The Extra XP

[johandenerad]

I think the extra xp thing for someone who distinguishes themselves in a session is a cool idea. The only thing is that the awarding of it seems to have gone from ST discretionary to mandatory. That is to say, some sessions, nobody really distinguishes themselves, but someone gets an extra xp anyway.

For example, in SoM: SPI session 1 in Creation, LH had the whole session jumping with his silly buzzword antics. It was way more fun because of his presence and he got the extra xp. In Creation session 2, I did quite alot of the talking, and made a couple of jokes which got three-dicers, but I wouldn't say I had the same "everyone has lots of fun now" effect that LH had in session 1. I got the extra xp (which, granted, made me happy) but I kind of feel I didn't deserve it.

Another time was in Golden Op Lunar session 1, where I feel U got the extra xp because he didn't get involved in me and SH bickering (sorry about that, btw , which I don't really consider a viable way of getting it.

The extra xp should be like a three-die stunt: there's a "wow" factor that makes it obvious before anybody says anything who it's going to and why. In the above examples, I feel like there was most definitely no "wow"ness involved. I feel it's not appropriate to give extra xp when no-one really pushes the dice-filled RP envelope or in a "best of a bad bunch" situation.

This isn't meant to be attacking the ST's who give an extra xp every session, it's just something that's been bothering me.

[johandenerad]

Ooh, just had another thought. (twice my quota for the day already! it must be the Weetabix)

Good RP. It's possible to justify the extra RP by giving it someone who played their character really well. I don't think this should be the case. As roleplaying is kind of a team game, I think that someone should have to play their character well in such a way that it improves the game for everyone.

Eg. Captain PCkiller McSilent-Mopesalot plays a mean session where he sits mutely for 4 hours, the only sound emanating from him being the occasional soft sobs into his coke (zero) and the clack of dice he rolls to stab his fellow PC's in the back at dramatic moments and plot points. Sure, it's the most accurate representation of the character possible. Does he deserve the extra xp? Only in a group of goths.

Eww. Goths.

I think I've made my point.

PS: this post came about imagining what Miranda might have been like as a 15yr old boy roleplayer. Did I get enough sleep last night? You decide.

[bravesirrobin]

I see where you are coming from, but I don't agree with all of it. For the extra XP is about rewarding something cool yes - but it's not on the same level of a three dice stunt necessarily. It just gives me an excuse to give someone a bit of extra credit for whatever I feel like.

If it was a well fought fight, a well spoken conversation, or just a cool bit of roleplay in a situation then that's what it is for. I will be giving one out every session. Since if I go a whole roleplaying session without a single moment that made me smile i should probably give it up.

I absolutely agree that it should be someone who adds to the fun of the whole group though, and I would never give it to the example you gave.

To be honest I can't necessarily remember why I gave them a couple of weeks later, which is why I give them out at the time. I don't see it changing.

[Blackrat]

IMHO: XP, "extra" or otherwise, should be given to people who are making the sessions fun. Normally, everyone contributes to the session and so they get some "base" limit of XP.

I don't think extra XP should ever be given just for playing a character well - but if it's a fun character and the playing-of-it-well made the session more enjoyable, then extra XP is justifiable (though not mandatory). Therefore Cpt. PCK McS-M shouldn't get extra XP - and in fact he and the GM should probably discuss what his role is in the game and why his behaviour is spoiling it for other players. (Assuming that it is.)

In general, I'd be tempted to say that a no-more-no-less 1 per session is not the best way to bring out the fun, because there isn't enough flexibility. But that's just what I'd call.

I quite like systems where XP is entirely independent of in-session "coolness", and there's a separate points system for that - e.g. "Style Points" or something, which don't develop your character but can be traded in for e.g. re-rolls, auto-successes on life-saving rolls, that kind of thing.

[bravesirrobin]

Dec 7, 2008 13:42:22 GMT Blackrat said:

IMHO: XP, "extra" or otherwise, should be given to people who are making the sessions fun. Normally, everyone contributes to the session and so they get some "base" limit of XP.

I don't think extra XP should ever be given just for playing a character well - but if it's a fun character and the playing-of-it-well made the session more enjoyable, then extra XP is justifiable (though not mandatory). Therefore Cpt. PCK McS-M shouldn't get extra XP - and in fact he and the GM should probably discuss what his role is in the game and why his behaviour is spoiling it for other players. (Assuming that it is.).

I agree with that completely.

Dec 7, 2008 13:42:22 GMT Blackrat said:

In general, I'd be tempted to say that a no-more-no-less 1 per session is not the best way to bring out the fun, because there isn't enough flexibility. But that's just what I'd call.

Perhaps. In my mind it's more of a minimum of a single bonus XP, and i think in one session i may have awarded it to everyone - with a single person getting another additional one because of the extreme coolness of the session. but i guess it takes something exceptional for me to do this.

i think the other point is that it should also take something out of the ordinary. in the same way that stunts aren't as effective if they're repeated. so someone is more likely to get bonus XP if they are awesome in a way i haven't seen before or haven't seen for a while.

Dec 7, 2008 13:42:22 GMT Blackrat said:

I quite like systems where XP is entirely independent of in-session "coolness", and there's a separate points system for that - e.g. "Style Points" or something, which don't develop your character but can be traded in for e.g. re-rolls, auto-successes on life-saving rolls, that kind of thing.

that is cool and i remember playing a system once where this happened and i enjoyed it. but to be honest i am happy with how golden opp is playing out at the moment.

[oneiros]

For my two obols' worth, I feel it will be discretionary for campaigns I run based on a number of factors but with a great deal of emphasis on "Did I enjoy the interaction that the character brought? Did they challenge me as an ST?"

By way of exemplar reasoning, last session Jordan got it for playing along with/through the seduction scene which was a great bit of RP and also a test of my ability to play out an appropriate impromptu encounter within the parameters of the scenario.

So yeah, there may be sessions where no-one gets a bonus xp but that shouldn't mean that folk think that the session was poor.

[johandenerad]

Cool, thanks for the input guys, my gripe was pretty much that the extra xp was going out because it had to, and no-one seems in for that much. Yay!