backExperientia
Getting it
There are two ways to get Experience (XP). The first is in session and the second is during downtime.
Every time a player attends a session attends his character will get 1 XP. This is automatic and requires no further action by the player. Also, at the end of every session the players will be consulted on who deserves a "above and beyond" role-playing award. We're very interested in hearing the players tell the group about specific instances of good roleplaying they witnessed from other players. The player who group consensus or ST fiat dictates deserves the above and beyond award will get another 1 XP for that session.
During every long term downtime we will ask the players to blue book their character's actions during downtime. These write ups should susinctly detail what the character is doing to maintain and advance their backgrounds, personal contacts, and vampiric status. We are looking for somewhere between one and two pages, longer for longer downtimes. Based on the quality (not quantity!) of the blue booking we will award between .75 XP and 1 XP per year to the character. Getting 1 XP per year is pretty exceptional, you should not plan on it. A good blue booking will describe actions that are in character as well as actions that intellegently advance the character's goals.
Spending it
In general we interpret "cost = FOO x current level" as meaning that the cost is equal to the charcter's pre-experience expenditure rating times some multiplier. So if the Catapult Skill costs 12 x current level to increase that means increasing Catapult Skill from 2 to 3 costs 2 x 12 or 24 XP. This may not actually be what White Wolf means, but it certainly is what the rules say.
Characters can buy new Abilities and Attributes at any time. Just pay the appropriate amount of experience. You can't increase any Ability or Attribute more than once per story. You can increase these statistics as much as you want during downtime.
Characters can buy Disciplines, Rituals, and Backgrounds only during downtime. Just pay the appropriate amount of experience for Disciplnes. Backgrounds cost 3 XP per dot and Rituals cost 1 XP per level. You can't increase any Discipline or Background more than once per downtime. You can't spend more than half the total XP you gain on Disciplines and Rituals combined. Rituals that are invented cost the same as rituals that are learned, but you need to have a rating of 5 in the path associated with the ritual to invent it.
Any XP use must be e-mailed to both the STs. If you don't do so you haven't spent the XP.