I just go into the modules.ini folder in the "native" folder, which is found in the "modules" folder.
Once in there, you can change your base XP earnt from *2 to whatever number you wish upto about *10. Given that I've been playing for ages, I'm not a big fan of all the hard slog of XP grinding, so I set it onto *5, which gives a good game with good xp progression IMHO.
Appart from that, I like to solo high level deserters, by telling my crew to hold at the spawn point. As was mentioned seiges with a crossbow are also good.
