Questions tagged [experience-points]
This tag is 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.
218
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197 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
41 views
How should XP be awarded when facing enemies with class levels? [duplicate]
A lot of games I've been in have had either enemies with player levels or straight up PvP. How should XP be awarded when facing enemies like that? Should you attempt to calculate the CR of the enemies ...
5
votes
1answer
141 views
Are there alternative XP/Level Tables in 5e?
In an old tweet from Mearls, he states the Dungeon Master Guide would contain a "quick progression XP table" (as well as a slow progression, by the way). However, the section Experience ...
3
votes
1answer
110 views
Calculating the XP threshold for a party with “monster” companions
Suppose that a member of an adventuring party has a companion. I can think of the following broad categories ...
Something that came with his/her class (familiar, beastmaster companion)
Part of a ...
4
votes
2answers
136 views
Do you get XP again if you beat the same enemy/trap twice?
Say you beat a flameskull or some other enemy that can be revived. On your way back out of the dungeon, you beat it again. Do you gain XP for the second encounter just like you did for the first one? ...
3
votes
1answer
129 views
Should I add encounters to help level my players before moving on to a new adventure that starts at a higher level? [closed]
Me and the boys played D&D, Lost Mine of Phandelver, but only got to level 4.
What are the pros and cons of either making them fight some more monsters, or just go to the next campaign and make ...
22
votes
1answer
2k views
I am using milestone leveling, what happens when a character dies?
In D&D 3.5e, resurrection can be achieved using several different spells.
Only the 9th level spell True Resurrection, however, comes with a completely monetary cost; all other more economic ...
7
votes
2answers
232 views
Is there a cap on experience for Ironsworn?
The Ironsworn character sheets have bubbles for tracking the experience that you mark by fulfilling your vows. The portrait character sheet has 30 bubbles, and the more-recently-released landscape ...
7
votes
1answer
315 views
Do summoned creatures, such as with Summon Lesser Demons, give experience points to the party?
I've looked at various conversations on here, Reddit, and other forums, but I can't seem to find any official ruling on this topic, so I figured I'd ask here and see if anyone knows of any.
There are ...
9
votes
4answers
427 views
What are some possible repercussions of using story-based leveling rather than experience points?
I am the DM for a D&D 4e game. Recently, I stopped keeping track of XP, on the assumption that I could just give my players a level every time they finished a major quest. In my mind, this had a ...
5
votes
1answer
156 views
Experience in Eberron [duplicate]
I just got my copy of the Eberron Rising sourcebook and am keen to run a game. I love the idea of a noir detective style story, but it seems to me that it will revolve around a lot of role-playing and ...
7
votes
2answers
299 views
How do you give spell casters xp?
I’m a D&D 3.5 dungeon master and was playing a session with my players in which they went on a rampage and killed/murdered 100-200 low level soldiers with their spells, in some cases 75 at a time ...
4
votes
2answers
814 views
Is this change to how XP works in D&D 3.5 unbalanced?
I have been concerned for a while about how to treat experience totals in D&D 3.5 when a character gains or loses Level Adjustments (LA). Gaining/losing LA in play is too punitive and is ...
25
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5answers
6k views
The GM ruled that we didn't get XP for killing the boss because an enemy caster's spell killed them. Is this allowed?
We are playing Rise of the Runelords, and were fighting Nualia and her minions in Thisletop. During the heat of the battle, Nualia was near death at just 12 HP. Her minion caster fireballed the party ...
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vote
2answers
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If I kill a creature by throwing vials of acid at it, do I still get XP?
If I took an acid vial and threw it at a monster that had a very small amount of health, killing it, would I still get the experience even though it was the acid vial that killed it?
I came across a ...
13
votes
2answers
2k views
Establishing bonds with NPCs
We're at the point in our 2-players-and-a-GM Dungeon World game where one of the PCs is working with a rather regular cast of friendly NPCs in addition to the other PC. This means that the PCs don't ...
