Mythmere wrote:One thing is that from the last adventure I am continuing to disagree with Philotomy about the idea of granting XP solely for treasure. In general, I'm a big fan of the idea that treasure is a good benchmark of experience, but I think something for killing monsters is needed in addition...One game-theoretical thought on Philotomy's experiment with only giving XP for gold...Given the number of challenges we faced in combat, some quantity of XP would have made sense for killing the monsters (here I'm talking as a referee, not whinging as a player).
Much less XP than if we'd come up with some treasure, but not nothing. We did get plenty of treasure, or, at least a fair amount, later in the adventure, but there was a point where I was starting to feel rather xp-deprived.. So my own viewpoint that a 1:2 or 1:3 ratio of monster xp to treasure (from any given monster) is reaffirmed. Monster XP is the sop to players who don't succeed all the way - such as our snake-men who hid behind the barred door.
I think that most of this is a matter of perception (and habit/preconception), rather than an actual problem of XP deprivation. As part of the overall scheme, the treasure you do find is "boosted" to compensate for the missing monster XP. In the end, you didn't receive any less than you would have with the monster XP, it was just less bookkeeping. However, I do see your point about it seeming to be less, which can be frustrating, and it's easy enough to change this, if you guys want to.
Grim wrote:IMC, I give experience for monsters killed and for treasure. Hirelings get a 1/2 share of the xp and become level one when they reach 1000 and can choose a close.
If we're going to add monster XP back in, we'll need to address this. Treasure XP gets divided based on how you (as players) choose to divide it, and that goes for henchmen, too (although they get half the XP value, rather than full XP value). Hirelings aren't classed characters, and don't accrue XP, in my game. DM fiat can grant them leveled status, though (if Melbort continues to do well, I'll almost certainly give him Veteran status). Combat XP would work like this: Everyone who participates gets counted for division of the XP (including henchmen and hirelings -- but if they're just standing around holding a torch, that doesn't count as participating). After the division, henchman receive half the standard share, hirelings receive 0, and PCs receive the full share.
