The Players Ask ‘When Do I Reach Level Two?’
Calculating XP for your players is as diverse as their character classes. There is no single or best way to calculate an XP to level up your players.
Over the years different editions have suggestions on different methods and eventually, you will determine which will work best for your table.
Here are a few that many have chosen over time.
1. The CR or Encounter method
2. The Milestone method
3. The Roleplay method
4. The Reward method
5. A combination of any or all of the above 4 points
No doubt there’s a method or two I’ve missed, if so, let me know in the comments!
1. The CR or Encounter method
This method involves using a calculator to determine the Challenge Rating or Encounter you have the players play in combat with. There are calculators on the internet that can help determine the results and, therefore how much XP is awarded to each Player Character.
2. The Milestone Method
This is determined simply by your player characters reaching a milestone in a campaign, and are then awarded a static amount in whole of XP, then that number is divided by the number of players.
That milestone is a marker or chapter, that the players have completed with the campaign so far. This XP value is determined irrespective of the number of combats, superb roleplay, the intelligent overcoming of challenges you presented to the players, etc, by your table or any other value.
Once all (or remaining) players reach that milestone, it is simply Y = Total XP Value / by X = number of players
3. The Roleplay method
This method is simply the inverse of the 2nd method, you reward a certain amount of pre-defined XP based on several successfully resolved combats (or non-combat), superb roleplay, the intelligent overcoming of challenges you presented to the players, etc, by your table or any other value.
4. The Reward Method
This method simply rewards the characters for their literal gains. In other words, every bounty found gems, currency, gold, magical items, and any item of value equal to/or greater than 1 GP (gold piece) is given a value of 1 XP.
Therefore 1 GP = 1 XP.
Players are awarded XP on the amount of ‘loot’ they have obtained at milestones in your campaign.
So this should be enough to spark your imagination to determine the best way to award your players their earned XP at your table. Use one or more of these methods and over time, you will determine your own best method.
Heres a few items below to help find those creative juices.
Further Resources & Curated Content
Forum post
Here is an interesting forum post on a D&D 5E Experience point Calculator
Calculator
Here is an interesting way to calculate XP based on D&D 5E Encounters
Podcast
An insightful way to determine XP levelling - A Yum / DM episode.
Video
The DungeonCraft video on how he levels up his PC’s
Free one-shots to get you started - 25+ adventures
Ebooks - loads of ebooks on Drive Thru RPG
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