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Optional Experience Rules: Roleplaying Improvement

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by: Belladonna

The intention of the system outlined below is to do away with the difficult and burdensome system of using 'experience points' to improve a character's abilities. The experience point system creates too many inconsistencies in character advancement, and causes great headaches for the storyteller as he attempts to find some method of logic to apply to the player's desire to improve her character.

The system detailed below begins with a comparison between Ability Ratings (such as Science or Medicine) and real-world equivalents, as shown in the following table.

Trait Score	Real-world Equivalent
1	Novice
2	Amateur
3	Bachelor's
4	Master's
5	Doctorate
6	Doctorate - Professor
7	Doctorate - Expert
8	Doctorate - Leading Authority
9	Doctorate - All-knowing
10	Doctorate - God

A Doctorate in Medicine requires a minimum of four years' dedicated study in Medical School. If you consider that the average Medical student devotes 40 hours per week for 40 weeks for 4 years, you can see that the Doctorate costs them 6,400 hours of time.

Conversely, according to the 'experience points' system, this would cost 23 XP. (3 to buy level one, 2 to buy level 2, 4 to buy level 3, 6 to buy level 4, and 8 to buy level 5=23, as shown in the experience chart below from WW)

WW XP Cost System
New Path	7 pts
New Discipline	10 pts
Attribute improvement	current x 4 pts
Ability improvement	current x 2 pts
Clan Discipline improvement	current x 5 pts
Non-clan Discipline improvement	current x 7 pts
Path improvement	current x 4 pts
Virtues improvement	current x 2 pts
Humanity improvement	current x 2 pts
Willpower improvement	current x 1 pts

If you then equate those 23 XP with the same 6,400 hours, you can begin to see how a real-time correlation can be gained.

From there you can apply an axiom that is often forgotten in role-playing: self-improvement requires practice and training. You have to spend time to improve yourself, and while that time may not necessarily need to be RPed, it should always be taken into consideration.

Rather than chasing around intangible experience points and trying to decide what the character can improve and when, you and the player decide what the character is actually learning/being taught. The points they need to get to the next level in an attribute or ability then determine how long the training or practice needs to be (in hours, just like university or flight training) - and then the player decides how much time per night or per week the character is devoting to this training/practice.

This is also a good way of envisioning a 'life' for the character within the 'downtime' of the Chronicle - since you can't possible RP every hour of every night of every week.

Maybe the character spends a few hours this night in a dusty old library reading up on the occult, where-as tomorrow she has a training session with her martial arts coach before she makes it to the Elysium.

This system requires a bit more thought than the 'grab XP's and slap 'em in any old place' system, but it has the benefit of creating a much deeper and more realistic character.

Because personal tutoring/training/practice is more beneficial than classroom learning among hundreds of students, this system of realistic improvement is based on the following precept.

1 pt of improvement cost is equal to:

280 hours of schooling, or

35 hours of personal tutoring/training.

Following that precept the rest simply becomes a matter of tallying hours based on the XP costs chart above.

Below I have provided charts with a variety of useful information for determining how long it will take for a character to improve a given Trait, including totals and averages. Delving into these charts will begin to reveal why it is that only the oldest and most experienced vampires have the really high Traits, and why it is that any Trait at a 5 is considered so good that the primary source-books don't even list the Trait ratings higher than that. A 5 in any Trait represents a considerable amount of devotion and toil, nothing to be taken lightly.

if you wish, you may also use the following modifiers based on certain Merits.

Merit	Time Modifier
Concentration	time / 1.1
Eidetic memory	time / 1.5
Precocious*	time / 2
*The modifier for Precocious is the actual WW modifier and SHOULD always be used when the Merit is present.

Basic Traits

Tutoring	1	2	3	4	5
Attribute	n/a	140	280	420	560
totals	n/a	140	420	840	1400
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	18	53	105	175
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	24	70	140	234
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	35	105	210	350
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	70	210	420	700
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	140	420	840	1400
average time in years	n/a	0.28	0.84	1.68	2.8

Tutoring	1	2	3	4	5
Ability	105	70	140	210	280
totals	105	175	315	525	805
total days @ 8hrs/day	14	22	40	66	101
total days @ 6hrs/day	18	30	53	88	135
total days @ 4hrs/day	27	44	79	132	202
total days @ 2hrs/day	53	88	158	263	403
total days @ 1hrs/day	105	175	315	525	805
average time in years	0.21	0.35	0.63	1.05	1.61

