Non-Combat XP

The Experience Points gained for besting an NPC depend on how the party overcame them because XP comes from overcoming a specific challenge. If the PCs defeat the NPC in a non-combat setting of the NPC's specialty, the party gets XP based on the NPC's non-combat level. If they just beat the NPC up, the XP would be based on the NPC's creature level. Quite often, that means 0 XP and failure at the PCs' objective; for instance, during a rock band audition, if the PCs murder the other musicians, not only would they be disqualified, but they would likely be charged with a crime.