Felltower XP System Notes

In light of an effective Felltower restart, and the higher XP handouts from Vic's game, I think I need to slightly revise my XP awards rules. Not by a lot - I stand by the system in DF21 and here.

But I do think some additional opportunities for XP would be welcome and appropriate.

What's Old is New(ish)

I won't give XP for "new exploration" for old areas already mapped - sorry, that's the downside of getting a full map of the dungeon to work with. No, not even if you choose to set fire to the map and start over. There is stuff to do on the upper levels but let's not pretend "re-check and see what moved in" is "new exploration."

But I will give +1 XP to all PCs when they first reach a "new" depth. Pretty much, when they go down stairs/holes/etc to subterranean levels beyond the first.

For example, show up game one, get to the "apartment" level by going down to the apetrium and then the GFS to the bottom? +2 XP each, one per level. Find the level(s) in between? +1 each. I'll let people know when they've found a new area . . . after the game. Can you just poke your nose down on that level and come back? Yes. Can you send a Wizard Eye? Sure. Can just the scout go? Sure. But that will "use up" the bonus and I'll only apply it to PCs that actually went down there in person. Commit to exploration.

Special Places

I'll tag a few more special places that have been overlooked in the past as new areas worth not only new exploration, but also +1 xp. Again, this is a post-game bonus. But hopefully this will drive a little more exploration.

Gates will still be a +1 per PC to those first passing through a given gate; like the level changes, above, these will be for all gates as a one-time thing. Some gates have been closed, and others opened, so we'll see. I still need a heads-up (or an in-game setup delay) for new gates, but yes, next trip through the Icy Gate or the Air Gate or whatever is worth a +1. Go explore and get points.



Finally, with a bard with Wealthy, I think loot thresholds will be easier to meet. Exploration bonuses won't be, not for a while, but a motivated crew willing to push hard for loot and willing to go new places should get 4-6 xp per session for a while without heavy risk. But it won't be forever - the lower levels will need to be dealt with, or the gates entered, or both, if people want to keep on at that pace. Fortune favors the bold . . . and death comes for everyone, cautious or confident.