Awarding bonus experience

[Whiskeyjack]

The game I'm running with my kids will shortly have them completing their first mission for the Wolfen Empire, delivering two chests full of books and scrolls to Bletherad. They had several run ins with Zealotry agents, discovered the old home of a Changeling from the age of the Prestida Kings, rescued a dragon egg from some harpies and returned the egg to its mother. Now the're on the boat to Bletherad.
Progress experience wise has been somewhat slower than I'm accustomed to. I've been tossing around the idea of giving them a bonus for completing the quest (it took up about 6-8 sessions). Does anyone else give experience in this way that can give a bit of a guideline that you use for determining the amount?

[kiralon]

slow experience gain is ok as the game is best at level 1-7. Rather than giving xp how about rewarding them in other ways, like having the Blethorad protectors having heard of them and their run ins with the zealotry and giving them a permanent discount at the library of %20, or a as a reward for their efforts a treasure map to lost/sunken treasure.

[drewkitty ~..~]

When I GM a game (online) I gave out bonus exp. for showing up 1st, showing up at all, and in game RPing.

[Whiskeyjack]

slow experience gain is ok as the game is best at level 1-7. Rather than giving xp how about rewarding them in other ways, like having the Blethorad protectors having heard of them and their run ins with the zealotry and giving them a permanent discount at the library of %20, or a as a reward for their efforts a treasure map to lost/sunken treasure.

For an example of experience, last session exp ranged from 100-275. So they're going up quite slowly. I'm not sure if it's just how I dole out experience or just the game in general, but I remember going up faster when my buddies and I played regularly.
As for other rewards, they've discovered a crystal gateway and several crystal devices in a facility built into the Algor Mountains, earned the enmity of the Zealotry, earned the respect of the scholar they are travelling with which will get them some special treatment at Bletherad, earned the goodwill of an adult dragon who also gave them some magical rewards, and impressed the Faustus in charge of their mission. So they're pretty covered in that regard so far.
I've played other games that had exp amounts for finishing major quests and would like to try it out, but am looking for some people who have done it for a guideline.

[kiralon]

When I give out bonus xp its usually 250 - 500 xp for each side mission successfully done plus 500 xp per level for end of scene/adventure is successful..
Hmm that does seem low for a session, I average about 800-1200 per session but I do double the skill xp if used when needed and if successful. (50 rather than 25)
but in saying that some people think I don't give enough xp.

[Whiskeyjack]

This session was without combat, but I'm trying to add in a few like that regularly to give them a better feel for the role aspect. When we have combat they are generally getting around 5-800 depending on what the character does.

[Saitou Hajime]

I personaly am fan of quest/arc xp awards

[Whiskeyjack]

I personaly am fan of quest/arc xp awards

Do you have any guidelines that you follow for determining the amount?

[Library Ogre]

I'm a fan of bonus experience; I find the leveling in PF to be too slow, such that GMs tend to handwave it.

I'd almost be tempted to import 3.x's experience system, just for the simple mathematics of it.

However, I don't think bonuses of 1000+ XP, if you want a faster-leveling game, are out of line. Maybe 1000*average party level? It means that many completed adventures will result in a level, but you might ping in the middle of an adventure if you work hard and well.

[Veknironth]

Well, I'm sort of the opposite. I think it's better for people to level slowly. It allows the player to have experience commensurate with the character. I am, however, fine with material rewards. I think it's always a good idea for the PC's to have some tangible reward they can take with them.

-Vek
"Not a power gamer."

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm not looking to bump them a level from bonus experience alone. I was thinking in the 5-750 range for completing an average multi session quest. Maybe more if they get into a truly epic quest that is especially tough, like 1000-1500 when they are higher level.

[Saitou Hajime]

I personaly am fan of quest/arc xp awards

Do you have any guidelines that you follow for determining the amount?

Depends on the system or arc, six sessions would likely be 300 for 1 - 5 levels, another 50 per sessions until ten then 100 per session past ten.

[Saitou Hajime]

Well, I'm sort of the opposite. I think it's better for people to level slowly. It allows the player to have experience commensurate with the character. I am, however, fine with material rewards. I think it's always a good idea for the PC's to have some tangible reward they can take with them.

-Vek
"Not a power gamer."

Low levels can be a lot of failure which frustrates people. I find around five to be reasonable chance of using ones skills and the like.

[dreicunan]

I'd definitely give out xp for completing a quest. The xp system from palladium always gave progression that was too slow for my taste.