Rewards for plot points in Eberron

[richard]

I was wanting to reward players for background information that they provide that becomes relevant, but didn't want to give out bonus xp as that may unbalance the game at higher levels when I am planning encounters.  I was thinking of giving a bonus action point for character background information or defects that come up in play.  The bonus action point would carry over from game to game, but you would never be able to have more than one at a time.  Was wondering what people though of this idea.

[Luke Porter]

I don't know about that. Tracking individual xp is not that hard (we have been secretly been doing it all of the non Adventure Path games) Rarely does it become a huge level disparity, in fact the only game that has a party of multiple levels is the Karthis Campaign. I think it is a more tangable reward for providing a good background. There is also the nice feeling that your background is really playing a part in the campaign.

[richard]

I guess my big worry would be that one person in the party makes a level ahead of everyone else and that would push the average party level up a notch to where the NPC bad guy would have access to a spell that with bad saves would take out the party. Or turn an encounter into a cake-walk. But since everyone does have 3 action points per playing session, if people prefer bonus xp I can do that instead.

[Luke Porter]

One character, one level higher, typically won't do that. Especially if you spread it around. If every story revolves around, say, John's alchemist, then yeah. But if one story it's Ken, one story it's John, and the next it's Terri, then it will all work out.