D&D 5E If you aren't buying magic items, where will you spend your gold?

[KarinsDad]

I only use money as a plot device, if possible. I make it clear to the players that money will not buy them magic items or other combat perks. If they can come up with other reasons why their players need coin, then I'm happy to provide ways for them to earn that coin.

What a Scrooge!!!

 

[Lerysh]

Suppose a DnD campaign where no one knows the secrets of creating anything other than scrolls, potions, and masterwork items.

Then all the other "supply demand etc " goes out the window.

Sure, logically there would be a demand, but it cant be filled. (secondary market not withstanding)

In a campaign where the premise is that items are creatable, then I agree with you. But since 1st edition, that has not always been the case for all DMs.

This is a fair point, and one that is up to individual DMs to decide. My campaigns will always have at least some way to create magic items tho. I love Eberron too much for there not to be.

The starter adventure mentions a Spellforge where magic item creation happened. Perhaps there needs to be some Ley Lines intersections or font of power something for conditions to be right to make items. It can be difficult, but it shouldn't be impossible. And as pointed out in this thread, even things that are difficult to make and expensive to buy have a market.

 

[GlassJaw]

I have a more detailed system. Colored washers.

But you are still tracking actual coinage - we've removed that entirely. Our "coins" are a complete abstraction. I believe we will have different colors eventually but that's to track relative value. A silver coin is X times "better" than a copper coin for example.

It all comes down to what you want to accomplish at the table. We only meet every other week for a few hours so tracking treasure and loot down the coin is wasted time. Need to rent a room at the inn or buy a new dagger? Done. Hand-waved. Need a new suit of plate mail? That might require "spending" one of the party's coins.

 

[KarinsDad]

But you are still tracking actual coinage - we've removed that entirely. Our "coins" are a complete abstraction. I believe we will have different colors eventually but that's to track relative value. A silver coin is X times "better" than a copper coin for example.

Well, sort of. We hand wave away small stuff or the player just throws a single GP. Buying something for 500 GP requires 5 small silver coins, so where you would just throw out one "relative coin", we throw out 5 "absolute coins".

It all comes down to what you want to accomplish at the table. We only meet every other week for a few hours so tracking treasure and loot down the coin is wasted time. Need to rent a room at the inn or buy a new dagger? Done. Hand-waved. Need a new suit of plate mail? That might require "spending" one of the party's coins.

Yes, I understand the concept. We rarely get bogged down with this. The game is usually continuing on while one player throws some coins to me (and not the DM). We did one day spend about an hour with this, but it wasn't with the coins. It was with the players "shopping" in town (i.e. going through the PHB and selecting stuff that they wanted). That was the first time that the PCs were not basically broke, so I think it's mostly a one time deal (with the exception of specialized items like healing potions and such which will be a reoccurring deal).

 

[Blackwarder]

I'd say almost the reverse, that traditionally kings were heavily in debt to bankers and whoever could lend them money (like rich nobles or foreign kings).
Wars cost tremendous amounts of money that has to come from somewhere, and often fast.

Henry VIII was famously bankrupt, which probably made it more tempting to reform the Church to get their taxes, for instance. (Which also, incidentally goes for the contemporary Swedish king Gustav Vasa. A surprising amount of the reformations were at least partially induced by monetary concerns, which, come to think of it, isn't surprising at all.)


So lending the king money so he can wage his wars is a good way to spend it - not that many have that sort of ready cash.
And when he's heavily in debt you can always try to manoeuvre into his seat instead.



And then you build the enormous tomb filled with traps and guardians to protect your money and treasures.
You have to leave something for the next generation, after all.

I think that the trouble here is that we are thinking about two different time periods

Warder

 

[Henrix]

I think that the trouble here is that we are thinking about two different time periods

No

But my example may be from a different period than you're thinking about.

It is a recurring theme all over the world. Almost any major conflict has had regents (or such) borrowing money.

Pick a period and I'm faitly certain I'll find you an indebted sovereign.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

No

But my example may be from a different period than you're thinking about.

It is a recurring theme all over the world. Almost any major conflict has had regents (or such) borrowing money.

Pick a period and I'm faitly certain I'll find you an indebted sovereign.

Yeah, it really became a problem in England and led to magnates being more powerful in practice than the King due to superior wealth. Kings having poor spending habits was a big problem for the Crown and lead to a lot of issues.

 

[Celtavian]

I've figured out that finding a way to transport my gold is a real problem. I have around 900 gold. I tried to buy a magic bag, but there none about. Now I'm dragging a bag of 900 gold with me. They better come up with a good banking system in the world books if magic bags aren't readily available. 900 gold weighs as much as my gnome. I'm going to have to get converted into gems or something.

 

[BigVanVader]

That's why you buy an Ogre, lobotomize 'em so he won't steal, then make him carry all your luggage.

 

[KarinsDad]

I've figured out that finding a way to transport my gold is a real problem. I have around 900 gold. I tried to buy a magic bag, but there none about. Now I'm dragging a bag of 900 gold with me. They better come up with a good banking system in the world books if magic bags aren't readily available. 900 gold weighs as much as my gnome. I'm going to have to get converted into gems or something.

Some PCs used to dream about having this problem.