Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Monger 05-06-04, 04:53 PM	My traveling / game group consists of 4 players and a DM. The problem with this is, everyone tries to claim responsibility for tasks and events throughout the game. To try and fix this problem, I took it upon myself to be more of a loaner in the group. I stay away from the other three characters as much as possible and I try to do a few things on my own. Not counting my companion of course (I'm a level 3 Druid). Because I am always away from the group, I tend to miss what seems as the more important areas of the game. When it comes time to hand out exp. at the end of the night, I find myself digging as hard as I can for anything possible to tell my DM. What are a few tips you can give me to earn some exp. points, even though I'm never "holding hands" with the rest of the group?
lekpic 05-06-04, 05:00 PM	Doesn't that defeat the purpose of having a gaming group, to be out on your own? I honestly think it's all about charisma and imagination. Try to think of ways to stand out. You can still be part of the group, but think of ways to add to the group, not subtract yourself from it. A couple of good examples comes from my own gaming where I am in a group similar to yours. Our Bard once kept the Cleric and the Paladin alive on the front lines by grabbing their potions and feeding them to them while we were busy bashing the bad guys. He never fought, but without his help, we'd all be dead. Or the Paladin stabilizing the other two party members while the Cleric faced two fighters twice his level on his own. The Paladin was just as important to the party as the Cleric was. Or the Bard casting a summon vermin spell and then the Cleric taking that opportunity to cast enlarge on those vermin, in essence making that spell even deadlier. TEAMWORK! Innovative gameplay = XP Being alone = DEAD My best advice, stay in the group, but think 'outside the box'
Beamup 05-06-04, 05:12 PM	Originally posted by Monger The problem with this is, everyone tries to claim responsibility for tasks and events throughout the game. To try and fix this problem, I took it upon myself to be more of a loaner in the group. I don't get this. What exactly is the problem and why does it need to be fixed? "Claiming responsiblity" has no effect on XP, for example. It doesn't, in fact, have any real mechanical effects. Does your character want it to be absolutely clear he gets credit for things for some RP reason?
lekpic 05-06-04, 05:18 PM	I think this is a house rule thing, your DM should really look into 'balancing the game.' By basing XP according to merit, that takes the fun away in ways such as this. He should give all party members the same XP and then perhaps a small bonus for thier 'innovative game play' i.e. using the goblin as a weapon against the bugbear....now THAT is innovative!
jafyfe 05-06-04, 05:32 PM	1. Loanerism: I think it is fine. Scooby-doo always did so why can't I. But splitting up can cause problems. I had one character walk the horse to the stables, unknowing that the town was really abandon. Upon arrival to the stables, my character finds himself facing a hippogriff, trying to back away the hippogriff charges, after defeating one, another enters, a male, mad that the female was dead and attack. In the end, two dead hippogriffs, one egg, and not even a cut on the level 4 fighter. Be careful i say. 2. XP awards: Unless someone does something extremely cleaver, I don’t award individual XPs. So what the fighter kills the Dragon, but the cleric kept healing him. I also take away if the character was sitting in the bar drinking while everyone else is fighting.
Monger 05-06-04, 05:43 PM	Ok, I understand what everyone is saying... What I was trying to interpret was... Everyone in the group tries to take resposibility at the end of the night for everything. For instance... I talked the entire group out of attacking a wolf, making everyone mad at me, only to find out the wolf had cubs and we actually scared her. She never intended on attacking us, just keeping us away. At the end of the night, all of the other 3 players tried to say it was their idea not to fight. How am I suppose to work in a group of selfish players? They want all the exp. for themselves when sometimes they had nothing to do with it. They will even go as far as involving themsleves in EVERYTHING possible just so they can bring it up at the end of the night. This is why I want to be a loaner, so when I do something, they cannot try to accept some of the credit. Do you understand why I want to break off a little bit from these guys?
Shifting Master 05-06-04, 05:54 PM	My opinion: (the famous catchphrase) Talk to your DM! All characters should receive equal XP after the session ends. For example: First encounter with my group was against a few zombies. Fighter, rogue and marshal chopped at them while I (a cleric) turned them with my holy symbol. We all received equal XP.
Beamup 05-06-04, 05:54 PM	Originally posted by Monger For instance... I talked the entire group out of attacking a wolf, making everyone mad at me, only to find out the wolf had cubs and we actually scared her. She never intended on attacking us, just keeping us away. At the end of the night, all of the other 3 players tried to say it was their idea not to fight. How am I suppose to work in a group of selfish players? They want all the exp. for themselves when sometimes they had nothing to do with it. They will even go as far as involving themsleves in EVERYTHING possible just so they can bring it up at the end of the night. Your DM is causing the problem with his XP house-rule or misunderstanding. XP is awarded to the party, not individual PCs. In your example, everyone gets equal XP (assuming equal level). Doesn't matter whose idea it was.
primemover003 05-06-04, 07:55 PM	I agree your DM is handing out XP all wonky and discombobulated... :) Also the word is LONER, not LOANER... unless you're playing some PrC for a god of Wealth:)
andyhepburnuk 05-07-04, 08:09 AM	the way our dm gives out xp depends on what class you are and how you use your abilities. for example, a paladine get xp for how well he plays a paladine (cause its really hard), 1 xp pt for every 1hp healed using lay hands, points for what spells he can cast. 10 pts for a level 1 spell, 20 pts level 2 and so on. bards would get xp for how well they play their instrument, spells they cast, knowledge they gather, and songs they write. its similar for every class, except the fighters do get screwed as all the xp for killing bad guys gets split between the whole group. possibly they should get xp for every round there in combat (might suggest that one). anyway im sure you get the idea of how it works
andyhepburnuk 05-07-04, 08:11 AM	as for not always being "apart" of the group then thats cool. if there are never characters that prefer being alone, and if the party gets on all the time, then thats bad role play.
Revelation 05-07-04, 09:45 AM	Andyhepburnuk and Monger, The ways you are doing XP are home brewed, therefore we can't help you with the rulings on why something might be flawed. I have played and run games with action dependent XP. In retrospect that system SUCKED. You end up penalising quieter players and rewarding louder braggarts. And the idea for xps based on spells cast:uh-huh: Does every player cast every remaining spell at the end of the day for xp? The system in the books works fine, with a discretionary role playing award on top. I've used that for years, and the DM does te rewards in his own time not with players shouting. Monger why not tell your DM you don't like the system and won't participate in the shouting, you'll accept average xp for each session and if he wants to give you more xp for something special thats fine. say that forcing everyone to claim all the ideas forces you to role play in such a way that does not suit your character, you'd rather be quieter, but not detrimental to the party
Monger 05-07-04, 11:28 AM	Well, thank you very much for that last post. That helped me alot and I will talk to my DM about this when I get a chance. Thank you (again) very much!