History Main / NonCombatEXP

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', John gains experience for overseeing the creation of the "paradox babies".

Constrast NoExperiencePointsForMedic.

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', all the Drive Forms acquire experience and level up in different ways, and only two of them level up for defeating any type of enemy.
* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' has the EXP Walker ability, giving you Exp just for walking around.

* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' gives experience the first time a significant landmark is visited.

* Most NipponIchi games give the healer classes EXP for healing others, and also, the Merchant class (appearing in ''Makai Kingdom'' and ''Phantom Brave'') can gain experience and level up just by buying things from her (in addition to killing things, of course).

* ''VideoGame/TricksterOnline'' gives the player experience from various activities, namely drilling and playing cards.

This trope is ''not'' about items which give you free experience or stats. For that, see RareCandy. It's also not for gaining experience for mundane tasks such as talking to random {{N|onPlayerCharacter}}PCs. For that, see MundaneEXP. This trope is for when EXP is gained for things such as training, completing sidequests, and advancing the plot, whether those things involve defeating monsters or not. It is a specific way to avert RPGsEqualCombat.

* In ''Webcomic/OrderOfTheStick'', the first time the Order levels up on-screen, Belkar, their [[HeroicComedicSociopath psychotic evil halfling ranger]], was a mere handful of xp shy from leveling up with everyone else. When killing rats proved to not grant xp and party kills were banned from him, he resorted to pulling out a [[AssPull sob story]] for roleplaying xp.
* In ''DarthsAndDroids'', Jim is actually surprised that XP can be gained from roleplaying, rather than just fighting.

* ''DCHeroes''. {{PC}}s can receive Hero Points for participating in the adventure, roleplaying well, saving innocent bystanders and subplots (activities unrelated to the main adventure).

[[AC:Webcomics]]

* ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' has Event Experience, which is received at the ends of dungeons and after triggering events while exploring dungeons. It's usually pretty meager in comparison with the experience you get from killing all the stuff in the dungeons, but has the advantage of being able to be divided as you wish among your characters, allowing you to stockpile it and level up weak characters who'd have a difficult time surviving combat.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' and its sequels all award XP for doing non-combat related things, which may bypass combat altogether, such as lockpicking, hacking and persuasion.

The variant regarding getting better at a particular skill by doing so repeatedly is TruthInTelevision. However, since this trope requires that some sort of level-and-experience based system be in place, NoRealLifeExamplesPlease (They're not possible in RealLife).

* In ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy XIII-2}}'', you can get CP (the game's form of EXP) from finding fragments throughout every area, which are obtained by completing sidequests or main missions.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has various rules for [=GMs=] to give out EXP for completing tasks outside combat, such as talking one's way out of a fight or for superb roleplaying.

This trope is ''not'' about items which give you free experience or stats. For that, see RareCandy. It's also not for gaining experience for mundane tasks such as talking to random {{N|onPlayerCharacter}}PCs. For that, see MundaneEXP (name to be decided via a separate YKTTW). This trope is for when EXP is gained for things such as training, completing sidequests, and advancing the plot, whether those things involve defeating monsters or not. It is a specific way to avert RPGsEqualCombat.

** In the first ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', exploring nooks and crannies of the various maps not only netted you more inventory, some additional lore and bonus scenes, but every so often also gave you "Exploration Bonuses" in EXP.

In many [=RPGs=], dating to the original ''DungeonsAndDragons'', the only mechanically supported way for a character to gain experience and grow stronger is to kill enemies. It's a simple fact of most role-playing games that some amount of LevelGrinding will be required. Gaining ExperiencePoints often requires several hours of [[RandomEncounters killing mooks]] or otherwise going on a spree of mass murder and terrorism in the streets.

This trope is ''not'' about items which give you free experience or stats. For that, see RareCandy. It's also not for gaining experience for mundane tasks such as talking to random [[NonPlayerCharacter NPCs]]. For that, see MundaneEXP (name to be decided via a separate YKTTW). This trope is for when EXP is gained for things such as training, completing sidequests, and advancing the plot, whether those things involve defeating monsters or not. It is a specific way to avert RPGsEqualCombat.

The variant regarding getting better at a particular skill by doing so repeatedly is TruthInTelevision. However, since this trope requires that some sort of level-and-experience based system be in place, NoRealLifeExamplesPlease (They're not possible in RealLife) .

!! Type A - EXP gained applies to a character's general level

** There is also Exploration XP, which is basically an entire second XP-and-level system, fueled entirely by [[MetalDetectorPuzzle tracking down Irian artifacts with an L-rod]] (an example of Type B Non-Combat EXP).

!! Type B - EXP applies only to a particular skill or attribute.

!! Mixed Type - Contains both Type A and Type B variants

* ''PerfectWorld'': When obtaining materials and crafting, you get a small dose of experience. Obtaining materials affects one's overall level (Type A), while crafting only affects one's crafting ability (Type B)

In many [=RPGs=], dating back to the original DungeonsAndDragons, the only mechanically-supported way for a character to gain experience and grow stronger is to kill enemies. It's a simple fact of most Role-Playing Games that some amount of LevelGrinding will be required. Gaining ExperiencePoints often requires several hours of [[RandomEncounters killing mooks]] or otherwise going on a spree of mass-murder and terrorism in the streets.

Some games, however, give you experience for activities completely unrelated to fighting. Craft a sword? Gain EXP! Run a mile? Gain EXP! Collect your three hundred rat tails and give them to the witch who needs them? Get EXP for that, too!

