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cZak
2010-06-06, 12:15 PM
I'm curious if there is a formula to distribute xp for a party with varying levels of PC's.

Example:
4000xp award
Two 4th level characters
One 5th level character
One 3rd level character

edit: 3.5:smallredface:

xelliea
2010-06-06, 12:18 PM
I think everyone would get 1000XP, but I will look it up.

IonDragon
2010-06-06, 12:20 PM
If you give them all the XP for a level 4 character it will keep the gap about the same. Otherwise, just calculate XP individually. For example, calculate XP for a party of 4 level 3 characters and give that much to the level 3. Repeat for each level. This will actively close the gap by giving more XP to the lower level members and less to the higher.

Douglas
2010-06-06, 12:20 PM
Which edition are you talking about?

If it's 3.5, the answer is no because that's fundamentally different from how XP is actually awarded. In 3.5, each characters gains as much XP as if the entire party were that character's level. With your example party and XP from defeating a CR 5 monster, the two 4th level characters would each get XP for a CR 5 monster at level 4 divided by 4 for the number of party members. The level 5 would get XP for a CR 5 monster at level 5, divided by 4 for party size. The level 3 would get XP for a CR 5 monster at level 3, divided by 4 for party size.

If it's 4e, I'm not familiar enough with that edition to know.

ShadowsGrnEyes
2010-06-06, 12:38 PM
we typically award free-form XP. It's applied based on game relevance, rate of play(how fast the DM wants people to reach 20), creativity, and the players role-play more than actual encounters.

that way a random encounter that happened to be particularly challenging, but completely without plot, doesnt throw the level of the game out of wack.

This also gives the DM a way to steer the party in the right direction without railroading. . . less XP for stuff thats not plot related.

Example:

DM- okay this was a good session i'll give everyone 200 per level. in addition to that player1 gets an extra 300 for figureing out (insert relevant plot fact here). PLayer2 you can have another 200 because your fast thinking prevented that party wipe. player3 take 250 because it was the item you made that Enabled player2 to prevent the partywipe, nice foresight there. player4 you have to rerole cause you actaully died. . . you start one level below whatever you were at.. . .


or

DM- okay this session was histerical but you actaully got very little done. . . 100 xp per level and the only person getting any extra today is that guy cause he stopped making dirty jokes about the completely irrelevant brothel long enough to do SOMETHING relevant. lol. seriously how did you guys come to the conclusion that the brothel was the interesting thing about this city and not the (insert something suitably awesome here)

Flickerdart
2010-06-06, 01:05 PM
Ypu can use this (http://www.penpaperpixel.org/tools/d20encountercalculator.htm) to calculate XP. Say, if your proposed party defeated 3 CR4 creatures (an EL of 7) the 3rd level player will get 1013 XP, the 4th levels will get 900 XP and the 5th level will get 750 XP.

Zexion
2010-06-06, 01:10 PM
If this is for an EXP award, not something else, than I would suggest giving 20% more EXP for each level lower than the highest level member of the party. So:

5th: 1000
4th: 1200
4th: 1200
3rd: 1400

This helps balance the game by giving the weaker characters extra EXP to catch up.
Hope that helps. :smallbiggrin:

Ranos
2010-06-06, 01:16 PM
snip

You actually give more XP to higher level characters ?

lsfreak
2010-06-06, 01:17 PM
Which edition are you talking about?

If it's 3.5, the answer is no because that's fundamentally different from how XP is actually awarded. In 3.5, each characters gains as much XP as if the entire party were that character's level. With your example party and XP from defeating a CR 5 monster, the two 4th level characters would each get XP for a CR 5 monster at level 4 divided by 4 for the number of party members. The level 5 would get XP for a CR 5 monster at level 5, divided by 4 for party size. The level 3 would get XP for a CR 5 monster at level 3, divided by 4 for party size.

Since there are a lot of answers, in case it wasn't clear, this is the official, RAW way of handling experience in parties with multiple levels.

ShadowsGrnEyes
2010-06-06, 02:22 PM
You actually give more XP to higher level characters ?

Believe it or not it balances out a bit. Higher level characters need more to level so by giving scaled xp people stay about the same distance apart.
The way we run our games, if you're lower level, it's for a reason. Either your not participating, your missing sessions, or dying due to your own stupidity. We don't give lower level characters a way to catch up just for doing what the rest of the party is doing. they have to go above and beyond to catch up. If they put in the effort they can earn xp bonuses and catch up.
(we make exceptions for extenuating circumstances of course.)