Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Amoris Dendidorm 04-09-06, 06:46 AM	When using NPC's from source books in your adventure do you grant XP for these encounters? For instance; when my players would meet Elminster the sage and interact with him (no combat situation) would they gain XP for this encounter? Just wondering! Mighty Thanks ;)
Kilamar 04-09-06, 07:24 AM	Maybe some Quest XP, but no Xp for his Challenge Rating, since he is no threat. Kilamar
Another Gnome 04-09-06, 07:30 AM	Even a potential threat that doesn't actually challenge the PCs is not worth combat experience. For example, a red wyrm simply flying past a bunch of 1st-level character is not a challenge, even if it could incinerate them at a whim. Going back to Elminster though, if for whatever reason getting past him and retrieving some fancy magic item or the like from his tower was key to success with something the PCs were set to do, it would be worth something -- up to and including full XP based on his CR -- to convince him to cooperate through diplomacy. (As if that ever happened...)
Lord Karsus 04-10-06, 09:10 AM	-My Dm awards small bits of EXP for meeting/interacting with important indivuduals. For imstance, last night, we encountered a Gold Dragon who seemed to be a herald of Torm. Since I am playing a Cleric of Torm, it was a "religious experience" and EXP awardable. -Experience Points should be given, in my opinon, when you meet iconic and important NPCs. Nothing great- just a little 25 or 50 EXP boost.
Yaeri 04-10-06, 09:18 AM	I think it shouldn't be a standard rule to grant experience just for meeting a powerful/important/iconic NPC. If the players actually learn something from this NPC -I think Elminster could for example teach a great deal of lore or even combat tricks to the players- then that could be expressed through awarding a bit of XP, depending on how much this NPC has thaught the players. I probably would go for a 1 point bonus in one or a few knowledge skills in this particalur case. IF, Elminster really thaught them something, not if they all just said "hi".
ClobberinTime 04-10-06, 04:58 PM	I think its very common for DMs to grant expts for non-combat missions. I think though that you need to use some structure, i.e. Meeting Elminster is not enough, but suppose there is something the PCs need help with, and they go to him to get it, you could make a chart like- Roleplaying - Characters give a convincing/non-convincing argument as to why Elminster should let them borrow his pipe for a few weeks , +/-10 on diplomacy check. Adjust up or down by (things like): 1, Have helped out Shadowdale in the past +2 2, Harper +2 etc... etc... 1, Known as troublemakers in Shadowdale, i.e. burned down Mr O'riley's barn in combat with Orc raiders, -2 etc... Elminster Starts off as Hostile to the idea of giving up his pipe. If the PCs turn him to 1, Helpfull, he gladly gives up his pipe and will secretely scry the PCs and the Pipe to keep track of them and it in the future. Value- 1000 expts 2, Friendly- Gives up the pipe, but insists on keeping 1 pc or 1 of their more valuable items as collateral, or PCs must go on quest for Elminster (you can have fun with these, i.e. reclaim the Portrait of Manshoon's father, which resides, you guessed it- In Manshoon's bedroom, etc.. etc...) Value- 500 expts. 3, Unfriendly- Turns them away without polymorphing them into something embarrasing. I.e. permanent Reduce person, body parts of animals, i.e. talking Donkey heads, etc... Piglets for the famous shadowdale greased pig contest. No Expts 4, Hostile- Turns them away and polymorphs them. No Expts. The key is setting this up before hand and getting your PCs used to these kinds of tasks, and being fair. Lots of modules give expts for defeating certain monsters, or simply making it alive to location X, and this makes alot of sense.