Tutoring	1	2	3	4	5
Path	245	140	280	420	560
totals	245	385	665	1085	1645
total days @ 8hrs/day	31	49	84	136	206
total days @ 6hrs/day	41	65	111	181	275
total days @ 4hrs/day	62	97	167	272	412
total days @ 2hrs/day	123	193	333	543	823
total days @ 1hrs/day	245	385	665	1085	1645
average time in years	0.49	0.77	1.33	2.17	3.29

Tutoring	1	2	3	4	5
Discipline: Clan	n/a	175	350	525	700
totals	n/a	175	525	1050	1750
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	22	66	132	219
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	30	88	175	292
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	44	132	263	438
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	88	263	525	875
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	175	525	1050	1750
average time in years	n/a	0.35	1.05	2.1	3.5

Tutoring	1	2	3	4	5
Discipline: New	350	245	490	735	980
totals	350	595	1085	1820	2800
total days @ 8hrs/day	44	75	136	228	350
total days @ 6hrs/day	59	100	181	304	467
total days @ 4hrs/day	88	149	272	455	700
total days @ 2hrs/day	175	298	543	910	1400
total days @ 1hrs/day	350	595	1085	1820	2800
average time in years	0.7	1.19	2.17	3.64	5.6

Tutoring	1	2	3	4	5
Virtue	n/a	70	140	210	280
totals	n/a	70	210	420	700
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	9	27	53	88
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	12	35	70	117
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	18	53	105	175
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	35	105	210	350
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	70	210	420	700
average time in years	n/a	0.14	0.42	0.84	1.4

Tutoring	1	2	3	4	5
Humanity	n/a	70	140	210	280
totals	n/a	70	210	420	700
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	9	27	53	88
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	12	35	70	117
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	18	53	105	175
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	35	105	210	350
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	70	210	420	700
average time in years	n/a	0.14	0.42	0.84	1.4

Tutoring	1	2	3	4	5
Willpower	n/a	35	70	105	140
totals	n/a	35	105	210	350
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	5	14	27	44
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	6	18	35	59
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	9	27	53	88
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	18	53	105	175
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	35	105	210	350
average time in years	n/a	0.07	0.21	0.42	0.7

Basic Traits

Classroom	1	2	3	4	5
Attribute	n/a	1120	2240	3360	4480
totals	n/a	1120	3360	6720	11200
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	140	420	840	1400
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	187	560	1120	1867
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	280	840	1680	2800
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	560	1680	3360	5600
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	1120	3360	6720	11200
average time in years	n/a	1.12	3.36	6.72	11.2

Classroom	1	2	3	4	5
Ability	840	560	1120	1680	2240
totals	840	1400	2520	4200	6440
total days @ 8hrs/day	105	175	315	525	805
total days @ 6hrs/day	140	234	420	700	1074
total days @ 4hrs/day	210	350	630	1050	1610
total days @ 2hrs/day	420	700	1260	2100	3220
total days @ 1hrs/day	840	1400	2520	4200	6440
average time in years	0.84	1.4	2.52	4.2	6.44
Path	1960	1120	2240	3360	4480
totals	1960	3080	5320	8680	13160
total days @ 8hrs/day	245	385	665	1085	1645
total days @ 6hrs/day	327	514	887	1447	2194
total days @ 4hrs/day	490	770	1330	2170	3290
total days @ 2hrs/day	980	1540	2660	4340	6580
total days @ 1hrs/day	1960	3080	5320	8680	13160
average time in years	1.96	3.08	5.32	8.68	13.16

Classroom	1	2	3	4	5
Discipline: Clan	n/a	1400	2800	4200	5600
totals	n/a	1400	4200	8400	14000
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	175	525	1050	1750
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	234	700	1400	2334
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	350	1050	2100	3500
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	700	2100	4200	7000
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	1400	4200	8400	14000
average time in years	n/a	1.4	4.2	8.4	14

Classroom	1	2	3	4	5
Discipline: New	2800	1960	3920	5880	7840
totals	2800	4760	8680	14560	22400
total days @ 8hrs/day	350	595	1085	1820	2800
total days @ 6hrs/day	467	794	1447	2427	3734
total days @ 4hrs/day	700	1190	2170	3640	5600
total days @ 2hrs/day	1400	2380	4340	7280	11200
total days @ 1hrs/day	2800	4760	8680	14560	22400
average time in years	2.8	4.76	8.68	14.56	22.4

Classroom	1	2	3	4	5
Virtue	n/a	560	1120	1680	2240
totals	n/a	560	1680	3360	5600
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	70	210	420	700
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	94	280	560	934
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	140	420	840	1400
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	280	840	1680	2800
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	560	1680	3360	5600
average time in years	n/a	0.56	1.68	3.36	5.6

