Experience

[Cadrius]

I have my own general preferences, but as always I'm open to the thoughts and ideas of my players. Is there any particular manner you'd like to deal with experience? Besides getting it early and often.

My personal preference is to keep it to myself, informing you all when you level up. I'm loathe to parcel it out in numbers and put it up in the forum, mostly because I can't possibly give different numbers for sheer roleplaying xp (which is what I like to base most of the award out of). Each of you has done an incredible job of giving this game life and personality. As a result I wouldn't feel right trying to quantify any of your efforts into a numerical award. The only exception would be Kahluah as you've joined up later than the rest.

So while I'm reluctant to do a numerical breakdown, I will should there be those that object to a more arbitrary system. I can understand the desire for hard numbers in a roleplaying game and won't begrudge anyone for that, particularly when my proposed system leaves you at the mercy of my whims (and we all know what a cruel taskmaster I am).

So here's your chance to voice your opinions. Please do so.

[Gralhruk]

So, does that mean you'll be splitting it equally?

I don't mind either way, just curious.

In one of my games the DM would give a chance for "extra" awards at the end of each chapter. Basically, each player would e-mail him with a list of things they thought their character had done during the chapter that deserved some XP. That stuff was never made public, and I don't think the actual XP awarded was huge, but it might help you remember things that otherwise you might forget.

[Cadrius]

My intention was to grant each character, minus Rhotha'ah, the same rp award. He'll still receive a goodly amount, but without being here quite as long as the others, I can't award him the same.

While we do have the convenience of a log that would inform me of these things, I would prefer not to have to pick through each post in what has been a very long chapter in search of each little plus. This is a decent idea, and while I'll likely remember the high points of most of the characters, little things might escape my otherwise omnipotent mind.

This might be a good solution. As long as everyone maintains this level of rp, each will receive a fairly equal share. A little bonus bit might be in order. Like Gral's suggestion it won't be huge, but it will be something.

Awarding experience has always been a tough issue for me. Combat certainly does award some, although not as much as you'd get in standard D&D. RP is certainly the primary driving point for me, and what's great about that is you can earn points there while doing virtually anything (combat, interaction, etc). Story progression is certainly important. If you sit in the back and only come forward to fight, and then retreat to silence, well, that sucks. Of course given the more cerebral nature of the party, I doubt that will be an issue.

As you can see, I don't exactly have a hard and fast set of rules for this.

[Kahluah]

Personally, I don't really care all to much how XP is handled, so long as the story is told. If we level up at story-appropriate times, that's fine with me. If we only level up after a big fight scene, this is fine with me also, so long as the story gets told with minimum hassle or without bogging the game down in heaps of major learning time and the like.

After all, I don't really feel like roleplaying each day of "Rhotha'ah continues to learn to read" and the like, if you get what I am on about. but, I am rambling again..

My point is: It's your game, so do with it as you see fit, so long as it makes sense for the game and doesn't bog the game down. :)

[Cadrius]

I'm quite aware it's my game, I was merely interested in any opinions, yay or nay, regarding experience.

I do fully expect people to occasionally include in their posts what their characters are working on. So if you want Rhothzilla to become literate I expect a post or two where he asks Lyr or Aleina to teach him and have them work with you on it. I don't think huge amounts of time and energy need to be devoted, but I am asking that I see it before people level up and take new things. The same goes for skills, feats, class abilities, stats, etc. It doesn't have to be much, but I just want to see the rationalization in-game. Trust me, it'll keep your poor DM happy.

I'll try and allow for periods of time where your characters can train, or at least work on whatever it is that they're doing. I can't guarantee it, but if I'm to ask this of you guys I should give a little as well.