Troll Lord Games

no, I'm not talking about Steve ...

I apologize if this has been treated elsewhere, but I was curious about the standard XP award for river trolls, which according to M&T is 360 + 6/HP.

By the chart on p. 6, I don't know how one arrives at that figure. That is, if one were doing it from scratch, they'd be 6 HD (120 xp base) plus some number of specials. My rough calc would probably given them a special 3 and a special 1, for a total of 300 + 6/hp. Even if you awarded them specials 1, 2 and 3, then the total would be 390 + 6/hp (and not what's given in the monster entry).

Now, I am not really out to argue that there is a 'right' answer to troll XP (how silly!), but rather I wonder if I've been calculating XP for monsters incorrectly. Maybe trolls are just special? (well, we know that to be the case). I'm feeling very ignorant, so I'd welcome advice on how I seem to be mixing this up! thanks ...

Geleg wrote:I apologize if this has been treated elsewhere...

I believe it has, and I believe it was discovered that the provided XP values do not always match what you would come up with when you use the table. I do not know if an explanation for these discrepancies was ever provided, however.

Yes, it was discussed elsewhere. Not trolls, specifically, but (iirc) about XP not always matching up. In fact, a quick look found this thread, which might help a little. Not an in depth discussion but it does address it (and is relatively recent). My philosophy is that for listed and existing C&C monsters, I'll use the listed XP. For ones I convert/make from scratch, I'll use the suggestions in M&T.

The explanation at one point for the creatures with variances in their XPs awards were, "because."

~O

I have a handy dandy list of all average xp for creatures that Serl did up a few years ago. Let me know if you want it and I'll email it to you when I get home.

R-

thanks guys! I'm grateful ... mostly because it confirms that I wasn't losing my mind!

I wish there was a handy dandy list for the creatures from Classic Monsters and M&T of A, as well.

Geleg wrote:thanks guys! I'm grateful ... mostly because it confirms that I wasn't losing my mind!

Well I wouldn't gooooo that far

As for xp .... I stopped trying to figure it out long ago. If I ever get to run a game, I'll use the BTB xp or if it isn't from a C&C book, I'll best guess it and move on before the players can ask specifics

yeah, my mind is undoubtedly already lost ....

I'm content to use BtB monster XP.

The problem is home-brewed monsters and classed npcs, which by using the chart will seem to be undervalued when compared to the statted monsters. E.g., a single river troll is worth more - a lot more - than a 5th level wizard.

Again, though, I'm not really complaining - just making sure I wasn't missing something.

I use this...

XPs are the experience points earned for defeat of the monster, determined per monster, and then equally divided among survivors; the listed value will be for the average specimen. There exists a calculation method for this, so those who want to create their own, or modify existing monsters, can do so. That information is provided:

Monster HD / Core XP / XP per HP / Per Special (Minor) / Per Special (Major)
0 – 1 / 10 / 1 / 5 / 10
2 / 25 / 2 / 10 / 20
3 / 50 / 3 / 20 / 30
4 / 75 / 3 / 30 / 50
5 / 100 / 4 / 50 / 75
6 / 150 / 4 / 75 / 150
7 / 225 / 5 / 150 / 300
8 / 500 / 5 / 300 / 500
9 – 10 / 750 / 7 / 500 / 750
11 – 12 / 1000 / 10 / 750 / 1000
13 – 14 / 1500 / 15 / 1000 / 1250
15 – 16 / 1800 / 20 / 1250 / 1500
17 – 18 / 2500 / 25 / 1500 / 2000
19 – 20 / 3000 / 30 / 2000 / 2500
21+ / 4000 / 35 / 2500 / 3000

Core XP: the base amount of experience points awarded, to which all other adjustments are added.

XP per HP: an amount of experience gained for each hit point of the defeated monster; essentially, multiply this value by the HP total and add to the Core XP.

Per Special (Minor): gained per ability the monster has (and used) that can be classified as minor, which includes but is not limited to – high intelligence (anything above average); any spell (not per spell) use of a defensive nature of 3rd level or lower; multiple attacks (four (4) or more per round); high armor class; per special damage attack not classified as major, including hug, rake, and the like; multiple movement methods used in combat with effectiveness; minor regeneration (less than 3 HP per round); per special defense not classified as major such as resistance (not an immunity) to an attack form; ability to attack at range, whether with natural or manufactured (equipment) means.

Per Special (Major): gained per ability the monster has (and used) that can be classified as major, which includes but is not limited to – major special attack forms such as level drain, paralysis, petrification, or poison; breath weapon; spell resistance; instant kill attack such as swallow whole; spell use (but not per spell) of offensive nature regardless of level, or of defensive magic of 4th level and greater; massive damage attack which is defined as any single attack capable of inflicting at least twenty (20) damage, two attacks able that can deal thirty (30), three that can deal thirty five (35), or any combination that can deal forty five (45) or greater; regeneration at 3 or more HP per round; immunity to an attack form such as fire, cold, or acid.

tylermo wrote:I wish there was a handy dandy list for the creatures from Classic Monsters and M&T of A, as well.

If I owned them, I'd be glad to take the half hour or so to crunch numbers.

Get this man a copy of these must-own tomes! Make it so! Serl, maybe we'll see M&T II and III someday? And, that much awaited book...Engineering Sewers!! Seriously, dude. Eng. Dungeons still continues to sell well when I'm hocking the Troll at cons in the midwest.