Scaling XP for Faster Advancement - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Scaling XP for Faster Advancement

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
pagingmrherman
Jan 14, 2011 9:42:51
How would you recommend scaling XP so players level faster?

Why would I want to increase the speed of character advancement? Well I am in the process of running a play-by-post Gamma World game. The nature of play-by-post games are slower than live action. If I go by the normal rules, it will take months for characters to advance, even if we maintain a frequent post rate of every day or two. I am hoping to supplement the slower pace by increasing XP for each encounter, so it doesn't take as many encounters to advance.

It'd be easy to double the XP, but what consequences am I not considering? Would I need to also scale the treasure/loot so players aren't advancing faster than their equipment?

I appreciate your input!
#2
Siberys
Jan 14, 2011 9:48:36 You could just drop XP entirely and level them when it feels 'right'.

Then monster xp values become simply a measure of difficulty.

Especially with GW this is easy. PCs don't NEED treasure to be effective in GW.
#3
dharmatel
Jan 14, 2011 10:08:10
You could just drop XP entirely and level them when it feels 'right'. Then monster xp values become simply a measure of difficulty. Especially with GW this is easy. PCs don't NEED treasure to be effective in GW.

^^^^ This.

Just tie leveling to quests; when they complete the quest, they level up.
#4
FlashbackJon
Jan 14, 2011 11:40:38 +1.

Particularly in play-by-post, my experience has shown that the most gratifying way to level up is at appropriate milestones in the narrative, rather than based on XP.
#5
mvincent
Jan 14, 2011 11:45:22
You could just drop XP entirely

Agreed. I'm a pretty "by the book" DM (in previous games I've meticulously recorded every XP, GP and found item in a spreadsheet) but given the light nature of GW, I just rule that the PC's level up every two sessions.

Heck, even the RPGA (Living Forgotten Realms) won't be bothering with XP in their new Epic adventures.

#6
pagingmrherman
Jan 14, 2011 12:58:34 Thanks for the feedback - this is helpful!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 pagingmrherman Jan 14, 2011 9:42:51	How would you recommend scaling XP so players level faster? Why would I want to increase the speed of character advancement? Well I am in the process of running a play-by-post Gamma World game. The nature of play-by-post games are slower than live action. If I go by the normal rules, it will take months for characters to advance, even if we maintain a frequent post rate of every day or two. I am hoping to supplement the slower pace by increasing XP for each encounter, so it doesn't take as many encounters to advance. It'd be easy to double the XP, but what consequences am I not considering? Would I need to also scale the treasure/loot so players aren't advancing faster than their equipment? I appreciate your input!
#2 Siberys Jan 14, 2011 9:48:36	You could just drop XP entirely and level them when it feels 'right'. Then monster xp values become simply a measure of difficulty. Especially with GW this is easy. PCs don't NEED treasure to be effective in GW.
#3 dharmatel Jan 14, 2011 10:08:10	You could just drop XP entirely and level them when it feels 'right'. Then monster xp values become simply a measure of difficulty. Especially with GW this is easy. PCs don't NEED treasure to be effective in GW. ^^^^ This. Just tie leveling to quests; when they complete the quest, they level up.
#4 FlashbackJon Jan 14, 2011 11:40:38	+1. Particularly in play-by-post, my experience has shown that the most gratifying way to level up is at appropriate milestones in the narrative, rather than based on XP.
#5 mvincent Jan 14, 2011 11:45:22	You could just drop XP entirely Agreed. I'm a pretty "by the book" DM (in previous games I've meticulously recorded every XP, GP and found item in a spreadsheet) but given the light nature of GW, I just rule that the PC's level up every two sessions. Heck, even the RPGA (Living Forgotten Realms) won't be bothering with XP in their new Epic adventures.
#6 pagingmrherman Jan 14, 2011 12:58:34	Thanks for the feedback - this is helpful!