This can be justified; just as it doesn't make sense for reading a book to improve your combat parameters, it also doesn't make sense that killing a thousand {{Red Shirt}}s improves your ability to use a compass or [[ItemCrafting forging the]] InfinityPlusOneSword. Instead, you gain proficiency in item crafting by doing so repeatedly, and so on. This is more common in recent {{RPG}}s. This is also easier to justify in games where the characters can do more than just fight, and especially in games where experience points can be used to improve a character's noncombat capabilities.

This trope is NOT about items which give you free experience or stats. For that, see RareCandy. It's also not for gaining experience for mundane tasks such as talking to random [[NonPlayerCharacter NPCs]]. For that, see MundaneEXP (name to be decided via a separate YKTTW). This trope is for when EXP is gained for things such as training, completing sidequests, and advancing the plot, whether those things involve defeating monsters or not. It is a specific way to avert RPGsEqualCombat.

The variant regarding getting better at a particular skill by doing so repeatedly is TruthInTelevision. However, since this trope requires that some sort of level-and-experience based system be in place, NoRealLifeExamplesPlease (They're not possible in RealLife.)

** Red Alert 2: Sneaking an Allied Spy to the enemy Barracks or War Factory gives that unit instant veteran level without combat, but works only for the kind of units produced in said building. Taking one spy to said point is quite difficult though, and it only works once per building.
** Red Alert 3: Veteran Academies are tech buildings that, if captured, will grant most (if not all) units veteran levels equal to the amount of Academies owned by the player. It goes all the way up to Elite.

** ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' hands out XP for a variety of non-combat tasks. Players receive XP every time they successfully hack computers, complete missions, or win a "social battle" (i.e. convince someone to do something for you by choosing the right dialogue options). You also can get a huge amount of XP for going through an entire level without being seen.

* In VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy XIII-2}}, you can get CP (the game's form of EXP) from finding fragments throughout every area, which are obtained by completing sidequests or main missions.

** In both ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Tellius]] games, Bonus EXP is awarded for completing maps, doing so quickly, leaving certain units alive, and other tasks, which can be given to different units to build them up.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', since the Release Version 1.3 [[note]]To be specific, it started in pre-release version 12w22a. 1.3 has not yet been released, but it is assumed that this will be included in it.[[/note]] you can gain experience from mining certain elements, smelting some minerals, and other stuff as well.
* In addition to Quest EXP, ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' and its sequels include a few instances of xp beyond combat. Some conversations have bonus xp nestled in them for "roleplaying" options, there are times where ''avoiding'' the combat encounter will grant as much or more xp than fighting through it (if you're over-leveled for the fight). In Neverwinter Nights 2, a later expansion even gave xp for opening locks and disabling traps.
* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'' became a cult classic largely because of this trope. Whereas most CRPG at the time were heavily into hack'n'slash, Torment gave the best rewards (including experience) for dialog-based solutions to problems.
* ''VideoGame/RebelStar : Tactical Command'': Using the Medic and Psionics (non combat and more in mind screw) commands grant exp.
* In ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheLastHope, finishing mini quests gives you exp and the skill points to acquire skills. Also you get that by farming and or mining items at certain spots (the only way to finish some of said quests as well as getting certain crafting materials).
* VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}} awards the player EXP for simply exploring the world map, by discovering landmarks and hidden areas. It also awards EXP for successfully completing sidequests and completing key points (called "Chapters") in the game's story. Being that it's easily over 80 hours in length (up to 100, or more, including sidequests) [[AntiGrinding it's not hard to see why that is.]]

** The two skills for [[ItemCrafting crafting finished adventuring gear]] (Tailoring and Blacksmithing) give some of the easiest XP in the game, especially if you take part-time jobs or process your own raw materials.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has various rules for GM's to give out EXP for completing tasks outside of combat, such as talking one's way out of a fight or for superb roleplaying.
* ''TabletopGame/{{FATAL}}'' manages to use this trope to limit the poor, deformed, psychotic pc's that get created. Each class has a specific action that grants it EXP. No more needs to be stated.
* Iron Crown Enterprises' games (''{{TabletopGame/Rolemaster}}'', ''Space Master'', ''Cyberspace'', etc.) often gave experience points for non-combat actions, such as coming up with useful ideas, performing movement maneuvers (e.g. running), traveling (5 xp per kilometer), using spells or psionic powers, performing research and building or repairing items.

* Webcomic/{{Goblins}} features one conversation between two city guards in Brassmoon City about a time when a DM granted someone roleplaying xp for taking a dump. This granted him just enough xp to level up. Needless to say, things got [[{{Pun}} crappy]] real fast.

* {{Recettear}}: You get Merchant Exp by haggling in your shop. Vending Machines do not count.

* The videogame franchise ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' utilizes this mechanic in its games. Instead of a class or level system, the core mechanics are an attribute system and a skill system. Players gain more powerful at their skills by using them repeatedly. ''VideoGame/UltimaOnline', the MMORPG version, is probably the most popular game in the franchise.

* PerfectWorld: When obtaining materials and crafting you get a small dose of experience. Obtaining materials affects one's overall level (Type A), while crafting only affects one's crafting ability (Type B)

It's a simple fact of most Role-Playing Games that some amount of LevelGrinding will be required. Gaining ExperiencePoints often requires several hours of [[RandomEncounters killing mooks]] or otherwise going on a spree of mass-murder and terrorism in the streets. In many [=RPGs=], dating back to the original DungeonsAndDragons, the only mechanically-supported way for a character to gain experience and grow stronger is to kill enemies.