[Dolston]

Recently the issue of XP and how it is spent has come up in the game I am running here in Ottawa. Myself and the other STs have devised a sliding scale system where players get 3, 2 or 1 XP a session (we play monthly) with the occassional bonus XP for being related to existing characters or going above and beyond to make the game better for everyone.

In addition to this we have set maximums on where players can spend XP each period as well has have a series of penalties where we take away XP for doing things we deem that are bad for the game.

This is the system we have chosen to use. But I would like to know what systems your game uses and what you think is fair and equitable.

[Aleksanteri]

I'm just curious, but do you have any examples of players doing something to warrant having to take away xp?

[Dolston]

Violating Traditions (we are playing a V:tM Camarilla Game)
Violating Elysium
Showing up late
Leaving Early
No costuming
Not staying In-Character
Arguing with STs
Cheating

[ROMzombie]

The same way you do every day, Pinky.

Kill characters.

[Dolston]

If character death is the primary XP limiter of a game there are far more issues with the game than making sure growth is reasonable.

[ROMzombie]

It's a World of Darkness. Being stronger means you have more people gunning for you. Death happens, and life expectancies are short.

[Aleksanteri]

Yeah, but not giving your characters a possible way out is a little sadistic

[Dolston]

It's a World of Darkness. Being stronger means you have more people gunning for you. Death happens, and life expectancies are short.

You have completely missed the purpose of MET. This isn't a game of killing all who oppose you. It is about crafting a memorable experience for all involved. What you are suggesting is irresponsible and immature at best while providing ample justifaction for why controls on character growth are so important.

[ROMzombie]

Have I? From what I've seen of the Cam Vampire games, it's mostly about running around in overdone goth costumes pretending that you are "Sobby McEmopants" or "Darth Vaedr". Games in this area seem to degenerate to mass combat after an hour, and can stay stuck in time-lock for hours. The only "memorable experiences" that I've carried away have been a mix of boredom, frustration and disgust.

I'm not saying that all games are like that. I have high hopes for the future MET:Awakening.

I just want to kill a significant portion of the players... I mean, characters.

[Tuesday]

t's a World of Darkness. Being stronger means you have more people gunning for you. Death happens, and life expectancies are short.

A wise man once said:
"Ah, the cry of a power gamer using LARP as masturbation.

MET is designed as a theatrical game with co-operative Storytelling and shared enjoyment as the goal. Cut-throat maniacs whose solution to every problem is kill it should never be allowed to play in a game meant for grown up and mature players. They should instead stick to slash-fic porn involving Selene and Harry Potter crossovers.

This is a game of gothic horror, not splatter punk. It is meant for adults, not sexually frustrated teenagers."

Have I? From what I've seen of the Cam Vampire games, it's mostly about running around in overdone goth costumes pretending that you are "Sobby McEmopants" or "Darth Vaedr".

They've totally missed the point, too.

LARP doesn't have to be that way, and it shouldn't be. "Characters getting too much XP? Make sure they kill each other off!" leads only to arms races and people "playing" by standing around quietly and never, ever letting anything slip about their past, future, or personality.

And where's the fun in that?

That might be good GAMING, but it's shitty PLAYING. I want people to PLAY. It's more fun for everyone, that way.

I just want to kill a significant portion of the players... I mean, characters.

I'm with you on that one, for most LARPs.

[jadedeath]

It's a World of Darkness. Being stronger means you have more people gunning for you. Death happens, and life expectancies are short.

So... if you were running a LARP after a certain point of character growth {say for example the 5th Advanced Discipline {or in the new system 5th skill or power at level 5}} you'd kill off the character?

That would make me not want to play in any games run by people who run a game like that...

Logan

[Mindnsoul]

I have a policy of never killing characters unless it is appropriate to the plot, my players don't know this so they play as if death is stalking them, its quite entertaining and we all have fun.

[ROMzombie]

Um, wait. I never said that NPCs should kill characters all the time.

NPCs, however can set events in motion to kill characters quite easily, in a large enough game. Vices work well for this also... since Wrath seems to be a constant choice.

[Dolston]

Back on topic.

[jadedeath]

depending on how often play is... once I was a masochist and played every 2 weeks... that resulted in 1 XP every game and 1 at end of month...

every session there was a player voted roleplaying bonus so the maximum anyone could get was 5 XP per month...

Logan

[PsiMalkavian]

Hmm...

While I am only a Combat Judge for the game I am involved in, xp normally goes something like this.

Each Player is getting one 1xp for just showing up
Another is normally given for staying in character for the whole game (giving the necessary RL restroom break)
Another is given if you play well, or really stick to the concept of the character
And normally a 4th is given for staying the whole night.

We also give 2 more, one for turning in downtimes, and only for playing on the online posting boards.

They also say ther give 1 extra for first game and one extra for beging the pivitol character in a storyline.

We average 4 xp per game for most players (at least I do), adding up to 6 if downtimes and online role-play happens.

I know this is more than alot of games give, but a balancing act is that the ST makes you work to gain anything. You have to learn every little thing. Which is a good thing, just frustrating some times.

[OffWhite Knight]

Here's what the Reqiuem game I play in does.

There's a hard cap of 8XP per month.

1 for showing up and playing.
1-2 for roleplaying.
1 for costuming.
1 for bringing food/drink.
1 for arriving early and helping to set up.
1 for staying late and helping clean up.
1 for outstanding moments of roleplay (can be awarded more than once)
1 for "bitter lemon" that is good RP even when getting screwed.
1 for bringing in another player that stays for 3+ games.
1 for out of game actions/sit-down sessions.

It seems most people get about 4-6 per month. It's a game that has between 20-30 people at a time.

It seems to work.

[jadedeath]

Here's what the Reqiuem game I play in does.

There's a hard cap of 8XP per month.

1 for showing up and playing.
1-2 for roleplaying.
1 for costuming.
1 for bringing food/drink.
1 for arriving early and helping to set up.
1 for staying late and helping clean up.
1 for outstanding moments of roleplay (can be awarded more than once)
1 for "bitter lemon" that is good RP even when getting screwed.
1 for bringing in another player that stays for 3+ games.
1 for out of game actions/sit-down sessions.

It seems most people get about 4-6 per month. It's a game that has between 20-30 people at a time.

It seems to work.

alot of your list looks pretty good... but I've always had exception to the food/drink and cleaning up/helping set up stuff... even when brought up at local LARPs that I've been involved in... I've always viewed it as a "in character actions warrant in character rewards" like XP and the like doing stuff as the character gets you XP... but if it works go with it...

Logan

[Aleksanteri]

Yeah, I never found that the food xp thing got abused, but it does sort of...how should I put this...it takes something away from the game, I think. It takes something that is largely irrelevent to the game (and is often distracting from it, ie. food) and gives an in-game reward for it.

[Dolston]

We have a private room in a bar. If people don't buy food and drink I get angry. Geneally we do dinner before game and snackage after game with drinks throughout the game. It is the price of having a good location - we need to support it.

Besides, we are humans so we occassionally need to eat and drink so I am not going to bust anyone in the chops r grabbing a drink or quick snack in a session no matter what.