There's a lot of different ways of handling experience points in gaming. Some GMs like to hand out a flat reward to everyone regardless of how much they participated. Some GMs like to provide special rewards for players who really get involved in the game. Some GMs refer to complicated charts based on what monsters were killed, what loot was gained, and which NPCs were impressed. Other GMs just toss out a number at the end of the night. In our EarthDawn game, we give out a standard reward for each night, which even goes to players who can't make it to the game, so their characters don't get left too far behind, and then an extra reward for roleplaying. Every player gets at least some roleplay experience to thank them for actually showing up and participating, but those who give their character a personality and interact with NPCs get more, as do those who really embody the ideas of their Discipline (character class) and those who do something especially legendary. Recently, however, word reached my ears of other GMs giving out a totally different style of experience points... experience points given for completely out of character behavior! In their game, anyone who is on-time receives bonus experience. Well. This opens entirely new doors! I have temporarily taken over as primary GM of the EarthDawn game, so I would like to suggest a few ways that the players can pay tribute to me, the wonderful gamemaster, in return for in-game bonuses for their characters. Bring the GM a cookie - 50 Legend Points Bring the GM a Woodchuck Cider - 50 Legend Points Bring the GM a Fox Barrel Cider - 100 Legend Points Give the GM's dog a belly rub - 50 Legend Points (only one reward per night regardless of number of belly rubs given) Compliment the GM's hair, outfit, or nail polish - 25 Legend Points Attend one of the GM's belly dance performances - 250 Legend Points. Purchase jewelry from the GM - 100 Legend Points per $10 spent Clean up all your trash before leaving the game - 200 Legend Points Clean up everyone else's trash - 1000 Legend Points Play the GM's favorite Discipline or Race - 500 Legend Points Per Game Play the GM's favorite but do it WRONG - Forfeit All Legend Points. Rocks Fall, You Die. Of course I would never really implement rules like this. For one thing, I would quickly get fat from all the cookies and cider. But most importantly, I generally feel that out of character behavior should not influence in character progress. Yes, we all want our players to actually be on time, but is it really worth extra experience points? I think getting stuck with the worst seat in the house is punishment enough for being 15 minutes late to the game. And the fact is, some people are punctual and some people are not. The promise of a few extra points is not going to override years of behavior and it will just cause resentment - doubly so if the player is late because of valid reasons, like work schedules or having a family obligation. Let's all have a little more respect for our players, and remember that gaming is above all an excuse for everyone to have fun. Do we really need to stress if someone is perpetually late or leaves their straw papers on the side table? No, no we do not. And for all I joked about "Rocks fall, everyone dies" at the start of my first session GMing without Chris, really my goal was for everyone to have fun. And you know what? We did.

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Copyright © 2012 By AJ Reardon E-mail AJ at: ErtheFae@aol.com Visit AJ at: www.erthefae.net