Troll Lord Games

For magic items, is there any reason not to use the XP value from the 1st ed. DMG for magic items "as is?"

Dark Journey has a few items that "don't exist" in C&C and I'm trying to figure out there XP value.

Depends. For instance, the 1st Ed DMG gives about 3 times the XP for a ring of Feather Fall than does the M&T book. Whereas, XP for a +1 suit of Chainmail is almost the same...

Don't have my 1e in front of me but are the XP values in the same ballpark? I think 1e invented and ended the practice of xp for magic items, so it seems like a fair way to go.

I figure these days when I can't play 6 hours every night going a bit over on XP is no great problem. Personally, I am leaning toward not giving XP for magic items anymore, except via the gold they gain from sale of said item (the amount for that usually probably being the listed XP). Otherwise the item is its own reward.

Maybe have a look at this post: http://towerofthearchmage.blogspot.com/ ... items.html

In my game a knight from a famous C&C module gave a PC knight a magic lance, and I figure that is just for him; it's his personal XP. He employed the item in combat, and I awarded the XP, but it really threw him out ahead of the others in terms of XP. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I think it caused a lot of "where's MY magic lance?!?!". That wasn't even the problem for me so much as the XP wasn't commensurate with risk in this particular case. My fault for not meddling with the adventure I suppose.

Oh Balance, I still feel your pull from time to time.

I actually have no problem with the "XP for gold" and "XP for magic item" systems. They seem to work well and actually seem to motivate my players to dig deeper in the dungeons.

However, regardless of who ends up with the item, I split the XP throughout the party (or at least with the characters present in the encounter/session). It seems fairer that way. The PC is getting enough benefit from owning the item, it seems over the top to let him be the only one earning the XP.

Anyhow, between the DMG and M&T, I'm able to ballpark it. They aren't dead on, but close enough, I suppose.

Yeah. I once looked at magic as being its own reward, but then realized they designed the game to award XP for magic items for a reason, so went back to rewarding the XP. I also divide it up amongst those who recovered it, I do not give it to just the one who got it. Same with gold. I do not care how the players divide it all up, based on gold, gem and jewel values, as well as magic item values. I divide it equally among those who helped to recover it.

So I guess you can say I do follow "Equal effort gives equal reward".

Frost wrote:Dark Journey has a few items that "don't exist" in C&C and I'm trying to figure out there XP value.

yeah, just use the DMG for Dark Journey stuff. Dark Journey started life as an AD&D module and some things didn't make the transition.