Do you change combat XP awards for equipment?

[howandwhy99]

Pretty simple: Do you change your XP awards based upon the equipment monsters have on hand?

If anyone has a published reference they wish to post, that would be nice. Any rule or interpretation. As well as personal preference.

I am interested in seeing how referees reward XP for combat in the game. How we balance our monsters for proper rating and awards.

Personally, I like to treat treasure as its own reward. Game resources. Useful, but seemingly ubiquitous like a freshwater stream and the fish within. But I do not discount how items, environments, and strategies affect potential outcomes and the rating of difficulties.

[Deleted]

You mean like a regular Hobgoblin as opposed to a Hobgoblin with a Vorpal Blade?

It's an interesting premise, but the general rule of thumb is that the magical item itself is considered a huge reward, worth perhaps more than additional xp would be.

[dicebro]

I award xp for hit die of monsters defeated and treasure traded in for GP. 
I give No xp for magic.
General “equipment” obtained from underworld monsters would not have any value on the surface. Therefore, would not count as treasure.
Hope this helps!

[howandwhy99]

Somehow the poll tanked. If a mod could fix this I would appreciate it.

For another perspective, consider fighting PC classed NPC who was found as a slave. Tied up. No items or armor of any kind. But uninjured (newly captured). Most DM I know would limit or remove the XP award. How people choose to handle these varying situations.

[rredmond]

Hey howandwhy99 I can delete the poll, but it looks like you have to start another thread to get a new poll.
Or hopefully another Mod can fix it.

[Finarvyn]

I think I can fix it. Seems to work for me.

[hamurai]

I might increase XP if the gear is not lootable afterwards. If it is, the gear is its own reward.

[tombowings]

Gear is its own reward, unless it is sold, then it become treasure (XP).

[Starbeard]

I've generally let XP awards stand even if they were won cheaply or without risk, like murdering a shackled NPC. I figure it's a bit of a Highlander thing, the XP just flows to the victor without prejudice.

It's rarely the case the players come across anything I've planned that would make that a problem of abuse, and if a situation comes up randomly then that's just part of the game, to recognize an opportunity and weigh the risk vs reward vs consequences.

Even back when I ran a weekly game, the players needed all the help they could get with XP. Like the time they randomly rolled a wilderness encounter and ended up nabbing most of a Class A treasure defended by about 6 bandits while the rest were off banditing, everyone celebrated and knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth. The next one might kill them all.