XP Points
XP Points
This option replaces the Character Advancement option in the core Risus rules. Instead of rolling for Clichés used in each session, instead, players are awarded a number of experience points (XP points) at the end of each session. For long-running Risus campaigns, 1 XP point should be sufficient to give to each player once each session is over, but for shorter campaigns, GMs may want to give out 2 (or possibly even 3) at a time.
Spending XP points
At the end of each session after XP points are given to the players, players may spend accumulated XP points on the following options:
Increase a Cliché's rating by 1 - To permanently increase a Clichés rating by 1 point, a player must spend XP points equal to the new rating of the Cliché (e.g., if they want to go from Combat Juggler (2) to Combat Juggler (3), they'd spend 3 XP points). Clichés can only be increased by 1 die at a time.
Adjust a Cliché's wording - Players can add, remove or change words in a Cliché for 2 XP points (e.g., a Student Sorcerer (3) can become an Acadamy Graduate Sorcerer (3), or a Veteran Sushi Chef (5) can become a World-famous Veteran Sushi Chef (5), or an Unseasoned Bounty Hunter (2) can become a regular Bounty Hunter (2), etc etc)
Add a new Cliché - Players can add a whole new Cliché to their character (at Cliché (1)) for 2 XP points (along with roleplay reasons why the character would pick up a new skill).
Add or increase the dice of Lucky Shots/Questing Dice/Sidekicks and Shield-Mates - 3 XP points are required to add Lucky Shots, Questing Dice, or Sidekicks and Shield-Mates. These are added as if the player spent a character creation die on the, (e.g., 3 Lucky Shots, 5 Questing Dice, or a 3-dice Sidekick/Shield-Mate). 3 XP points can also be used to increase the number of dice of any of these options by the same amount (again as if the player spent character creation dice on them).
Remove a Hook - 5 XP points will remove a character's Hook, along with roleplaying the reason that the Hook can be removed.
Something Cool - The player and the GM can select something cool for the character, with the XP point cost determined between them. Some examples of Something Cool: a deed to a castle, marrying the Martian princess, any type of special equipment (especially if it gives bonuses to any rolls), getting security clearance or legal authority that others don't have, a super fancy hat, etc etc. The XP cost of Something Cool will vary widely according to the thing the player wants along with the setting, genre and tone of the Risus campaign.
These options should cover anything a player would want to advance on their character (especially with the catch-all Something Cool option), but if a player wants something that's not covered on this list, they can work with their GM for the details and XP point cost of whatever they desire.