Questions tagged [experience-points]

For questions pertaining to "experience points" or any other kind of point gained during play and used to "level up" or otherwise permanently increase a character's abilities.

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6 votes
2 answers
362 views

Balancing a combat around the surprised condition

I'm a new DM trying to put encounters together. My players are often either surprised by monsters (eg: mimics) or surprise the monsters (because they stealth into the lair) and I've noticed surpise ...
5 votes
2 answers
452 views

How much XP does a level 3 character receive for defeating a level 16 NPC solo?

If a level 3 character single handily defeats a level 16 NPC (16 level fighter) in combat. How much xp would they receive?
13 votes
1 answer
201 views

How much xp is a lightsaber worth?

I'm new to the star wars force and destiny role game. While reading through the rules on page 322 of the core rulebook I found the following statement: PCs uninterested in lightsaber combat should ...
11 votes
2 answers
482 views

Where do I find the rules concerning my Ghouls evolution?

I am a vampire player and currently own a ghoul. I would like to evolve my ghoul but I can't find the rules concerning her evolution(XP). I saw that she could have more discipline, and that we could ...
4 votes
3 answers
364 views

Dream Experiences and experience gain

I'm about to run my D&D 3.P (Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 / Pathfinder) group through a "dream game" while they're on a journey between the Material Plane and the plane of Mechanus on the ...
4 votes
2 answers
540 views

How high level should my party of 4 be before facing the lich bbeg?

A bit about the story of my campaign- the party is an elite adventurers guild employed and funded by the emperor. When they complete the quests of delivering the items to the emperor, they discover ...
7 votes
3 answers
1k views

How does Experience Point Value work on sold magic items?

I'm trying to make sure I understand this correctly. In the original (Advanced D&D) Dungeon Master's Handbook starting on page 120 outlines various magic items. In the value tables there is ...
18 votes
4 answers
5k views

How to adapt XP-changing items in a milestone-leveling game?

I'm the DM of a milestone-leveling game. I want to reward my players with some items like the Deck of Many Things. However some cards like the Fool, the Jester and the Sun have effects that change ...
3 votes
1 answer
387 views

Lost Mines/Icespire Peak Combo Campaign Milestone/XP Hybrid, Does this look resonable?

I'm setting up to run Lost Mines and Icespire Peak at the same time. I wanted to use milestones instead of XP but I didn't want to feel like progress only happened at certain times so I assigned each ...
-1 votes
4 answers
483 views

Using RAW, can the Polymorph Any Object spell allow a Simulacrum to gain in power?

I was unable to delete this and post the revised question. I apologize to those who have invested time in answering, but I feel that this is now more evidence based than presentation based and better ...
23 votes
3 answers
5k views

Does a True Polymorphed player character continue to gain experience?

Suppose a 5th-level human wizard (let's call her Morgan) is subject to true polymorph, and the spell becomes permanent. While polymorphed, Morgan remains with the party and contributes to adventures. ...
6 votes
1 answer
874 views

Level adjustment reduction for high(ish)-level new characters

I am running a 3.5 D&D campaign and I have allowed my players to use the level adjustment reduction rules from the SRD. It is explained fairly OK for characters as they advance through new levels, ...
4 votes
1 answer
134 views

How is experience awarded for critical hits?

When awarding experience in Rolemaster Classic for critical hits is it the crit level rolled or the crit level adjusted i.e -2 severity? It's been a couple of decades since I last ran Rolemaster and ...
12 votes
2 answers
892 views

How can I make sure my Roll For Shoes character gets XP or new skills?

I played some RFS (Roll for shoes) recently and I was having so much fun I didn't really check to see what XP or skills I had acquired. Going back I noticed over the 45 minutes of play I hadn't gotten ...
3 votes
1 answer
77 views

Does Primal Base commited to Omnipresence count for the sake of calculating evolution?

To clarify the scenario I have in mind is a deity using limited omnipresence on their biggest temple on a particular plane since the religious dogma they cultivated involves them always being in that ...
35 votes
3 answers
5k views

What can I do about players who "cheat" when answering the end of session questions?

At the end of a Dungeon World session, the GM has to ask to the players 3 questions. They win 1 xp if they answer positively. The questions are: Have you discovered something about the world? Have ...
9 votes
2 answers
6k views

What story points make suitable level-up milestones in Lost Mine of Phandelver?

