[2e] : The problem with individual XP awards

Right now, I'm thinking of simply doubling the monster XP award for all fighters.
This seems fair since the treasure XP is doubled for all thieves in the campaign (tripled according to BtB).

XP is awarded on a 1 GP per 1 XP basis, so, at present, this accounts for 50%+ of the XP per session, much more than that which is awarded for monster XP.

This still doesn't solve the advancement discrepancy though, though that has always been part of AD&D: thieves have always advanced the fastest, out of all classes.

Thieves should advance faster, but when their experience track is lower AND they are earning in some cases 200% of the lowest xp recipient, it is moving in two directions as once. A much faster gain and a much lower threshold to get there. Here is part of the problem with 2e xp rewards. A thief can use their abilities as often as desired, thereby ringing in 100xp all day long. A low level Cleric or M-U has 1 maybe 3 spells per day, thereby severely limiting their ability to gain xp. Making matters worse for those classes, is that they need much more xp to gain levels. If you intend on using the 2e system AND individual awards, I'd cut down the thief benefits to 1/4 or even 1/8 of what they are. Their option to use their abilities at will will make up for the loss. I dont think awarding more experience bonuses is the right answer, it just seems like very unbalanced awards for the risks.
In my games I use the 1e system of shared experience with some tweaks. I like like the idea of shared xp as it is representative of the synergistic nature of a party. For example, a fighter is aided by the MU in combat, the Cleric in healing and the Thief in scouting. Abstracting that interaction in shared xp makes sense. Alternately, you can use the same system you have right now, but instead of awarding xp individually, total everything and split it evenly. Party adventuring is a group effort and should really be recognized that way to my mind. As I wrote, at this pace I'll make 7th pretty soon, and then be able to take advantage of the thief perks gaining xp, but that just doesnt seem fair to my mind.
The other thing I noticed is that the numbers are off. 11,200+6737+6737+7496+7497+7496= 47162, not 41918. So let's take the 47,162 and divide that by 6 we get 7860 each. For the fighters there's no real difference, but it is a significant boost to the spell casters. Again, to my mind an adventuring party is no one man on an island thing, we all need to contribute for our mutual success,and experience awards should reflect that.
Just my 2 cents.

I like my hammer! It gives me the means to brake stuff, without hurting by knuckles.

Basically, we will put this to a group vote, just like any other rule is open to a group vote.

Gunth, you're right: there IS a problem with this rule, and, many others have noted this.
I tried my best to fix things, by altering the numbers, but the results have been less than perfect: imbalanced.

One ray of hope is that things are going to balance themselves out over time, as the party increases in levels.
This is especially true for spellcasters, and, perhaps, to a lesser extent, for fighters.

Myself, I'm hesitant to completely drop this rule, as, over the course of the campaign, it will equate to a few extra levels for everyone, something that is badly needed once one gets to The Temple itself.
If we had only played BtB 1e, all of you would be at the top end of 2nd level by now, barely fit to meet the challenges of The Temple.

Anyway, again, as with any rule: the final decision will be via group vote.
I think that allowing the players to have a say in exactly what rules are used, and, how they are used, increases the fun factor, for everyone, overall.

Seeya on Friday!
John

Not sure. I am going to be on Skype at 7 pm EST, just in case.

Anyway, yes, the Official Time is now 9 pm EST...!

Pres

Now to encourage role playing, I think we should stick to individual awards for good ideas, leadership etc. These things also foster good roleplaying and I'm fine if a bunch of people contribute and earn these 50-100xp awards on their own .

True, especially the thief.

2 XP per GP, really?

So the thief gets 1000 gp.
That's worth 3000 XP, while everyone else gets 1000 XP.

That's kinda fucked up.

That said, here is one of the very few areas where 2e is a dysfunctional game.

Even though I design Aerth with 1e, I would be strongly inclined to run it with 2e.

The 2e core, overall, is excellent.

Prespos

Ps.
Working with gunth, we came to the solution of applying all 2e individual XP awards, but, totalling them, and, dividing things equally.
Equal progression, overall, is part of the spirit && intent of AD&D.

fp: thanks for playing/DMing 2e. While I'm "the 1e guy", it's good to have 2e people around.
Overall, 2e and 1e are the same game: what is written in 2e is ADVANCED DUNGEONS && DRAGONS, and, at the table, a better version, in the sense of engineering/game design.

However, i do think that 1e, in it's totality, is superior when it comes to detailing a fantasy world.