XP penalty for using summons

[Legacy_Einzbern]

               Is it possible to remove this? Seems kinda lame, whereas it makes a lot more sense when you're using an actual henchman.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Elhanan]

               FYI - It is also a XP bonus at some lvls, I believe; was when I started in the OC and outdistanced my pet badger. And when I saw his little buffed self fell a dragon (ie; got the killing attack), I knew it was worth it!
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_WhiZard]

               

Elhanan wrote...

FYI - It is also a XP bonus at some lvls, I believe; was when I started in the OC and outdistanced my pet badger. And when I saw his little buffed self fell a dragon (ie; got the killing attack), I knew it was worth it!

That is not the way it works.  XP "bonuses" in the OC are usually attributed to the ECL scaling effect as sometimes overcompensating for the level gained. Try testing outside the OC where there is no ECL and where the data is more measurable.  What you have done is caused the party size to decrease from being too far away from you animal companion.  The XP is then calculated as a party of 1, or as if you by yourself killed the creature.  Party-size penalty never comes as a bonus.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Elhanan]

               

WhiZard wrote...

Elhanan wrote...

FYI - It is also a XP bonus at some lvls, I believe; was when I started in the OC and outdistanced my pet badger. And when I saw his little buffed self fell a dragon (ie; got the killing attack), I knew it was worth it!

That is not the way it works.  XP "bonuses" in the OC are usually attributed to the ECL scaling effect as sometimes overcompensating for the level gained. Try testing outside the OC where there is no ECL and where the data is more measurable.  What you have done is caused the party size to decrease from being too far away from you animal companion.  The XP is then calculated as a party of 1, or as if you by yourself killed the creature.  Party-size penalty never comes as a bonus.

Will leave all that for the Techies to discuss. But I was able to get 19th; almost 20th from the OC this way with a Dwarven Rgr/ Druid at even lvls, and one mean little badger until the final few areas. Sadly, they were not up to tackling Balor and their ilk,
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_WhiZard]

               

Elhanan wrote...

But I was able to get 19th; almost 20th from the OC this way with a Dwarven Rgr/ Druid at even lvls, and one mean little badger until the final few areas. Sadly, they were not up to tackling Balor and their ilk,

Leveling that way will extend the the bonuses of ECL for much longer (all the way to character level 13) than is typical in a pure class leveling.  The badger companion is the irrelevant factor.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               I am pretty sure WhiZard is right regarding the party size penalty. If one is clever in the use of associates, it is possible to get more XP from an encounter by using them, but that extra XP comes from changing the encounter itself. For example, if one walks around with one or more associates until an encounter spawns, then either unsummons the associates or moves them so far away that they aren't counted as part of the party for XP calculations, then there can be a net gain in XP from having fought the extra spawns on your own. Basically it's a bait-and-switch: Present a large party for purposes of letting the game decide the number (and possibly difficultly) of opponents to spawn and then shrink the party back down when the game decides how much XP to award for them.

But, since it can be difficult to do that for every spawned encounter and since the OC has so many fights that don't scale with party size (particularly bosses), having more associates will typically result in lower overall XP.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               Regarding the OP's question: I don't know of an easy way to change the party size XP penalty just for summons. It should be possible by changing the OnDeath event scripts for each creature. Though many creatures will use the default script, many (particularly bosses) won't, so a fair bit of work could be involved.

It might be easier to figure what percent of XP you are losing overall with the summons in the party and then adjust the XP slider for the module upwards a little to compensate...
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Einzbern]

               I'm not opposed to removing it for henchmen as well since I don't use one, if that would make it any easier.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Einzbern, 22 juillet 2012 - 03:55 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_MrZork]

               Remove what? The party size XP penalty, entirely? I don't know the way offhand, but you might get an answer in the scripting or toolset forum. Seems like it should be doable, since several PWs have modified the standard system (and I think the module RDG9f has, too).
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Mystery X]

               Neverwinter Vault has XP-related scripts, if you search in the Script section.  Scarface's XP/GP System gets good reviews, and there are others.  (I have used none, just pointing out that some are there to try before you go trying to re-invent the wheel.)