Classroom	1	2	3	4	5
Humanity	n/a	560	1120	1680	2240
totals	n/a	560	1680	3360	5600
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	70	210	420	700
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	94	280	560	934
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	140	420	840	1400
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	280	840	1680	2800
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	560	1680	3360	5600
average time in years	n/a	0.56	1.68	3.36	5.6

Classroom	1	2	3	4	5
Willpower	n/a	280	560	840	1120
totals	n/a	280	840	1680	2800
total days @ 8hrs/day	n/a	35	105	210	350
total days @ 6hrs/day	n/a	47	140	280	467
total days @ 4hrs/day	n/a	70	210	420	700
total days @ 2hrs/day	n/a	140	420	840	1400
total days @ 1hrs/day	n/a	280	840	1680	2800
average time in years	n/a	0.28	0.84	1.68	2.8

Advanced Traits

Tutoring	6	7	8	9	10
Attribute	700	840	980	1120	1260
totals	2100	2940	3920	5040	6300
total days @ 8hrs/day	263	368	490	630	788
total days @ 6hrs/day	350	490	654	840	1050
total days @ 4hrs/day	525	735	980	1260	1575
total days @ 2hrs/day	1050	1470	1960	2520	3150
total days @ 1hrs/day	2100	2940	3920	5040	6300
average time in years	4.2	5.88	7.84	10.08	12.6

Tutoring	6	7	8	9	10
Ability	350	420	490	560	630
totals	1155	1575	2065	2625	3255
total days @ 8hrs/day	145	197	259	329	407
total days @ 6hrs/day	193	263	345	438	543
total days @ 4hrs/day	289	394	517	657	814
total days @ 2hrs/day	578	788	1033	1313	1628
total days @ 1hrs/day	1155	1575	2065	2625	3255
average time in years	2.31	3.15	4.13	5.25	6.51

Tutoring	6	7	8	9	10
Path	700	840	980	1120	1260
totals	2345	3185	4165	5285	6545
total days @ 8hrs/day	294	399	521	661	819
total days @ 6hrs/day	391	531	695	881	1091
total days @ 4hrs/day	587	797	1042	1322	1637
total days @ 2hrs/day	1173	1593	2083	2643	3273
total days @ 1hrs/day	2345	3185	4165	5285	6545
average time in years	4.69	6.37	8.33	10.57	13.09

Tutoring	6	7	8	9	10
Discipline: Clan	875	1050	1225	1400	1575
totals	2625	3675	4900	6300	7875
total days @ 8hrs/day	329	460	613	788	985
total days @ 6hrs/day	438	613	817	1050	1313
total days @ 4hrs/day	657	919	1225	1575	1969
total days @ 2hrs/day	1313	1838	2450	3150	3938
total days @ 1hrs/day	2625	3675	4900	6300	7875
average time in years	5.25	7.35	9.8	12.6	15.75

Tutoring	6	7	8	9	10
Discipline: New	1225	1470	1715	1960	2205
totals	4025	5495	7210	9170	11375
total days @ 8hrs/day	504	687	902	1147	1422
total days @ 6hrs/day	671	916	1202	1529	1896
total days @ 4hrs/day	1007	1374	1803	2293	2844
total days @ 2hrs/day	2013	2748	3605	4585	5688
total days @ 1hrs/day	4025	5495	7210	9170	11375
average time in years	8.05	10.99	14.42	18.34	22.75

Tutoring	6	7	8	9	10
Virtue	350	420	490	560	630
totals	1050	1470	1960	2520	3150
total days @ 8hrs/day	132	184	245	315	394
total days @ 6hrs/day	175	245	327	420	525
total days @ 4hrs/day	263	368	490	630	788
total days @ 2hrs/day	525	735	980	1260	1575
total days @ 1hrs/day	1050	1470	1960	2520	3150
average time in years	2.1	2.94	3.92	5.04	6.3

Tutoring	6	7	8	9	10
Humanity	350	420	490	560	630
totals	1050	1470	1960	2520	3150
total days @ 8hrs/day	132	184	245	315	394
total days @ 6hrs/day	175	245	327	420	525
total days @ 4hrs/day	263	368	490	630	788
total days @ 2hrs/day	525	735	980	1260	1575
total days @ 1hrs/day	1050	1470	1960	2520	3150
average time in years	2.1	2.94	3.92	5.04	6.3

