The golden rule: He who takes the goal, gains the level

In Classic D&D, PCs typically get more XP from treasure than from defeating monsters. This actually makes a lot of sense. In the de facto D&D campaign, PCs didn't adventure for the chance to be killed by monsters. They adventured & risked being killed by monsters & traps in order to collect wealth. It was the promise of riches that lured adventurers into the dungeons beneath castles Blackmoor & Greyhawk.

So, giving XP based on treasure is nothing more than a “story award”. It just happens that the story was: “Go into the dungeon, brave the monsters & traps, & bring out the treasure.”

I didn't just say, “Kill them & take their stuff”, for a reason. First, since the XP from treasure is so much more than the XP from killing monsters, PCs are encouraged to find ways to take the treasure without a fight—or without an even a less direct “defeat” of the monsters—if possible.

Also, “taking their stuff” can be considerably more challenging than just “kill them”. Where is their stuff? Might there be more monsters between you & it? Might there be traps? Will a wandering monster come upon us while we're looking for it? Will it even be enough to be worth it?

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According to Dave Arneson's The First Fantasy Campaign, Dave didn't give XP for merely finding treasure. You had to spend it before you got the XP! You could throw a party or donate to your church or hoard it. The hoarder, however, lived in fear of his hoard being stolen & thus losing that XP.

last updated 2 years ago #