[3.5] Calculating XP for non-combat events

[Hanutta]

Hey guys,

after some sessions with heavy combats i want to play one or two session with much of roleplay. In the next session the PC are going to be in a hearing(? or consulting?) in front of a coterie of high mages because they killed an (evil) high mage. This is going to be very roleplay intensive but i have no idea how to manage the xp. And with the xp i want to award the PC for roleplay.
Do you have any advice?

[Kelb_Panthera]

Count it as an encounter with an EL equal to the level of the coterie's speaker or the combined EL of the entire group if they are all addressing the party.

I presume this represents a mortal threat if the mages don't like their answers?

[WhatThePhysics]

Option #1: Award enough XP to bring them to the next level.

Option #2: Award XP as if they had defeated the coterie in combat.

EDIT: Swordsage'd by Kelb_Panthera. :smallbiggrin:

[inuyasha]

I always go with WhatThePhysics's second option, also giving experience for any stealth, magic use, role-playing, or whatever it is that bypasses a creature, as it definitely defeated them.