This topic came up in one of the recent GM Saturdays meeting. Here is I usually handle XP to greatly reduce leveling due to killing stuff. It also incorporates my take on rewarding people for good roleplaying, achieving milestones, great solutions to challenges, etc. TFT stands for The Fantasy Trip, a system in which XP buys up 8 stat points and spells/talents thereafter. It has no concept of leveling, per se.
D&D: 15 Level Points are required to "purchase" a new level. Level Points can be given out as direct XP for completing an adventure.
There is no maximum for Level Points, but I recommend trading them in during play breaks to get the full benefit of level ups.
TFT: 1 Level Point is equivalent to 100XP. So, 5 LPs will buy a new skill or spell.
I like the concept of Hero Points. Per the DMG, players get 5 + (Character Level/2), rounded down, Hero Points at each level that do not stack between levels. There is no carry over of spare HPs.
A player can apply a HP after a d20 roll is made, but before the final result is tallied and applied. Once for any roll, the HP adds an additional d6 to the die roll or 3 points (my rule). The player must decide which option before rolling the d6.
I discovered a wonderful "flashback" mechanic in Blades in the Dark that allows people with decision fatigue to fix an unexpected problem during the campaign. It allows a single retcon of down time activities can only be used this way once during a game.
I like the idea of players being able to acquire more points via their other reward options. This process allow players who want to replenish the points they use more often than each level to do so.
Maximum: 5 + Character Level/2, rounded down. Replenishes when the character levels up.
Good roleplaying earns RP Stars. These convert at:
The reason for the steep prices here are that there are many good opportunities to roleplay well during game sessions. The maximum encourages regular trade-ins.
Maximum: 75 RPs
Challenge Points are rewarded for overcoming challenges at a rate of 1 CP per level of difficulty to the challenge. CPs can be traded in as well:
Challenges are also frequent, especially during adventures. Again, the maximum is intended to encourage frequent trade-ins.
Maximum: 75 CPs
Resolving major milestones in adventures are rewarded with Milestones. These are very valuable and can only be used to buy Level Points. Completing a long adventure can result in receiving MSs and LPs.
There is no maximum for Milestones , but I recommend trading them in for Level Points often.
Character Benefits
Leveling Up
D&D: 15 Level Points are required to "purchase" a new level. Level Points can be given out as direct XP for completing an adventure.
There is no maximum for Level Points, but I recommend trading them in during play breaks to get the full benefit of level ups.
TFT: 1 Level Point is equivalent to 100XP. So, 5 LPs will buy a new skill or spell.
Hero Points
I like the concept of Hero Points. Per the DMG, players get 5 + (Character Level/2), rounded down, Hero Points at each level that do not stack between levels. There is no carry over of spare HPs.
A player can apply a HP after a d20 roll is made, but before the final result is tallied and applied. Once for any roll, the HP adds an additional d6 to the die roll or 3 points (my rule). The player must decide which option before rolling the d6.
I discovered a wonderful "flashback" mechanic in Blades in the Dark that allows people with decision fatigue to fix an unexpected problem during the campaign. It allows a single retcon of down time activities can only be used this way once during a game.
I like the idea of players being able to acquire more points via their other reward options. This process allow players who want to replenish the points they use more often than each level to do so.
Maximum: 5 + Character Level/2, rounded down. Replenishes when the character levels up.
Roleplaying Points
Good roleplaying earns RP Stars. These convert at:
- 25 RPs for a Hero Point
- 35 RPs for a Level Point
The reason for the steep prices here are that there are many good opportunities to roleplay well during game sessions. The maximum encourages regular trade-ins.
Maximum: 75 RPs
Challenge Points
Challenge Points are rewarded for overcoming challenges at a rate of 1 CP per level of difficulty to the challenge. CPs can be traded in as well:
- 15 CPs for a Hero Point
- 25 CPs for a Level Point
Challenges are also frequent, especially during adventures. Again, the maximum is intended to encourage frequent trade-ins.
Maximum: 75 CPs
Milestones
Resolving major milestones in adventures are rewarded with Milestones. These are very valuable and can only be used to buy Level Points. Completing a long adventure can result in receiving MSs and LPs.
- 10 Milestones for 1 Level Point
There is no maximum for Milestones , but I recommend trading them in for Level Points often.