belt of gender change so she can have her female fighter character.  The drawback is that I am only letting her move a couple points of charisma around in her attributes (since logically a charismatic male doesn't really translate to a charismatic female).  The storyline also will make things more interesting for the rest of the group and be a source of endless 'you used to be a man' jokes.

Another player is a ranger that gets an animal companion.  Rather than forcing him to buy a companion, I just make sure that one appears under relevant circumstances in the story.

When do you level up?
Leveling up needs to occur in a safe civilization.  To accommodate the rarity of making it back to a safe civilization, I will let players close to leveling up go ahead and level up with their group so that they don't get behind a level for an entire adventure that may last weeks.  This somewhat normalizes out XP differences due to individual XP and an occasional absence.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5E Starting Gold and Equipment for Higher Levels

The DMG has a rough recommendation for starting gold and equipment for higher levels, but with my groups running one-shots, we wanted to nail it down to level by level. Here's my DMG-inspired table. Generally I allow equipment to be traded in during character creation for half book value, where applicable. I also, as a GM, offer to make custom magic items for players who can't choose. A list of magical items by rarity can be found here  with stats available in the DMG. I also generally allow players to buy healing potions (2d4+2) for 50gp and greater healing potions for 250gp (4d4+4). PHB items are available at book cost at creation. I do not allow other equipment to be purchased except in game. This is generally based off the "high magic" campaign. Level Starting Gold Starting Equipment / Magic Items 1 - 160gp  OR Standard starting equipment 2 210gp Standard starting equipment 3 285gp Standard starting equipment 4 365gp Standard sta...
3 comments
Read more

Rules for Flying Creatures in 5E

I'm not one for just throwing my players willy-nilly into something new without an idea of how it would work.  Flying races are on the horizon for one of my games, so here are my clarifications for flying creatures: A flying creatures requires a minimum space of at least 3 times their height in all directions in order to flight. For example, a 6 ft tall flying creature requires a room to be at least 18 ft in all dimensions before they can fly in it. A flying creature can attempt to grapple a creature.  If the the target or grappler are flying, grapple attempts are at disadvantage. If neither are flying, grapples are per RAW.  The state of flying or walking is determined by the last square you have moved.  To change between walking and/or flying, you must use at least 1 space of movement.  Movement rules per RAW apply (PHB pg 190 "Using Different Speeds") A successful grapple check by a flying creature can allow the flying creature to potentially carry th...
Post a Comment
Read more

An Analysis of Tasha's Caldron of Everything: Spells

 I am going to be evaluating "Tasha's Cauldron of Everything" for incorporation into my own games. I figured I would go ahead and record this analysis on my blog here so other folks can follow along and glean some useful information from the time I spent. I tried to find an in-depth analysis elsewhere, but at this time none so detailed as this seems to be available. You will not find any of the text in its entirety in this blog. I will be referencing the first printing of the book, so please refer to that as you read along. There are no released errata for the book at the time of writing, although there are errata from other books that affect some of this content. There are 21 spells in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. This includes Booming Blade, Green-Flame Blade, Lightning Lure, and Sword Burst cantrips that were originally published in Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. There are 9 spells that allow you to summon creatures of various types. Three spells are notabl...
Post a Comment
Read more