I'm running the Lost Mine of Phandelver module with my players, and I've been using monster and reward XP as the book says so far. I have 5 players and they're all level 2 and have just cleared the ...
0 votes
3 answers
411 views

Why do characters level up? [closed]

Is there any reason given to why characters in D&D get experience points and level up? Is there a background reason given in any of the campaign worlds or rules anywhere? Is there any description ...
4 votes
2 answers
513 views

Experience before rest to Level Up

After a character has enough experience to level up, but before they have rested, should you calculate their experience as their current level or not yet new level. (This is assuming a not RAW house ...
5 votes
1 answer
95 views

Two contradictory mechanics for XP discount for Guild instruction in Arcanoi

The 20th Anniversary edition of Wraith: the Oblivion has two different ways that the XP cost for learning arcanoi might be reduced, and these seem to conflict when it comes to their mechanics. The ...
10 votes
1 answer
172 views

What's the XP cost to learn an unknown 1-dot art in a known arcanoi?

The 20th Anniversary edition of Wraith: the Oblivion describes the mechanic for learning unknown arts at the same rating as a known art (e.g. learning an initiate art, when the common art is known) ...
25 votes
8 answers
15k views

How much XP can the Wish spell grant?

If someone had the Deck of Many things, drew the Moon and got a wish spell, and wished to "Level up as much as (They) can", how much XP would the wish spell give to the player?
30 votes
13 answers
2k views

Do any newer D&D versions grant experience for exceptional role-playing?

Do any of the newer D&D editions' books (most likely the DM Guide) have guidelines for granting experience for exceptional role-playing? I once played with a professional DM (there's a job I want)...
20 votes
8 answers
12k views

What do NPCs do with gained XP?

I'm the DM of our group with several player characters, and often there are NPCs with the party as well (partly because the party really likes persuading friendly creatures to come join them, and ...
8 votes
1 answer
126 views

Training in the Dojo

I have scanned the 4th edition rules for the fifth time by now, and I still can't seem to find what I am seeking. I know, that it takes a measure of weeks (typically two to four) to train an animal to ...
9 votes
3 answers
465 views

Does Lycanthropy give you XP?

Does a template that grants HD (lycanthropy, but also multi-headed, zombie, etc.) necessarily give XP to be at that new character level? Is there some requirement somewhere that one has to have enough ...
6 votes
2 answers
529 views

A technical problem about Encounter Levels

I have a question on how to give the correct experience to my party. In the first fight they had: 6 x Skeletons (6 x CR 1/3 = EL 2) 1 x Ogre Skel. (CR 3) 1 x Level 2 Cleric (CR 2) 2 x Gnoll (2 x CR 1 ...
7 votes
2 answers
528 views

High-level party and Low-level adventuring experience points issue

I am running a mega dungeon, and the party has been completely finishing off the parts of the adventure that are more than 5 levels below their party level. This means they are finding plot points and ...
49 votes
2 answers
6k views

What is the reason behind "one level at a time" level advancement in D&D? [closed]

During the answering to this question about large experience point gains getting truncated -- when a single XP award would raise a character more than one level at a time -- the following question ...
24 votes
5 answers
13k views

Does 5e address the murderhobos problem?

In DnD 3.5, the system by default only gives significant XP for killing things (monsters, vermin, shopkeepers, etc), which often leads to player characters becoming "murderhobos" in an ...
0 votes
2 answers
143 views

Character progression of someone wielding an overpowered artifact [closed]

Gaining XP and progressing is viewed as a reward of learning, becoming better in what you do, with greater rewards stemming mainly (though certainly not solely) from achievements in combat, whether ...
5 votes
1 answer
724 views

How to calculate Adjusted XP for heterogenous monster groups?

To recap my understanding... The point of Adjusted XP is provide a metric with which to judge the difficulty of a combat, to give your party well-balanced encounters and well-balanced adventuring ...
9 votes
3 answers
19k views

Is there any generalised formula for converting monster CR into XP in D&D 5e?

I am trying to make a spreadsheet to track encounters, and I was wondering if there is any generalised formula I can use to calculate the average XP for any given Challenge Rating, or is it like ...
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

How to get from 3rd to 5th level in "The Forge of Fury" using XP?

