So, I'm playing through Normal mode again on PoR, and came to the sand chapter. I've always wondered if not killing the laguz is worth trying, so I decided to try it. I saved before I started the chapter, and completed one by only killing Maurim and the other by killing all the laguz.

Not killing the laguz was pretty hard. Soren was the only person with a weapon, and he had a forged fire tome. Jill to Mordecai to get Stefan and the White Gem, and Volke got the Physic and Statue Frag. Ike and Boyd distracted all the east laguz. Mist (with Laguzguard), Nephie, Zihark, and Marcia distracted the top laguz long enough for Soren to kill the boss. Sothe grabbed the rest of the items, and I didn't have time to get the two coins.

No-Kill Laguz Run:

BEXP:
Clear: 100
Turns: 300 (Five Turns)
Laguz Units Alive: 760 (All of them)
All Laguz Alive: 300
Total: 1460 BEXP

Combat Exp:
Total: 120 EXP

Item Usage:
Vulneraries: 10 uses

Items Gained:
Guard, Silver Blade, Shine, Boots, Physic, Statue Frag, White Gem

Time Spent to Beat Level (Including Do-Overs):
Total: Four Hours

Killed Laguz Run:

BEXP:
Clear: 100
Turns: 240 (Seven Turns)
Total: 340 BEXP

Combat Exp:
Total: 1172 Exp

Item Usage:
Vulneraries: 3 Uses

Items Gained:
Guard, Silver Blade, Shine, Boots, Physic, Statue Frag, White Gem,
Coin, Coin, Vulnerary, Vulnerary

Time Spent to Beat Level (Including Do-Overs):
Total: One and a Half Hours

Was it worth it?

HELL NO. I spent two and a half more hours trying to beat the level without killing any laguz. I didn't get the two coins or two vulneraries, and used more vulneraries to keep myself alive.

I gained 1580 EXP total by not killing the laguz, and 1512 EXP total by killing them all. It was definitely not worth it, but it sure was fun to try. It may or may not be more beneficial in Hard Mode, but I don't think I'll try it.

Oh good, I've been stuck trying to get the BEXP on this level in HM forever; maybe I'll finally finish that playthrough now by just killing everything.

Have you run any calcs with the Vigilantes in chapter 11? Because that was a pain in the ass too.

Since I played through on Normal Mode, I went ahead and didn't kill the Vigilantes. There were only three in that level, so it wasn't too hard not to kill them. Only got 150 BEXP for not killing them, but I'm sure I wouldn't have got that mch by killing them. I haven't actually tried it on HM, but I'll definitely do that my next playthrough.

I just started another FE9HM playthrough yesterday.

Haven't done any calcs, but you even get more bexp in hm than you do as opposed to killing them normally in the normal mode. <__<;;

Though, it might not make a difference depending on who you give the exp to, obviously.

edit: them = vigilantes

HM I think also has more vigilantes...so more BEXP than Normal mode.