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XP for traps/NPC's?
Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:05 pm
by Jason Vey
So, do traps and enemies with class levels not grant XP?
Okay, okay...enemies with class levels I can figure out. A third level human rogue, for example, is a 3 HD monster with Special I abilities. Easy enough.
But what about traps? I find it hard to swallow that picking up gold and weapons gives you XP, but overcoming a trap (one of the Rogue's primary functions) doesn't. That being said, I can't seem to find guidelines for that anywhere. As of now, I'm treating traps as an X HD monster (where X is the level of the Rogue who created the trap) with no bonus per HP, and Special abilities based on what the trap does (so poison, for example, would be at least Special I, Special II if it did 4d6 or more damage, and Special III for one of those "Save or die" jobs.
Your basic damaging trap dealing 1D4 with 1D6/1D6 poison, set by a third level rogue, then, would be worth 30 XP (20 for 3HD, plus 10 for a Special I ability).
Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:07 pm
by Omote
Sounds reasonable. I also agree that XP for GP and whatnot is not my cup of tea either. However, up until this point I have goven XP for traps but not in any clear fashion other then just winging it.
.........................................Omote
FPQ
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:16 pm
by Jason Vey
Omote wrote:
Sounds reasonable. I also agree that XP for GP and whatnot is not my cup of tea either. However, up until this point I have goven XP for traps but not in any clear fashion other then just winging it.
.........................................Omote
FPQ
You know, I do give the XP for coin and treasure...only because without doing that, characters level at a crawl.
I'm considering adopting a more freeform XP system overall, based on Palladium's XP system--which is one thing I think that company does really right.
I haven't decided for certain yet, though.
Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 6:59 pm
by irda ranger
Quote:
As of now, I'm treating traps as an X HD monster (where X is the level of the Rogue who created the trap) with no bonus per HP, and Special abilities based on what the trap does (so poison, for example, would be at least Special I, Special II if it did 4d6 or more damage, and Special III for one of those "Save or die" jobs.
I would use this formula, but use some fraction of the total (1/2 maybe?), not the full amount. Even without the HP adjustment, no trap is as dangerous as an intelligent opponent of the same level/HD.
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Re: XP for traps/NPC's?
Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:05 pm
by gideon_thorne
The Grey Elf wrote:
So, do traps and enemies with class levels not grant XP?
Okay, okay...enemies with class levels I can figure out. A third level human rogue, for example, is a 3 HD monster with Special I abilities. Easy enough.
But what about traps? I find it hard to swallow that picking up gold and weapons gives you XP, but overcoming a trap (one of the Rogue's primary functions) doesn't. That being said, I can't seem to find guidelines for that anywhere. As of now, I'm treating traps as an X HD monster (where X is the level of the Rogue who created the trap) with no bonus per HP, and Special abilities based on what the trap does (so poison, for example, would be at least Special I, Special II if it did 4d6 or more damage, and Special III for one of those "Save or die" jobs.
Your basic damaging trap dealing 1D4 with 1D6/1D6 poison, set by a third level rogue, then, would be worth 30 XP (20 for 3HD, plus 10 for a Special I ability).
Sounds like a good way to handle it which was logically infered from within the system. What was the question again? ^_^
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:18 pm
by Omote
The Grey Elf wrote:
I'm considering adopting a more freeform XP system overall, based on Palladium's XP system--which is one thing I think that company does really right.
I agree, as you may or may not remember my screen name from the olden days of Palladium's MBs. Palladium's XP system is a great one, but a bit too flexible at points. Still, Pally's XP system is one of the best IMO.
........................................Omote
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 7:42 pm
by Jason Vey
Omote wrote:
I agree, as you may or may not remember my screen name from the olden days of Palladium's MBs. Palladium's XP system is a great one, but a bit too flexible at points. Still, Pally's XP system is one of the best IMO.
........................................Omote
FPQ
The only problem with it is that it doesn't scale as the party goes up in levels. So for a game where XP is expected to scale, like C&C or D&D, you'd have to, say, multiply XP total by average party level before dividing points up.
Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 8:00 pm
by Omote
You could give the XP using the above mentioned system a multiplier based on levels, or, depending on how you run the game don't have to. Using Pally's XP system as is, PCs in C&C could advance quickly through the first few levels, but would indeed slow down greatly at later levels.
Depending on your style of play, this might not be a bad thing.
.............................................Omote
FPQ
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:45 pm
by serleran
I always award 50 XP / difficulty of the trap, assuming it is disarmed, and not simply bypassed, which means... if you didn't have to "struggle" to avoid it, you don't get anything for it. This applies solely to the character that did the disarming/jamming (yes, even non-rogues can disarm some traps.) Other than that, if the trap is sprung, and you survive it, I award 10 XP / difficulty.
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:58 am
by Tadhg
I definitely give XP for finding (or not) traps. And for disarming them (or not).
Even if the rogue fails to find or disarm, they will have learned something and will be better prepared next time (if they live that is) and thus XP rewards.
I got this idea from another version of D&D methinks, not sure. I just remember reading this and thinking it was logical.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:15 am
by irda ranger
Rhuvein wrote:
Even if the rogue fails to find or disarm, they will have learned something and will be better prepared next time (if they live that is) and thus XP rewards.
Given how people really learn, you should probably get more EP from having a trap explode on you than for successfully disarming it.
PC1:"Don't touch that, it really stings."
PC2:"Really, how do you know?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:39 am
by Omote
Of course you can give XP for having a trap go off in your face. Of course, you might also be rolling up a new character too.
......................................Omote
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 4:48 am
by irda ranger
Omote wrote:
Of course you can give my XP for having a trap go off in your face. Of course, you might also be rolling up a new character too.
......................................Omote
FPQ
"That which does not kill you, makes you stronger."
Feeling stronger? No? Darn. Here's 3d6.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:01 am
by Omote
Haha. Nice. Remind me to play very, VERY cautiously in your games IR.
..........................................Omote
FPQ
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:37 pm
by johns
I think Hackmaster gave 50 XP per point of damage (maximum) the trap could cause. For save or die/save or sleep/save or paralyzed traps, you'd have to fudge it.
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:54 pm
by Maliki
I give XPs for traps as well, I don't have a set formula, but just eyeball it, based on the difficulty in finding/disarming, and the max amount of damage the trap can do. I split this among the entire party.
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