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[bryant]

In this week’s WISH, Ginger asks:

What do you think the value of contributions to a game is? Do you think it’s fair for the GM to give out experience or character points for contributions? If so, what qualifies? What about the informal value of contributions? Do they balance or unbalance a game?

I think contributions can add a lot to a game (he said modestly). They’re not essential, but they can really help set tone and feel and they definitely make players feel more of a stake in the world. That’s not always a desired effect, but it’s an effect I happen to like, so I’m all for it. It takes a certain willingness for the GM to let go control, but that’s OK.

On the other hand, I’m not a big fan of giving out extra points for them. This is more a sign of my uncertainty about experience points as a whole, I suspect — but what exactly are you rewarding? Contributions don’t much reflect additional training/learning/experience gained by the PC in an in-game sense. If you give experience points “just for showing up,” then sure, contributions are another sort of “showing up.” But then you get into the problems of lack of balance. I just think it’s a bit of a risky wicket.

Comments

[merlinofchaos]

Most of the games I play I tend to award xp based upon showing up. I mean, if you take a year off in non-game-time and do heavy training, theoretically you should be better at what you trained up. But no game system really supports that, because it's not fun.

I award xp for things that make the game fun to play. Which is to say showing up and doing things, and doing OOC contributions. I limit how much I can award due to contributions so that the people who don't have the time or inclination to contribute don't fall too far behind, but I also only have so much sympathy--people who contribute are making the game better for everyone.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

My dearly departed friend Harley had a "XP for making the DM laugh" rule. Since he was the surly sort, making him laugh was rare indeed.

[agrimony.livejournal.com]

Bonus xp for being on time! :)

[gentlyepigrams]

I'm pretty much with merlinofchaos here, except that since I'm using Everway instead of ADRPG, the granularity is such that you can't really award points other than for showing up.

[bryant]

Hm. See, for me, I figure the GM is already "contributing" in a pretty big way -- so when I do contributions, as a player, I'm just redressing the balance. Which I don't feel I "deserve" points for.

That's just me; mileage varies, no one true way, etc.

[that-cad.livejournal.com]

This has nothing to do with anything, really, Byrant, but I'm drunk so who really cares? I was just reading through your resumue and it is damn impressive. I reads like a tome of magical lore or something, but even still, I'm impressed. If I ran a software company or something I'd definitely hire you into some kind of high-paying position.

Hrm. Just wanted to state that for the record. =)

[bryant]

Hell, you can flatter me on any post you like. Thanks!

Now, if only I had your social graces, I'd be dangerous.