How Does A Performer Earn XP?

[Palanan]

Adventuring bards can earn XP just like the rest of the party, by fighting, overcoming obstacles, etc. But what about non-adventuring bards? What about those who follow the performance circuit, or get by on pub gigs?

According to the PHB, a Perform check can usually earn a few coins, but not XP. In Pathfinder, part of the downtime rules allows for earning catch-up XP, but that seems to be along the lines of traditional adventuring.

So, are there any options for bards who prefer to sing rather than risk their life and vocal cords? Do they have any opportunity to earn XP during the course of their daily performances?

[Zaq]

The farther away you get from the core conceit of "4-6 murderhoboes crashing around in a dungeon," the less well the system's rules model things.

All characters get XP for overcoming challenges through whatever means are appropriate. That said, the rules aren't especially great at laying out what repeatedly meaningful non-combat challenges are like, especially to the extent that would allow non-adventuring NPCs to level up.

[False God]

Easy, you are now an NPC who isn't part of the party and you roll up a new character.

Downtime activities can earn you XP, no argument. But if your character's goal is antithetical to adventuring, go write up a new character who wants to adventure.

Sorry not sorry, but I've played with folks like this. We're all ready to get off on an adventure and they want to...read some books. Not to ya know, better prepare the team for adventure, but because that is their adventure. Sitting in a library reading books. Dangle a quest hook of a great lost library, no that's okay, the local libraries are good enough. It's annoying to DM for, you prepare a lot of interesting dungeons, develop a creative world, fill it with unique NPCs and this guy....wants to read some books.

If your character isn't interested in adventuring, go make one that is.

[Psyren]

Roleplay challenges explicitly award XP (CRB 399) so that would be how a nonadventuring bard would level. Roleplay encounters for such a bard could include getting noticed on a street corner and/or winning over a tavern's common room, before graduating to filling a concert hall, performing for royalty, or even (at high/mythic levels) swaying the attitudes of outsiders and even gods, Orpheus-style.

With all that said, I agree with the others that PCs are generally intended to be adventurers; PCs that progress without doing any adventuring are possible in the game, but it's not really designed for that.

[Palanan]

Originally Posted by Psyren
Roleplay challenges explicitly award XP (CRB 399) so that would be how a nonadventuring bard would level.

Okay, thanks. That looks like the only mechanical way for a non-adventurer to gain XP.


Originally Posted by False God
If your character isn't interested in adventuring, go make one that is.

I never said this was for a PC.

[Psyren]

Okay, thanks. That looks like the only mechanical way for a non-adventurer to gain XP.

Not necessarily, sometimes combat comes to the nonadventurer too. If orcs invade a town and the adept or court mage fries some of them with a fireball, they may not be an "adventurer" but they'd have seen action.



I never said this was for a PC.

NPCs don't really "level up" though so it's a valid assumption - you just set their level to whatever you need it to be for the campaign without worrying about how they got it. If you needed that justification though, glad to have helped!

[Mordante]

XP is useless.No decent DM in my experience uses XP. The DM will just let you know when you dinged.

[liquidformat]

Easy; bar fights, unruly/angry crowds, hecklers, also dealing with tavern owners who try to stiff you on pay.

[Kraynic]

If you are starting to think about things like this, it might be time to start looking around for a system that doesn't require (potentially terminal) conflict to spur character growth.