If NPC classes could gain XP, should they count as PC classes for amount gained?

[Coidzor]

If someone were to allow NPCs that took part in combat to gain XP, what would you say they should do vis a vis them in comparison with PC class levels?

Just have 1 level in an NPC class = 1 level in a PC class for determining their impact on the XP gained and their share thereof?

Have it so the CR derived from their NPC class levels = their effective level for XP?

Do something with fractions like is done with cohorts?

[WarKitty]

What's the role of these NPC's? If it's a persistent party accompaniment, I'd probably give them XP as PC's.

[Vandicus]

CR for determining whether or not their is bonus/reduced XP because of difficulty of encounter vs party level.

Level of NPC for determining what his current xp total is.

Recieves xp as a cohort. Either way, I suspect your players probably won't be too happy about a person with NPC class levels getting in their way.

[holywhippet]

Ah, they joys of the D&D rules regarding XP distribution. IIRC, anyone who participates in a fight gets a share of the XP. Which means you could be fighting an ancient red dragon when a level 1 fighter who has been tailing you throws a rock at it, does no damage, then runs away. When it dies, he gains XP because he participated in the fight.

[Coidzor]

What's the role of these NPC's? If it's a persistent party accompaniment, I'd probably give them XP as PC's.

A bit of A, a bit of B. The main thing is the whole NPC classes < PC classes dichotomy and whether that's worth the effort of taking into account or if one should treat an X level fighter the same as an X level aristocrat or warrior or expert.

Something that seems a bit more organic than the "at a certain point" or "after a certain number of fights" method if the PCs aren't using those ones.

[Seerow]

Ah, they joys of the D&D rules regarding XP distribution. IIRC, anyone who participates in a fight gets a share of the XP. Which means you could be fighting an ancient red dragon when a level 1 fighter who has been tailing you throws a rock at it, does no damage, then runs away. When it dies, he gains XP because he participated in the fight.

It's actually worse than that. While the experience does get split an extra way because the first level fighter was present and took part, the first level Fighter doesn't actually receive any experience at all for his participation because it was too far above him. So all the poor level 1 did was lower the experience for everyone else involved.