I am a DM who has started my campaign with new 3rd level characters running The Forge of Fury as published in Tales from the Yawning Portal. The synopsis contains the line It is designed for four 3rd-...
10 votes
5 answers
12k views

Is there a mathematical formula to determine how much XP is needed per level?

Is there a mathematical formula to determine how much XP is needed per level? In other words Is there a consistent formula for determining how much XP is needed to go up to any given level? I ...
3 votes
1 answer
216 views

Exp reward vs player power

I have a set of players whose characters I think are great, unique, and powerful. I dont find it hard or impossible to balance around, but they hit way above their weight class. They are a group of 3, ...
7 votes
1 answer
343 views

In OD&D, how do you calculate XP, HP and Max HP when switching class?

In Original D&D, specifically the rules described in Men & Magic, it says: Elves can begin as either Fighting-Men or Magic-Users and freely switch class whenever they choose, from adventure ...
14 votes
2 answers
2k views

Should my party get xp twice, first for a negotiation, and then for killing the creature

My party negotiated a truce with the Nothic in LMoP, then shortly afterwards the wizard found the sword hidden away and decided to try and steal it. The Nothic noticed and engaged in combat, at which ...
15 votes
3 answers
2k views

Should PCs receive XP for enemies that die to friendly fire?

Should player characters receive XP for enemies they're in combat with who die to friendly fire? For example, say an archmage and two berserkers are fighting a party of three. The archmage casts ...
12 votes
2 answers
1k views

How do I deal with a player disappointed with the progression system?

I'm trying to start new group of Ars Magica (mix of 4 and 5). I'm the storykeeper and had played it for years and it's one my favorites RPGs. This a new System & Scenario for the players, they ...
13 votes
3 answers
2k views

Do PCs receive XP for Strahd when encountering (but not killing) him?

I've been running Curse of Strahd for about 25 sessions now. The party just encountered Strahd in combat for the first time on top of Yester Hill. It was an intense fight where only two out of six PCs ...
30 votes
3 answers
171k views

Is the XP for an encounter split among the party members or not?

At this point, I am unclear as to how to handle encounter XP. Does each surviving party member receive a proportional share, or the full amount? That is, assume a 4-character party had completed an ...
6 votes
1 answer
225 views

How does looting treasures worth legend points work?

Earthdawn rewards player when they best an opponent with legend points. It also rewards them legend points when they loot "treasures" (e.g., Crackbill necks). Am I right that they won't ...
3 votes
1 answer
283 views

Am I correctly calculating the difficulty/XP for this encounter for a 15th-level party of 5 PCs?

I am putting together a campaign and have been experimenting with the guidelines for creating encounters and managing difficulty. I've done the math for quite a few encounters at each of the "...
15 votes
6 answers
3k views

How much XP does a monster created by Animate Objects add to an encounter?

I am making a boss fight. The boss can cast animate objects, a spell that can animate statues. The spell gives information for, eg., 1 Large Construct: Large - HP: 50, AC: 10, Attack: +6 to hit, ...
9 votes
3 answers
2k views

Milestone leveling for a party of players who drop in and out?

Historically I have generally used XP for tracking character progress in my party. But my latest new campaign I intend to move to a milestone approach. However the one thing I don’t fully understand ...
6 votes
2 answers
6k views

General Gold value of XP

The context of my question is mostly related to crafting items (with an XP cost) and then trading them with other PCs within the party. In the case where a Gold<>XP ratio does not scale the same (...
8 votes
1 answer
550 views

Do you gain XP based on your "level" or your XP total?

Let's say a 3rd-level character with 5900 XP (100 away from reaching 4th level) clears two EL 5 encounters during an adventure. The PHB says on page 58 that XP is handed out at the end of each ...
18 votes
5 answers
4k views

Can I defer levelling up after reaching the XP threshold?

As a rogue, I've gained enough XP to level up to level 3. However, I'm not yet ready to pick what archetype would fit best for me. Despite having gained enough XP, can I wait until later to level up ...
15 votes
8 answers
5k views

Item Creation Without Experience Points [closed]

Suppose you're playing an RPG with item creation rules that require you to spend experience points as part of creating the item, such as D&D or Numenera. Suppose further that your gaming group has ...

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