Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Let’s take a look at Experience & Training in AD&D, and find out why it is the best version of Dungeons & Dragons in this How to Play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons series. Buy the AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide Handbook: drivethrurpg.com/en/product/17004/dungeon-master-s-guide-1e?src=hottest_filtered&affiliate_id=50797
How to Play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ZMN0IxDq3TXm3Q0Cf692N-qw805XabQ
Thank you Creator Patrons Aaron Hardy & D. Robert Handy, Developer Patrons Chris Androu & Sam Ruiz, and all of the YouTube Members!
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#ADnD #DLSaga #DragonlanceSaga #OSR #TabletopRPG #DungeonMasterTips #GoldIsXP #RetroGaming #HowToPlayDnD
Transcript
In modern gaming, you kill a monster, you get the points, and you move on. But in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, killing the monster is only half the battle. If you can’t get the loot back to civilization, you haven't just lost the gold—you’ve lost the experience of the journey itself.
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today I am going to shine a light on Experience & Training in AD&D. I'd like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron — you can even pick up AD&D and Dragonlance media or get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games using my affiliate links. I'm referencing the Players Handbook, and the Dungeon Masters Guide for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below.
Discussion
In 1st Edition, Experience Points are the primary measure of a character’s progress. But unlike later editions where XP is a gift for simply showing up to the fight, in AD&D, it is something you earn through investment and survival. While you certainly gain XP for defeating monsters, the Dungeon Masters Guide is clear that the lion’s share of your advancement comes from the treasure you successfully recover.
Specifically, for every one gold piece of value you bring back to your home base, you gain one XP. This creates a high-stakes "Risk vs. Reward" loop. Is it worth staying in the dungeon for one more room when your bags are already full of silver? If you die on the way out, that treasure—and the XP attached to it—stays in the dirt with you. Advancement in AD&D requires you to be a survivor, not just a brawler.
Even magic items present a choice. You receive XP for finding and keeping a magic item, but the XP reward for selling that item is often much higher. You must constantly choose: do I keep this +1 sword to stay alive, or sell it to get the experience I need to level up?
But here is where the game gets deep: your DM is tracking more than just your gold; they are tracking how well you played your character role. In AD&D, each class has a specific professional purpose. A Fighter is expected to be the front-line shield, showing bravery and tactical leadership. A Magic-User is expected to use their spells with intelligence and foresight. A Thief should be providing utility, scouting, and high-stakes stealth. Even your alignment isn't just a label; it’s a track record of your behavior.
If you are a Fighter who hides in the back while the Cleric takes the hits, or a Thief who refuses to check for traps, you are failing your professional duties. This matters immensely because of the Training rules in the DMG. When you seek a mentor to level up, the DM assigns you a tutor rating from one to four. If you played your class and alignment perfectly, you receive a Rating 1, and training takes only a single week. However, if you were inconsistent, reckless, or ignored your role, you could receive a Rating 4, meaning training takes four weeks.
Since training costs 1,500 gold pieces per week, a bad performance can cost you an extra 4,500 gold. Playing your character isn't just flavor—it is a financial necessity for survival. Furthermore, if you earn enough XP to go up two levels while out in the field, you are capped at one point below the second level until you complete your training. This makes returning to town a race against time; any XP earned beyond that cap is simply lost.
This is even more critical in a setting like Dragonlance, where the DM tracks your alignment with a keen eye....
Let’s take a look at Experience & Training in AD&D, and find out why it is the best version of Dungeons & Dragons in this How to Play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons series. Buy the AD&D Dungeon Masters Guide Handbook: drivethrurpg.com/en/product/17004/dungeon-master-s-guide-1e?src=hottest_filtered&affiliate_id=50797
How to Play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ZMN0IxDq3TXm3Q0Cf692N-qw805XabQ
Thank you Creator Patrons Aaron Hardy & D. Robert Handy, Developer Patrons Chris Androu & Sam Ruiz, and all of the YouTube Members!
Like, Subscribe & Click The Bell
Patreon: patreon.com/AdamPC?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink
Merchandise: dlsaga.com/shop
Play TTRPGs: https://startplaying.games/referral/cmjfslgm6004fjx045w45tt8n
Join My TTRPGs: https://startplaying.games/gm/adampc
Membership: youtube.com/@DLSaga/join
Buy Dragonlance: dmsguild.com/en/browse?setting=45354-dragonlance&src=fid45354?affiliate_id=50797
Buy Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: drivethrurpg.com/en/browse?ruleSystem=44829-1e-ad-d&src=fid44829?affiliate_id=50797
Sign up for Audible today: amzn.to/4o4q9N7
#ADnD #DLSaga #DragonlanceSaga #OSR #TabletopRPG #DungeonMasterTips #GoldIsXP #RetroGaming #HowToPlayDnD
Transcript
In modern gaming, you kill a monster, you get the points, and you move on. But in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, killing the monster is only half the battle. If you can’t get the loot back to civilization, you haven't just lost the gold—you’ve lost the experience of the journey itself.
Intro
Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today I am going to shine a light on Experience & Training in AD&D. I'd like to take a moment and thank the DLSaga members and Patreon patrons, and invite you to consider becoming a member or patron — you can even pick up AD&D and Dragonlance media or get $10 by signing up to StartPlaying.Games using my affiliate links. I'm referencing the Players Handbook, and the Dungeon Masters Guide for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below.
Discussion
In 1st Edition, Experience Points are the primary measure of a character’s progress. But unlike later editions where XP is a gift for simply showing up to the fight, in AD&D, it is something you earn through investment and survival. While you certainly gain XP for defeating monsters, the Dungeon Masters Guide is clear that the lion’s share of your advancement comes from the treasure you successfully recover.
Specifically, for every one gold piece of value you bring back to your home base, you gain one XP. This creates a high-stakes "Risk vs. Reward" loop. Is it worth staying in the dungeon for one more room when your bags are already full of silver? If you die on the way out, that treasure—and the XP attached to it—stays in the dirt with you. Advancement in AD&D requires you to be a survivor, not just a brawler.
Even magic items present a choice. You receive XP for finding and keeping a magic item, but the XP reward for selling that item is often much higher. You must constantly choose: do I keep this +1 sword to stay alive, or sell it to get the experience I need to level up?
But here is where the game gets deep: your DM is tracking more than just your gold; they are tracking how well you played your character role. In AD&D, each class has a specific professional purpose. A Fighter is expected to be the front-line shield, showing bravery and tactical leadership. A Magic-User is expected to use their spells with intelligence and foresight. A Thief should be providing utility, scouting, and high-stakes stealth. Even your alignment isn't just a label; it’s a track record of your behavior.
If you are a Fighter who hides in the back while the Cleric takes the hits, or a Thief who refuses to check for traps, you are failing your professional duties. This matters immensely because of the Training rules in the DMG. When you seek a mentor to level up, the DM assigns you a tutor rating from one to four. If you played your class and alignment perfectly, you receive a Rating 1, and training takes only a single week. However, if you were inconsistent, reckless, or ignored your role, you could receive a Rating 4, meaning training takes four weeks.
Since training costs 1,500 gold pieces per week, a bad performance can cost you an extra 4,500 gold. Playing your character isn't just flavor—it is a financial necessity for survival. Furthermore, if you earn enough XP to go up two levels while out in the field, you are capped at one point below the second level until you complete your training. This makes returning to town a race against time; any XP earned beyond that cap is simply lost.
This is even more critical in a setting like Dragonlance, where the DM tracks your alignment with a keen eye....
