tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post762291114515192335..comments2024-03-27T22:37:01.796-04:00Comments on Dungeon Fantastic: Discouraging Bootstrapping If You Prefer ToPeter Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-78063869144453330762013-12-18T00:27:41.578-05:002013-12-18T00:27:41.578-05:00The main problem with the XP system he uses, to ge...The main problem with the XP system he uses, to get back on the subject of bootstrapping, is that it rewards higher level characters disproportionately. The idea is to reward characters for being proactive and participating, but it puts a premium on successful actions. Getting past level 1 tends to be slow, since the way to survive level 1 is letting the higher level fighters deal with the big, tough monsters while we try to help and not die at the same time.F. Douglas Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06497140550892192807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-87183892485933825302013-12-17T23:04:53.495-05:002013-12-17T23:04:53.495-05:00The "experience by action" method has a ...The "experience by action" method has a lot going for it. But when I played with a similar system in Rolemaster it ended up being a lot to keep track of. This is why I have a flat XP system in my GURPS game - my players can literally track XP for me, since they know the relatively few parameters well enough and it doesn't matter who did what to get there.<br /><br />Still, if you can work out and track the details, it's not a bad way to go. :)Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-35412828256575494282013-12-17T15:40:30.606-05:002013-12-17T15:40:30.606-05:00Wow, Blackmoore sounds pretty wicked. I kind of l...Wow, Blackmoore sounds pretty wicked. I kind of like the harshness of it though.qpophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04398235894159011414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-27059224510127570242013-12-17T15:37:14.653-05:002013-12-17T15:37:14.653-05:00Wow, that second method sounds really, really roug...Wow, that second method sounds really, really rough. I like the even division, helps to level the playing field, but I think that's also a product of the majority of my gaming been with groups where everyone's the same level anyway.qpophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04398235894159011414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-7354519921972543112013-12-17T15:08:45.898-05:002013-12-17T15:08:45.898-05:00In my own campaign, I prefer to divide XP evenly a...In my own campaign, I prefer to divide XP evenly among all participants. At the end of the session, we total up all XP earned from monsters and treasure and divide it evenly among the characters who participated. After a particularly large treasure haul, it's not uncommon for a lower level character to level up, possibly even multiple times. Since I use training times, this sort of thing can put a character out of play for months at a time. So bootstrapping is fairly easy.<br /><br />In my friends' campaign, bootstrapping is relatively difficult. He awards XP based on individual accomplishments (XP for casting spells, doing damage, etc.). Casting magic missile is only worth so much XP, whether you cast it on an orc or a dragon.F. Douglas Wallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06497140550892192807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-55297710862206915602013-12-17T13:45:10.963-05:002013-12-17T13:45:10.963-05:00Yeah, although it's funny if you learn as much...Yeah, although it's funny if you learn as much per trip as Sneaky the Thief, and then he always learns more than you!Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-42676978403032730172013-12-17T13:44:34.519-05:002013-12-17T13:44:34.519-05:00I think it's the norm but I've run across ...I think it's the norm but I've run across at least one group where it depending on your personal take.Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-78819691270749081472013-12-17T13:43:00.218-05:002013-12-17T13:43:00.218-05:00I can't tell you - I think it's fine and m...I can't tell you - I think it's fine and makes perfect sense. In a more adversarial group (like Mike "Old Geezer" Mornard mentions <a href="http://forum.rpg.net/archive/index.php/t-515401.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>) it might be unwelcome. Plus some people who commented on my Google post felt it was a bad thing!Peter Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14246000382321978462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-49491965973057447472013-12-17T12:32:50.923-05:002013-12-17T12:32:50.923-05:00I tought the first method of dividing xp from gold...I tought the first method of dividing xp from gold was the norm...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328451004167442283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-62498473109582426832013-12-17T11:47:04.729-05:002013-12-17T11:47:04.729-05:00Diving up by level might not be so bad, depending ...Diving up by level might not be so bad, depending on the version of class-and-level game you're playing. Most, in my experience, don't use linear level breakpoints, so you might not ever catch up, but you wouldn't necessarily lag farther behind.Jason Packerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02240705069654358715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7817710432110712270.post-9527703346286830152013-12-17T09:55:24.566-05:002013-12-17T09:55:24.566-05:00"But let's say, in a class-and-level game..."But let's say, in a class-and-level game, you want to discourage low-level guys from wanting to pal around with high level guys on their early adventures and discourage high-level guys from trying to smooth the path too much. What can you do?"<br /><br />I'm curious how this would really work in practice. Theoretically if someone is playing with a group everyone wants to play together, so why would a GM want to discourage the lower level folks from rolling with the higher level folks? Or maybe this would be more of an issue for organized or convention play?qpophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04398235894159011414noreply@blogger.com