Ambiguous Name: Easy Exp

This name has two problems:

1. "Easy" suggests it's a Level Grinding trick. While it may be technically "easier" to inspect bookshelves or whatever instead of fighting, in practice it's almost always better to go find some Respawning Enemies.
2. The shorthand "Exp" is not used in any other related trope name. After forgetting it's name I thought it had been cut when I didn't find it by searching "experience." And considering it only has 15 wicks and no inbounds, doesn't look like others are finding it either.

I'd suggest renaming it to Non Combat Experience.

Been around since one year, and no inbounds and only 15 wicks. Definitively in need of a fix.

XP is used in trope names. Exp is not. I like Non Combat XP or Non Combat Experience.

edited 12th Mar '12 11:31:03 AM by shimaspawn

XP For Everything?

That could be good. Or Bathroom Break XP or something goofy like that.

Everything might be a little much maybe XP For Menial Tasks?

Actually Non Combat XP would work.

edited 12th Mar '12 11:59:17 AM by Raso

Non Combat XP is pretty good, but I wanted to suggest XP For Talking.

I definitely support a rename, but Non Combat XP doesn't work - it's way too broad. Being given XP for completing a long and complicated mission of diplomacy is not this trope. (well, I don't think it's this trope. The description could be clearer)

Something closer to Mundane XP or XP For Nothing, or one Raso's suggestions, would be better.

No, that sounds too much like the narrower trope of Roleplaying XP. This includes any non-combat action.

Mundane XP sounds like XP that you get off normal mooks as opposed to Bonus XP. XP For Nothing sounds like games where XP isn't based on your actions. You just get it at set times.

edited 12th Mar '12 12:50:08 PM by shimaspawn

I don't like Non Combat XP, because there are games where you can get XP for things that aren't combat, but also aren't easy; "solve this difficult puzzle and get XP" doesn't seem like it would fit, nor "negotiate peace treaty among waring factions and get XP". XP For Everything, XP For Anything?

edited 12th Mar '12 12:50:32 PM by lebrel

Why does it have to be easy? That seems arbitrarily narrow.

edited 12th Mar '12 12:53:13 PM by shimaspawn

From trope description: "Some games, however, hand you this precious resource on a platter, for doing the most mundane activities imaginable. Travel somewhere new? Have some exp! Talk to an NPC? Have some exp! Talk to someone in your party more than once? Have some exp! Read a book? Have some exp! Look at something interesting (or not)? Have some exp! Pop a pill? Have some exp! Gain some exp? Have some exp! Own the game at all? Have some exp!"

[edit] The examples are full of "get points for visiting new map", "get points for talking to team-mates", "get points for not playing for a while" sort of scenarios. I think that's a viable trope, I don't see the need to broaden it.

edited 12th Mar '12 12:55:27 PM by lebrel

"I don't like Non Combat XP, because there are games where you can get XP for things that aren't combat, but also aren't easy."

How does "non combat" imply "easy"?

Yes, those are all noncombat things, and even the current trope description doesn't make it sound easy. It makes it sound long and tedious, it just doesn't risk death. A lot of those things are not easy. The trope as written doesn't require easy. The only real reference to easy is the current title.

The trope is written to be about gaining XP from mundane activities. That's it's entire focus.

edited 12th Mar '12 12:59:13 PM by shimaspawn

If getting XP for things that don't involve combat is a trope, then it's a separate trope.

What's the similarity between getting XP for reading a book, and getting XP for finishing a really hard quest that just happens to not involve fighting?

Besides, we already have RPGs Equal Combat. Non Combat XP can be listed there as an aversion, we don't need a whole nother trope for it.

edited 12th Mar '12 1:00:41 PM by abk0100

Given that we are basically discussing alt-names already, should we ask for a rename crowner?

Maybe we should have a crowner for "should this be about XP for anything that isn't combat, or just for really easy ways to get XP?"

Let's do that first. I still disagree with the idea that all non-combat tasks in videogames are automatically "mundane".

So basically, this is Non-combat, Non Quest XP? Miscellaneous XP? Do we have Quest XP?

We'll need a Page Action one, but I don't know which options to put into it.

Isn't it something like this?

• Option 1: This trope should cover any XP gained for non-combat actions
• Option 2: This trope should only cover XP gained for mundane, irrelevant or "easy" actions
• Option 3: Has anyone proposed another definition?

We are asking for a different name, too. However, I've heard that a crowner like:

• Redefine
• Rename
  (Not mutually exclusive)

are problematic.

Let's tackle the rename once we figure out what the trope is.

I have based on what you're all saying it's Non-Quest, Non-Combat XP. Easy still has nothing to do with the page definition. Killing things you can take out in one hit with no risk is easy. It's not this trope.

edited 12th Mar '12 1:15:00 PM by shimaspawn

OK, fine, let's come up with a term that covers "talk to your teammates" or "look at the hints system" other than "easy". I agree that this shouldn't cover killing easy enemies, but I don't think this should cover every possible non-combat XP gain.

I think the idea is that "easy" things only count as long as they're also relatively mundane and non-combat related.

I also just noticed that RPGs Equal Combat lists only aversions, meaning we already have a list of examples of Non Combat XP.

Does anyone still think that's what this trope should be, or can we settle on the "XP gained by doing, boring, mundane, and effortless things" definition?