Mal Malenkirk
First Post
The current rules for starting wealth at level 2 & 3 are absurds. There is no way such characters would have amassed three magic items and enough gold for a 4th if they had played through these levels instead of starting there.
Even if you remove the +1 item in case of people who retire and start at the same level, it is still too much equipment as far as level 2 is concerned!
A group of 5 who adventure through level 1 would normally earn 4 items and 720 gp. A fair minded group would award more gold to the PC who did not get one of these 4 items so that he can buy one for himself; probably enough for a level 2 items (520gp). That leaves 200 gp to split for 5 ways : 40 GP.
So in theory, most characters would reach the level 2 with one item, 40 gp and their starting level 1 wealth (100 gp).
Therefore I propose that a level 2 character starts with:
Level 3 item (Level +1) and 140 gp.
More would be a strong encouragement to retire at level 2 and start again richer!
Following the same logic, during the level 2, most PC would acquire another items and about 72 gp (1040 gp for level 2 - the cost of a level 3 item for the itemless PC / 5).
So a level 3 PC should have
Level 4 item (level +1)
Level 3 item (Level +0)
and 212 gp
By level 4 the starting wealth guideline start making sense.
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This is without accounting for any penalty you may want to add for someone who retire at one level and start at the same.
For those I recommend reducing the value of the starting items by one level.
Even if you remove the +1 item in case of people who retire and start at the same level, it is still too much equipment as far as level 2 is concerned!
A group of 5 who adventure through level 1 would normally earn 4 items and 720 gp. A fair minded group would award more gold to the PC who did not get one of these 4 items so that he can buy one for himself; probably enough for a level 2 items (520gp). That leaves 200 gp to split for 5 ways : 40 GP.
So in theory, most characters would reach the level 2 with one item, 40 gp and their starting level 1 wealth (100 gp).
Therefore I propose that a level 2 character starts with:
Level 3 item (Level +1) and 140 gp.
More would be a strong encouragement to retire at level 2 and start again richer!
Following the same logic, during the level 2, most PC would acquire another items and about 72 gp (1040 gp for level 2 - the cost of a level 3 item for the itemless PC / 5).
So a level 3 PC should have
Level 4 item (level +1)
Level 3 item (Level +0)
and 212 gp
By level 4 the starting wealth guideline start making sense.
---
This is without accounting for any penalty you may want to add for someone who retire at one level and start at the same.
For those I recommend reducing the value of the starting items by one level.