other uses for XP besides advancement

[Deleted]

The Alchemist skill is really cool. It allows players to 'craft' items (assist potions) useful during an adventure by expending XP. It works because the effects are temporary. This means players can do cool, powerful things without upsetting the balance of the game mechanics/world. The fact that it costs XP also helps preserve the balance because it 'tricks' us (players) into spending XP on something temporary instead of saving XP for something permanent like stat or skill advancement. Thirdly, this allows us to play characters for a longer period of time or greater number adventures before the characters become so powerful that they just can't lose.

I would like to see some additional skills that work in a fashion similar to the Alchemist skill or other similar uses of XP. I talked about a Runesmith skill in another thread. If that were officially incorporated into the rules, I think it should definitely be available to Mages for 10XP since Sorceror's Tongue would be a pre-requisite. However, then it would seem unfair that Mages would pretty much have monopoly on these 2 skills (Runesmith and Alchemist). So, if Runesmith goes in at 10XP to any character, Alchemist should be go back to the standard 10/20 XP rule for other characters and Mages.

I've thought of one other 'crafting' skill that would not normally be associated with Mages (Set Snare/Trap) but that may be too complicated to work into programmed adventures. I've also thought of modifying some current skills so that one spends XP with their use for automatic success instead of making check for success. Those skills are Bard, Crafts, Herbalist, Medic, and Merchant. Most of these skills are IQ based so it would still seem like Mages catch all the breaks. Also note that these skills produce a temporary or consumable product. Bard creates karma points. Crafts create money (through wages earned). Herbalist creates 'stored healing'. Medic creates immediate healing. Merchant creates money (through savings or profit).

I think the simplest and fairest way to give all characters an alternative way to spend XP that contributes to their success is to just allow XP to be spent to modify skill checks/rolls. For example, let's say i have a Swordsman with DX 12(10) wearing leather armor and the Sword skill (+1). He's in combat and needs to roll below or eaual to 11 to hit his target with his sword. He rolls a 13. He spends 2 XP to make the attack a success. Let's say a Tracker needs to roll below or equal to 10 in order to find a trail. He rolls a 13. He spends 3 XP to make the check a success.

Other thoughts? ideas? evil schemes?

EDIT: i meant to work it into the post somewhere but forgot about it... also let XP be spent to increase damage (if weapon skill) or effects (Medic+1 wants to heal 2 points; he spends an extra XP for that additional point of healing)

[klingor]

ewookie,
Nice idea about XP usage. An alternative could be to do away with XP gains within an adventure.
Instead, give karma points.
Allow karma points to be used during the adventure to modify an existing roll or to allow a complete re-roll.
At the end of the adventure, unused karma points could be converted to XP to allow characters to increase skills and spells.

[Deleted]

klingor,
i suppose that works just as well but, in my mind, you just renamed Experience Points to Karma Points.

however, there is one rather significant caveat to the karma point system. if it only costs 1 point to re-roll a check, who (in their right minds) would use 4 points to modify a roll? re-rolling should cost more than roll modification. since karma points are doled out less frequently than XP, the current XP/karma system accomplishes this. i would leave the current XP/karma system in place.

if the two currencies were to be combined into one form of currency and this new currency could be used to modify rolls or re-roll, i would keep the XP namesake and make re-rolls cost 5 XP (which establishes a 1KP = 5 XP conversion rate).

EDIT: maybe 1 KP = 5 XP = 1 re-roll is a little steep. perhaps 1 KP = 3 XP = 1 re-roll has a better balance. you may have noticed that i tend to err toward making things costlier but have a willingness to haggle down on price. i've always thought this to be a good trait for a GM. i see the relationship between GM and players as a bit like the relationship between a buyer (player) and seller (GM). when the GM challenges players, things are interesting. if the initial challenge is too great and the GM haggles down, he seems reasonable and merciful. if the initial challenge is too easy and the GM haggles up, he seems like a greedy thief. what seller would start at the lowest bid they are willing to take? what buyer would start at the highest bid they are willing make?

[mister frau blucher]

Hey guys,

This is a cool idea. I want to playtest it a bit, but it does add an interesting dimension to xp beyond character improvement.

[Deleted]

cool, i'm glad you like it. another benefit i saw to this was that adventure author can worrying a little less about whether or not the players will be able to pass a skill check that the plot hinges upon, maybe?

[Deleted]

more thoughts on this...

out of fear that players might spend themselves into XP bankruptcy with no way to break free of such poverty, i started thinking of some alternatives. i really like what follows because it blends 2 different ideas i've had together...

instead using XP to modify stat/skill checks or damage, use fatigue. then, mages no longer have such a monopoly on it's use. this also seems a bit more logical for physical-exertion tasks. let about 3 XP be used for complete re-rolls. let karma be converted to about 3 XP or used for re-rolls.