0
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0answers
143 views
If the characters avoid the encounter through diplomacy, are they awarded the XP for the monsters? [duplicate]
Let's say that a part of the dungeon with X monsters can be either passed through combat OR through careful diplomacy, can the players be awarded XP points the same way if they choose the latter? It ...
8
votes
1answer
276 views
Do you always have to spend XP to gain Merits and Backgrounds (during play)?
Context: This question refers to gaining Merits and Backgrounds (Advantages) after the campaign has started, long after character generation has been done.
In older versions of Vampire the Masquerade,...
4
votes
2answers
189 views
How many skill points should I give my players for winning an encounter?
I am about to start my first game with The Dark Eye system (EDIT: 5th edition), and I am wondering how many skill points I should give my players for winning an encounter (not necessarily combat).
...
5
votes
1answer
380 views
Does paying an XP cost count as having your level drained for Restoration spells?
When a player loses a level due to paying an XP cost to either cast a spell or create an item, could this level be brought back through the use of a restoration spell?
17
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5answers
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Should the party get XP for a monster they never attacked?
Attempting to keep things vague to avoid possible spoilers for Dragon Heist
During the first session, after the barfight, a couple monsters crawl out of the hole in the middle of the tavern, one big ...
3
votes
1answer
124 views
Can I get more than one level from a single action/encounter?
I have similar situation to described in here Can a character gain two levels with the same encounter? albeit in another system, as we are playing Pathfinder instead of D&D.
My character is 4th ...
41
votes
14answers
12k views
My players want to grind XP but we're using milestone advancement
I've been running a D&D 5e campaign where the levelling up has been done at certain landmark points or milestones. Regardless of your opinion on that specific system, it's reached a point where ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
How much XP should you award if the encounter was not solved via battle? [duplicate]
I have created an encounter with monsters, with their relevant CR and XP. Normally, when the party kills everyone, they are rewarded the XP. If the party chooses to, and succeeds in, resolving the ...
20
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2answers
3k views
How can I add encounters in the Lost Mine of Phandelver campaign without giving PCs too much XP?
I'm currently reading the LMOP scenario. I was thinking about adding some encounters if the PCs want to explore the forest or other side-story zones that aren't considered in the book.
But actually I ...
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vote
1answer
227 views
How to provide XP for item creation?
I read in an answer that you can provide the XP cost of an item that the party Wizard creates for you.
Unfortunately no details are given, and the link is dead.
How can I cover the Wizard's XP ...
37
votes
5answers
4k views
How can I raise concerns with a new DM about XP splitting?
My wife is new to DMing and D&D as a whole.
We had our first game yesterday and one of my friends raised a concern about how she was awarding XP as she was giving the XP to the person that got ...
15
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5answers
3k views
Can you earn endless XP using a Flameskull and its self-revival feature?
Flameskulls have the following traits (Monster Manual, p. 135):
Eldritch Rejuvenation. A flameskull's shattered fragments reform unless they are splashed with holy water or subjected to a dispel ...
20
votes
4answers
3k views
Should a DM award XP for avoiding or surviving traps?
I just was reading the Lost Mine of Phandelver adventure when I noticed that page 21, section "3. Trapped Hall" says:
Awarding Experience Points
Divide 100 XP equally among the characters if ...
14
votes
4answers
3k 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
160 views
How should I budget encounter XP for a single PC?
In the photo I've shared, it starts the XP budget for a party of 4 PCs. At 1st level, the budget is 400. For 5 PCs it's 500. And 600 XP for 6 PCs.
So I guess it's safe to assume that I can divide the ...
8
votes
2answers
782 views
Do prestige classes use a separate XP table or do you just progress with the base class table?
New to 3.5 (last time I played was 1st edition, many moons ago), and was interested in a fighter base - arcane archer, but it’s not clear about the exp tables at the point if I qualify for arcane ...
