Thoughts on Advancement Points

[Khamul]

How much Advancement Points do your Heroes tend to get until it's time for Fellowship Phase?
I am wondering cause we think some Characters are more involved in Encounters (cause they have the skills for it) thus making them earn more Advancement Points then the others and I dont want it to get to where two Heroes always get more AP then the rest so we have come up with a system which make the Heroes get 7 AP's each + or - if they did good/bad.

So my question is is 7 a good value or is it to high or to low? Your thoughts?

[Rocmistro]

The answer here of course is "all depends on your style of play".

I think it's a bit low. I think 8-9 should be the lowest that players should be getting in a full adventure phase, assuming they are all participating. Ideally, I would htink it's closer to 12 to 15 (at least 2 in each of the 6 categories, and a 3rd ap in the signature skill groups that a hero is really good at).

7 AP won't even get you a 2nd pip in a single common skill (unless it's favored) that seems pretty meager to me.

My personal feeling is that in a given Fellowship phase, every hero should have enough XP to:

Raise at least 1 weapon skill or Wisdom or Valor by 1 point.
AND enough AP to:
Raise common skills by a total of 3 pips*

* by that I mean (1 skill 2 > 3) or (3 skills 0>1) or (1 skill 1>2 and 1 skill 0>1)

[Khamul]

Thanks for your thoughts Rocmistro, they makes sense. Thanks!

[zedturtle]

Code: Select all

Name APs Gained	APs Available	XP Gained	XP Available	Hope Regained	Current Hope/Total Hope
Amroth	+12	15	+9	13	+1 +1	8/12
Aravir	+5	5	+5	6	+0 +0	13/14
Bjarndor	+10	20	+9	12	+1 +1	13/14
Brannock	+6	15	+9	13	+1 +1	14/15
Broyan	+11	28	+9	13	+1 +1	9/14
Mirabella	+8	11	+9	13	+0 +1	16/17
Norori	+6	13	+9	18	+0 +0	7/8

Is a breakdown from my last complete Adventure Phase, consisting of what would have been three regular length sessions.

[Khamul]

Our game session usually take 8-9 hours

[zedturtle]

Our game session usually take 8-9 hours

Sounds like a double session then. Mine usually take a month or so (PbP), for what would have been about four hours face to face.

It's worth noting that the requirements to earn APs do not reset from session to session. In other words, once your Encounter folks have their two to four pips then the Journey folks and the active players (Athletics/Stealth/Craft ) will catch up.

[Majestic]

The rules suggest that characters should get about 4 AP per session, with sessions being in the 2-3 hour range. When we started out we were a bit behind that ratio, but since we've started up the game again and I've put more of an emphasis on Traits, we've been racking them up at a decent pace.

If it were my game, I wouldn't get too concerned with one character earning more AP than another, especially if the one who was gaining more had balanced skills and the one who was lagging behind was more of a combat monster (who didn't bother to put any points into social/interactive skills). Not saying that's the case for you, Khamul. Just saying what I'd do if that was the case.

[Glorelendil]

I've experienced a huge range, from just a couple to I think 13 was my record. It's a factor of session length and content (i.e., what the opportunities are) but also the luck of the dice, especially past the first one in each category.

[Feanor]

About 10 AP in average per character if present at all sessions and some years have 2 adventures. Sessions are usually about 5 hours. 2 to 3 sessions per adventure, usually. About 4 to 6 exp per adventure.