Tutoring	6	7	8	9	10
Willpower	175	210	245	280	315
totals	525	735	980	1260	1575
total days @ 8hrs/day	66	92	123	158	197
total days @ 6hrs/day	88	123	164	210	263
total days @ 4hrs/day	132	184	245	315	394
total days @ 2hrs/day	263	368	490	630	788
total days @ 1hrs/day	525	735	980	1260	1575
average time in years	1.05	1.47	1.96	2.52	3.15

Advanced Traits

Classroom	6	7	8	9	10
Attribute	5600	6720	7840	8960	10080
totals	16800	23520	31360	40320	50400
total days @ 8hrs/day	2100	2940	3920	5040	6300
total days @ 6hrs/day	2800	3920	5227	6720	8400
total days @ 4hrs/day	4200	5880	7840	10080	12600
total days @ 2hrs/day	8400	11760	15680	20160	25200
total days @ 1hrs/day	16800	23520	31360	40320	50400
average time in years	16.8	23.52	31.36	40.32	50.4

Classroom	6	7	8	9	10
Ability	2800	3360	3920	4480	5040
totals	9240	12600	16520	21000	26040
total days @ 8hrs/day	1155	1575	2065	2625	3255
total days @ 6hrs/day	1540	2100	2754	3500	4340
total days @ 4hrs/day	2310	3150	4130	5250	6510
total days @ 2hrs/day	4620	6300	8260	10500	13020
total days @ 1hrs/day	9240	12600	16520	21000	26040
average time in years	9.24	12.6	16.52	21	26.04

Classroom	6	7	8	9	10
Path	5600	6720	7840	8960	10080
totals	18760	25480	33320	42280	52360
total days @ 8hrs/day	2345	3185	4165	5285	6545
total days @ 6hrs/day	3127	4247	5554	7047	8727
total days @ 4hrs/day	4690	6370	8330	10570	13090
total days @ 2hrs/day	9380	12740	16660	21140	26180
total days @ 1hrs/day	18760	25480	33320	42280	52360
average time in years	18.76	25.48	33.32	42.28	52.36

Classroom	6	7	8	9	10
Discipline: Clan	7000	8400	9800	11200	12600
totals	21000	29400	39200	50400	63000
total days @ 8hrs/day	2625	3675	4900	6300	7875
total days @ 6hrs/day	3500	4900	6534	8400	10500
total days @ 4hrs/day	5250	7350	9800	12600	15750
total days @ 2hrs/day	10500	14700	19600	25200	31500
total days @ 1hrs/day	21000	29400	39200	50400	63000
average time in years	21	29.4	39.2	50.4	63

Classroom	6	7	8	9	10
Discipline: New	9800	11760	13720	15680	17640
totals	32200	43960	57680	73360	91000
total days @ 8hrs/day	4025	5495	7210	9170	11375
total days @ 6hrs/day	5367	7327	9614	12227	15167
total days @ 4hrs/day	8050	10990	14420	18340	22750
total days @ 2hrs/day	16100	21980	28840	36680	45500
total days @ 1hrs/day	32200	43960	57680	73360	91000
average time in years	32.2	43.96	57.68	73.36	91

Classroom	6	7	8	9	10
Virtue	2800	3360	3920	4480	5040
totals	8400	11760	15680	20160	25200
total days @ 8hrs/day	1050	1470	1960	2520	3150
total days @ 6hrs/day	1400	1960	2614	3360	4200
total days @ 4hrs/day	2100	2940	3920	5040	6300
total days @ 2hrs/day	4200	5880	7840	10080	12600
total days @ 1hrs/day	8400	11760	15680	20160	25200
average time in years	8.4	11.76	15.68	20.16	25.2

Classroom	6	7	8	9	10
Humanity	2800	3360	3920	4480	5040
totals	8400	11760	15680	20160	25200
total days @ 8hrs/day	1050	1470	1960	2520	3150
total days @ 6hrs/day	1400	1960	2614	3360	4200
total days @ 4hrs/day	2100	2940	3920	5040	6300
total days @ 2hrs/day	4200	5880	7840	10080	12600
total days @ 1hrs/day	8400	11760	15680	20160	25200
average time in years	8.4	11.76	15.68	20.16	25.2

Classroom	6	7	8	9	10
Willpower	1400	1680	1960	2240	2520
totals	4200	5880	7840	10080	12600
total days @ 8hrs/day	525	735	980	1260	1575
total days @ 6hrs/day	700	980	1307	1680	2100
total days @ 4hrs/day	1050	1470	1960	2520	3150
total days @ 2hrs/day	2100	2940	3920	5040	6300
total days @ 1hrs/day	4200	5880	7840	10080	12600
average time in years	4.2	5.88	7.84	10.08	12.6

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