4
votes
1answer
167 views
Do enemy animal companions give XP?
So I'm creating an enemy level 9 druid NPC for my Pathfinder game I DM.
The enemy has a bear as an animal companion and I want to know if I should reward XP for killing the bear, in addition to the ...
6
votes
2answers
473 views
Does a twinned spell with an XP component cost twice as much XP as the normal spell?
If I cast a spell with an XP component using the metamagic feat Twin Spell (CAr pg. 84), will I have to pay the XP component twice as if I had cast the spell twice? Or is the XP cost unchanged?
21
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1answer
22k views
What's the difference between XP and adjusted XP?
What's the difference between XP and adjusted XP in D&D 5th edition?
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vote
1answer
6k views
Is XP needed to level accumulated or absolute? [duplicate]
In D&D there is the need to gain experience by doing some activities or battles, but that experience obtained is added as a total or by level? For instance, if my character is level 2, 900 xp is ...
9
votes
2answers
985 views
In which edition of D&D did players stop earning bonus experience points for high prime requisite ability scores?
Both basic and AD&D have rules for characters gaining a +10% bonus on earned experience points if they have high scores in the prime requisite ability of their class. Initially there were also ...
26
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5answers
8k views
How should XP be awarded for an encounter when enemies flee, get intimidated, or are convinced to help?
This is my first time DM'ing and I'm playing DnD 5e's "Lost Mine of Phandelver" campaign with 3 other players.
The PCs seem to have a trend of encountering a group of enemies, start fighting and ...
3
votes
2answers
734 views
When awarding xp, is the summoner's eidolon counted as a separate party member with respect to xp division?
Under Exact XP on p.399 of the Core Rulebook, it states that the XP for the encounter should be tallied and then divided by the number of party members. Each party member is then awarded this amount ...
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3answers
4k 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
402 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, ...
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2answers
2k views
How is XP awarded in AL for non-combat puzzles in Tomb of Annihilation?
I have been DMing our party for the final parts of Tomb of Annihilation.
Some parts of the adventure have vast numbers of puzzles. For example, tonight, the party spent almost four hours simply ...
6
votes
1answer
787 views
In Adventurers League, can you finish a module you started if you leveled out of it?
Here's a situation: Bob plays a 4 hours Adventurers League Tier 2 adventure with a level 10 character, but due to unforeseen time constraints, the module cannot be completed (only 3 hours in, for ...
2
votes
3answers
302 views
How can I level up or use my NPC army?
In my current campaign, I’ve managed to secure myself a fairly large kingdom, with an army of over 10,000 level 10s at my disposal. This would be incredibly useful if we weren’t in a fairly epic level ...
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4answers
2k 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, ...
8
votes
2answers
857 views
Is an Adventurers League DM allowed to adjust an encounter to max out the combat XP reward?
I DM an AL group of four. They agree to create new level 1 characters (they are experienced), but ask me to adjust the combat to give maximum possible XP in an adventure, in case they miss out the non-...
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6answers
4k views
Do imps and pseudodragons serving as variant familiars earn XP, or share XP with the party?
This question is directly related to two other questions:
Do familiars or animal companions earn or share XP with the party?
How is a variant familiar imp and pseudodragon (in the Monster Manual ...
13
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1answer
2k views
If a PC summons creatures to help fight does it lower your party’s XP?
Do summoned creatures take a share of the XP of an encounter? Let’s say a PC in a party of 3 uses a spell like Conjure Animals. He uses it to summon all 8 creatures. If they contribute to the combat, ...
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0answers
4k views
Implementing a “perk system” of minor boons? [closed]
Background
I have recently become the DM of a group comprised mostly of newbies and one or two older players who aren’t accustomed to 5e’s rules yet. I decided that, for my first campaign, I wanted to ...
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3answers
3k views
Do PCs gain experience from a fight that they lost?
If the PCs lose a fight but do not die (e.g. imprisoned), do they gain experience points from the battle?
