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.
204
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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 ...
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5answers
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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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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
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2answers
1k 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 ...
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0answers
119 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 ...
7
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1answer
113 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,...
2
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0answers
74 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, and I am wondering how many skill points I should give my players for winning an encounter (not necessarily combat).
Specifically, I am ...
5
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1answer
327 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?
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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
117 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
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14answers
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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 ...
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3answers
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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 ...
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2answers
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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
145 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 ...
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4answers
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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
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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 ...
16
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4answers
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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 ...
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4answers
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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
136 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
628 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
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1answer
138 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
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2answers
348 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
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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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1answer
4k 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 ...
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2answers
963 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 ...
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5answers
4k 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
706 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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2answers
2k 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
310 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, ...
10
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2answers
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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
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1answer
685 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 ...
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3answers
265 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
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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, ...
7
votes
2answers
674 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
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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 ...
12
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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
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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 ...
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3answers
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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?
10
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1answer
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Why is the XP awarded from an encounter the sum of monster XP values and not Adjusted XP? [closed]
The Dungeon Master's Guide presents guidelines for gauging encounter difficulty based on the Adjusted XP of monsters faced. The Adjusted XP is the sum of the monsters' experience values, modified by a ...
4
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1answer
196 views
How is PC experience calculated when higher level CR allies help in Adventurers League?
The recent adventure Tomb of Annihilation released by WotC includes allies that can join the party. As an open-world adventure spanning multiple PC levels and Tiers, PCs could potentially gain allies ...
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0answers
26 views
Distributing exp during encounters [duplicate]
When I get to distribute exp to party members, should I give the same amount of EXP to everyone or split it by monsters killed/fight contribution?
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4answers
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Can you earn XP for defeating a creature, then raise as undead & destroy it for more XP?
The party defeats a group of creatures by killing them, earning XP. Can they then raise the corpses as undead, release control so they're uncontrolled undead, then kill the undead for more XP?
Is ...
2
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0answers
137 views
Is XP only awarded to the PC that delivers the killing blow? [duplicate]
I have been a DM for 35 years, and now we are embarking on 5th ed. I am playing a 1st level Barbarian. Due to Ideals and Bonds and stuff, I am letting other party members get the “kill” on stuff I ...
6
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1answer
242 views
Who gets exp when a player does something opposed to another player?
One player (Alice) attempts something opposed to another player (Bob). Both players roll relevant skills.
Who gets exp/skills here?
If Alice wins, does Bob get exp?
If Alice fails, does only Alice ...
6
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2answers
281 views
Do you gain XP when you die?
In Dungeon World you gain XP on a miss. However a bit of a discussion has come up recently in my circle of DW players as to whether missing a last breath roll, and subsequently dying, also causes you ...
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7answers
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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 ...
3
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2answers
366 views
Cap XP earned from encounter? [closed]
In a game of D&D 5e last night we had to creep through a room containing ~1000 Duergar.
It should have been easy, as they were already distracted, but our Paladin, who we'll call Clanky ...
0
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1answer
809 views
How to distribute XP for player kill in free-for-all arena?
I'm designing a game of some sort of battle arena, which in every session there are 4 PCs fighting each other. The whole campaign will revolve on the arena fight and amassing XP to stand at the top.
...
3
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1answer
861 views
Is XP from solo kills during combat shared or not?
This scenario came up in a recent game I ran I and I'm curious on how it should be handled.
If, during an encounter where everyone in the party takes a turn, a character kills one of the enemies ...
1
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1answer
221 views
How do I determine the expected duration/runtime of older Adventurer's League adventures for purposes of DM rewards? [duplicate]
In reference to this question: How do I apply & record DM Experience Rewards?
Where in a published D&DAL Module (I'm specifically working with the Tyranny of Dragons modules) would I find the ...
