How is XP assigned. I have an example.

[killem2]

We have a party of 5 level 3 characters.

We have two different encounters to look over.


One of the encounters had 15 straight MM goblins.

the other had 3x Level 2 fighters, 4x level 1 fighters.

I thought for the first one, you take 1/3 x 15 and it is 5. So CR5.


Then on the second one it would be CR2 + CR2 + CR2 + CR1 + C1 + CR1 +CR1. So A total of CR10.

But I am thinking that is wrong.

How does the typical encounter level character vs number of characters vs total exp given work?

[Koury]

This might not help with the "how" question, but this should help (http://donjon.bin.sh/d20/xp/) with getting the correct totals.

[TheMooch]

http://www.d20srd.org/extras/d20encountercalculator/

problem solved

edit: ninja!

[KillianHawkeye]

Yeah, CRs do not add like that.

Try this: http://www.d20srd.org/extras/d20encountercalculator/

Basically, you calculate the experience each monster would deliver and add it all together, then divide by the number of players. You do not need to calculate some kind of total CR for the encounter as a whole.

So 15 goblins at CR 1/3 each would grant a party of 5 3rd level PCs 300 xp each (whereas a single CR 5 opponent would grant 360 xp for each party member).

3 2nd level fighters (CR 2) and 4 1st level fighters (CR 1) would be worth 600 xp apiece (as opposed to 2,160 xp for a single CR 10 opponent which the party would have extreme difficulty defeating).

[tyckspoon]

CR is not straight additive (also, for more than one monster, they change terms- the combined 'CR' is referred to as Encounter Level.) Frankly I can't be bothered to look up the official way it's done, and I join everybody else in recommending you just use an encounter calculator.

[killem2]

CR is not straight additive (also, for more than one monster, they change terms- the combined 'CR' is referred to as Encounter Level.) Frankly I can't be bothered to look up the official way it's done, and I join everybody else in recommending you just use an encounter calculator.

That works for me! :) if the calculator follows the book, i'm good. thanks!!

[Kol Korran]

if i remember correctly it goes like this: (p.48 of the DMG)

- CRs for monster under CR 1 are additive till you reach CR 1.

so 3 goblins of 1/3 CR rating equal CR 1

- 2 monsters/ equivalent of the CR X are equal to CR X+2. the doubling goes on to increase by CR +2

so 4 level 1 fighters will be equal to CR 5

- CR X + CR X-2 (called the "mixed pair") equals CR X+1. or in other words:
2 of a CR X kind are CR+2, 3 ar CR+3, 4 are CR +4

the system leaves much to be desired.

so lets go over your example:
1) 15 goblins = 5 level 1 encounters. 4 level 1 encounters equal a CR of 5, the last encounter not enough to raise it further.

2) 4 level 1 fighters are CR 5
2 level 2 fighters are CR 4.
the last can join with the last level 2 fighter to give another CR 5.
the 2 CR 5 encounters give a CR 7.

i hope this works.