Chess Comes to the Game.

As often happens I'm struck by something that happens in the game. Something I feel deserves special recognition. More than a die roll. Mostly role playing genius. A clever solution to a problem, of these Mordek has several. Playing your character sheet in manner that I call "to the bone." Meaning even when inconvenient or uncomfortable the character does something completely in character, Most recently a spell, shield other, cast by the priest in that circumstance (that... was no bar fight) was pure role playing gold. There have been far more examples than I could possibly list here, my point is I have never been comfortable with assigning ad hoc XP. I feel it is to subjective, because this guy is 3rd level should he get more or less xp than this guy for performing a similar deed. I don't like it and to be honest I have a difficult time keeping track of all your heroic deeds and what they are worth.

One system of reward that I am familiar and like is in Chess. In chess notation, a remarkable move, an astounding move is rewarded with an exclamation point and these are worth a number of master's points. I am not sure the exact point value but just know that it is worth some points on a chess player's path to becoming a master.

I was thinking of incorporating a similar system into the game it won't be much but know that if the present level of game play continues it won't take long to acquire a great many exclamation points. I was thinking that 250 xp an exclamation point would be a good jumping off point.

Now before you all roll your eyes, I offer this for your consideration. Let us suppose that you can bank them. Keep the ! in reserve until you have need of them. Let me explain, Let's say you bank your ! and lets say that 10 such ! are worth a skill and 20 are worth a feat. So where is the need? you ask. For example, Let us suppose that Dunis Blueshoes is banking his ! to acquire a "borrow from your friends without them caring" feat.(purely hypothetical. The feat does not exist Mordek) Along the way he is involved in a man hunt and after a lengthy battle he falls 200 experience points shy of 6th level and all of the benefits it would confer. Dunis cries out to the xp wielding god and cashes in an !. Ta da, Dunis has meritoriously attained 6th level and is only 1 exclamation point lower than he was from his goal of the bfyfwtc feat.

Seemed like a good Idea to me but as always I'll leave the final decision up to you.