The Hovel's XP Rules for Modern Dungeon Campaigns
Idraluna has an excellent point in the back of the Littlest Brown Book about how some of the XP rules were written with longer play sessions happening multiple times a week and across different tables! So the strict rules about only being allowed to level once per session and total XP being divided amongst all in the party can be harsh in modern campaigns that are maybe meeting once a week for 2-4 hours. So in my Dolmenwood game I have adopted the following adjustments to leveling.
Leveling Changes
- Each Party member receives the full total of XP per session.
- PCs may level multiple times until they hit Level 3.
- After hitting Level 3 they may only level once per session, ending 1 XP shy of the next level if they over-level.
- After Level 3 PCs must seek a trainer and spend 1d4 weeks and 250gp per level each week to get the benefits of that level.
- PCs may freely collect XP even if they have level ups waiting. EG. A Level 4 PC can collect XP to hit Level 6, 7, 8 , et al... even if they are still only Level 4. They will have to spend 1d4 weeks and the gp cost PER EACH level up in order to progress.
- Leveled Hirelings and other followers that get XP take a share from the Party Member that hired them.
Assumptions
My players are fine with alternating between characters when their main PCs are going to train so that doesn't bother them.
Adjustments
- If you don't like the time for training go ahead and remove it! A hefty GP cost will still slow the rate of advancement.
- If your players groan about hirelings getting a chunk of their XP just have hirelings receive a percentage of the overall XP chunk.
- If you want players to get to a certain Level quicker raise the multiple levels a session cap higher than 3.
This system is pretty flexible and doesn't cut off any part of the game like starting at a higher level would.