Experience Points

Buckler vs. Small Shield

Firing Into a Melee

Potions - Color and Identification

Required Equipment

The New Ranger (by Monte Cooke)

Magic Items

Critical Fumbles

Training

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An encounter gives away a standard number of experience points.  This may not always be broken up evenly.  Following every encounter each character will be awarded experience points but they may not be even.  If for instance the fighter single handily took down the Hill Giant he will get the bulk of the experience points.  It usually will work out to 50% being awarded evenly with the other 50% being awarded as the DM sees fit.  This will relate to the teamwork of the party and how much each character tried to participate.  If the wizard is out of spells he will bring out his crossbow.  The cleric can cast defensive party spells while waiting for the lines to clear, these are examples of good party teamwork.

Experience points will also be awarded, although not as generously, for good role-playing. If you can manage to keep your character in character you will be awarded with additional experience points.
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Lets first describe what a melee is.  A melee is when the target is engaged with an ally of the shooter.  The ally of the shooter must threaten, not swimming, unconscious, etc., the target in order to be classified as in melee.  The first penalty associated with firing into a melee is a -4 attack penalty just for being in melee.  This represents the fact that the shooter is trying hard not to hit his ally.  In addition to this, if an ally is providing cover, the target receives a +4 cover bonus to armor class.  This means if the ally is in a direct line between the shooter and the target they receive a +4 cover bonus to armor class and the shooter gets a -4 attack penalty.  The DM may rule that targets off line receive the same or a slightly less cover bonus to their armor class.  If the attack misses, but would have hit the target without the bonus of the cover bonus then the ally is hit instead.

An example, Shannan the shooter shoots at Tommy the target, with Adam the ally in the way.  Tommy is AC 12, Adam provides a cover bonus of +4 making Tommy AC 16.  Shannon notches an arrow and lets fly rolling a total of 19.  Shannon receives a -4 attack penalty for firing into a melee so her score becomes (19-4=15)  Tommy's AC is 16, so its a miss!  But wait, a 15 would have hit Tommy if not for the cover bonus being provided by Adam, therefore, the arrow has struck Adam right in the back please roll for damage and hope Adam holds no grudges!
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In the Dungeon Master's Guide it states "In addition to the standard methods of identification, PCs can sample each container they find to attempt to determine the nature of the liquid inside."  To make this a slight bit easier, instead of taste being the identifying sense, I have chosen color.  Whenever you discover say a Potion of Oilers Make Playoffs, the color will be Copper and Royal Blue.  A Potion of Avs Win the Cup will be Burgundy and Silver.  It is up to the PCs to keep track of the potion colors.
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The following is a list of required equipment, their prices and weights.  The equipment in blue is highly recommended as penalties occur if you do not posses them for certain tasks.

It has come to the attention of the D&D:3e community that the ranger class as presented in the Player's Handbook is broken.  There seems to be no valid reason to play a ranger past first level as that is where you get all the bonuses.
(Nice skill points, ambidexterity, two weapon fighting, track, and favored enemy)  So Monte Cook, one of the designers of the game has come up with an alternative.  This new ranger class has the ability to be played beyond first level.  You can access the new ranger class by clicking here.
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As described in the Dungeon Master's Guide, magic items can come in three varieties.  They can appear mundane, distinctive or they may vary in appearance.  The default method is that magic items appear in a variety of ways from the exquisite to the truly unremarkable.  The only true way to determine if a magic item is present is by casting a detect magic spell.  Some truly exotic looking items may be just that - truly exotic.  The sword may be encrusted with gems and have a blade sharp enough to cut the legs off a gnat but it may only be worth extra gold for the gems.  On the flip side, a small broken stick may look like garbage or a dog's chew toy, but it may actually be a wand of fireballs (20th level caster).  Just remember to check out all items found in your adventures.
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I will use a system of critical fumbles quite similar to the critical hits procedure.  If at any time you roll a natural "1" on the attack roll, you immediately roll again.  If the second roll also misses the target you have suffered a critical fumble.  I will be using the charts for such from the Dragon Lords of Melnibone campaign setting.  Click here to see a more concise look at the Critical Fumble charts.
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Training is detailed in the Dungeon Master's Guide starting on page 41.  It gives examples on how training takes one week per skill rank and two weeks for very feat learned.  It goes on to give examples on how class abilities also take time to learn.  These are way too restrictive.  Most characters gain 2 skill points per level, a rogue gains 8 skill points and usually a class ability. So most characters are training for 2 weeks, but the rogue is gone for about 10!  See ya Falin - we got adventuring to do.  So training will take place but by a different set of rules.  They will be as follows:

Upon achieving a level all characters will gain the following immediately.
Base attack bonuses, saving throw upgrades, spells per day, divine spell selection, upgrade in all class features regarding level (paladin's lay on hands), any upgrade of a class feature (more sneak attack damage, uncanny dodge), hit points.

Training will haveto be done for skill points, feats and new arcane spells.  It will occur using the following chart system.
Xd4 days of training - where X is the level being attained.
Therefore, upon attaining 8th level, Tordek the fighter, gets the following: hit points, base attack bonus, save increases, and an ability increase.  After training for 8d4 days he gets his skill points and a fighter feat.

Be aware that player characters must train before attaining another level.  This means that after attaining level 2, you must train before you get any benefits from level 3. (including hit points, base attack bonus, etc.)  Training can also be split up into any number of days.  If you roll 15 days of training, it can be split into any number of ways.  As long as all 15 days are spent doing nothing but training, no item creation, shopping, etc.