XP for Magic Items

[jason.richardson]

Hello fellows,

If one of my player's PC finds a Frost Brand sword in a treasure hoard, do I award him 1,600 XP or do I add it to the group total to be divided? If given directly, is this all at once or doled out over a period of time, say 25%/month?

Thanks.

[Terrex]

If a PC claims it he gets the full XP value. If the party sells it, each PC gets XP equal to their share of the gold.

I don't think the 25% example has any btb precedent, but it doesn't seem like an unreasonable approach.

[jason.richardson]

Okay, thanks.

[AxeMental]

Be sure to give that player the full EXP listed in the magic tables and not the EXP value of the magic sword if it had been sold. That way the pressure is on to sell magic to advance in levels. Also I'd award all EXP to that player immediately.

[jason.richardson]

What if this happens: PC claims a magic wand, receives XP for it, and then later, before the charges run out, gifts it to a PC friend for saving his life. Do I take the XP away that he earned for claiming the wand and give them to the gifted PC?

[Terrex]

What if this happens: PC claims a magic wand, receives XP for it, and then later, before the charges run out, gifts it to a PC friend for saving his life. Do I take the XP away that he earned for claiming the wand and give them to the gifted PC?

I think the spirit of the rule is you get XP when you overcome something to obtain the item. This may even include a little bit of luck. But, I don't think receiving a gift is meant to be accompanied by an XP bonus. Plus, think of the possible abuse. The PCs could pass the item around and all receive XP for it. That's not the intent of the rules. After all, the PC that saved the other's life still receives a benefit: the item itself.

So, I'd only assign XP for the item once. The only exception to this, which actually occurred in my campaign recently, is part of a party was wiped out and the rest retreated. The others returned in another session, defeated the enemy, and recovered some of the items of their deceased comrades. In this case, I assigned XP again.

[jason.richardson]

Makes perfect sense, thanks.

[genghisdon]

Hello fellows,

If one of my player's PC finds a Frost Brand sword in a treasure hoard, do I award him 1,600 XP or do I add it to the group total to be divided? If given directly, is this all at once or doled out over a period of time, say 25%/month?

Thanks.

XP to the character that gets & uses/can use the frost brand sword. XP is given out after the adventure/or when they go to town; basically the same time you'd give XP for monsters/gold

[AxeMental]

What if this happens: PC claims a magic wand, receives XP for it, and then later, before the charges run out, gifts it to a PC friend for saving his life. Do I take the XP away that he earned for claiming the wand and give them to the gifted PC?

I'd take away the XP from the guy who gave the wand away, and give the XP to the guy who receives it (as long as he was present in the battle/adventure where the magic was found).

[AxeMental]

What if this happens: PC claims a magic wand, receives XP for it, and then later, before the charges run out, gifts it to a PC friend for saving his life. Do I take the XP away that he earned for claiming the wand and give them to the gifted PC?

I think the spirit of the rule is you get XP when you overcome something to obtain the item. This may even include a little bit of luck. But, I don't think receiving a gift is meant to be accompanied by an XP bonus. Plus, think of the possible abuse. The PCs could pass the item around and all receive XP for it. That's not the intent of the rules. After all, the PC that saved the other's life still receives a benefit: the item itself.

So, I'd only assign XP for the item once. The only exception to this, which actually occurred in my campaign recently, is part of a party was wiped out and the rest retreated. The others returned in another session, defeated the enemy, and recovered some of the items of their deceased comrades. In this case, I assigned XP again.

If the wand was gifted by MU-Jim to a fellow member of the party (MU-Gary) who was present during the adventure, I'd transfer the XPs (take it away from the old owner and give it to the new owner). That way when a higher level PC finds additional magic during the adventure (say another more powerful wand), he can give the lesser powerful magic to the lower level guy and he can gain XP as well. I suspect that's the intent. But, I like your method as well.

[Terrex]

Axe, there probably is no btb solution to treat what you mention. It's just using discretion. Personally, I never subtract XP (other than for level drain). There's no btb precedent for subtracting XP and intuitively it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Like I said earlier, I don't assign XP in the gifting scenarios for many reasons I find very practical. In my campaigns the gift receiver only gets the benefits of using the item and the gift giver only gives up the benefits of using the item (not the XP).

[Falconer]

I would split the XP among the group that recovered the item originally (attained the objective).

[AxeMental]

Axe, there probably is no btb solution to treat what you mention. It's just using discretion. Personally, I never subtract XP (other than for level drain). There's no btb precedent for subtracting XP and intuitively it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Like I said earlier, I don't assign XP in the gifting scenarios for many reasons I find very practical. In my campaigns the gift receiver only gets the benefits of using the item and the gift giver only gives up the benefits of using the item (not the XP).

Good points. I think I agree with you. Somebody call Foster and let him know I am persuadable.

[thedungeondelver]

Should XP only be rewarded if the item is properly, BTB, identified?

I've had characters just use magic swords and daggers without "wasting" an identify spell on them...

[AxeMental]

Should XP only be rewarded if the item is properly, BTB, identified?

I've had characters just use magic swords and daggers without "wasting" an identify spell on them...

Damn good question. Tuff call.

I'd say yes, as long as the person owns it. Its not knowing IMO, rather its the aura of the thing. For example, if a wand is found by the party and its permanently given to the MU, he now has the XPs (regardless if he ever figures out what it does). Likewise, a fighter might find a ring of wizardry and put it on (its new owner) and thus receive the XPs even though he can never use its powers, and doesn't know its magical. He just likes it. On some level he'd probably sense something special about it. Now, If he just grabs the ring thinking it almost worthless (a band of silver say) and throws it in a treasure bag (never having it looked over more closely), and then sells it to a shop keep (who also doesn't realize its worth), then he'd miss the opportunity. He would not recieve the XPs of ownership nor the XPs when converted into gold (sold for 10 SPs rather then 10,000 GPs). Its almost a pass threw (you never really take proper ownership of it, recognizing it as special on some level). The next person who takes a liking to it and owns it gets the XPs (perhaps a starting out PC sees it being sold on the street, and buys it because he just feels there's something special about it). In these cases I think the owner would need to use it or wear it regularly.