D&D 5E Is there too much gold/reward?

[ExploderWizard]

If treasure is not being used to award XP or as a primary motivator for adventure then one can kind of give out as much or as little as desired depending on the type of campaign.

Whatever earns XP drives the game. If wealth isn't a part of that then it isn't worth worrying about quite as much.

 

[Jester David]

If you're not careful and are used to the OMFG levels of gold 3e & 4e throws at you at low levels, then yes.
And hoards at mid-levels have a pretty ridiculous amount of gold granted. At that point, even if you're awarding treasure based on the book, you're giving away too much gold.

 

[jgsugden]

Adventurer's are the Pro Athletes of these worlds. They pull in Goldy Coinz y'll, but they have chances to spend it. Some might buy equipment, some land, some make donations, some pay for pleasure. I think the money system in 5E makes more sense than the prior editions, anyways.

 

[nswanson27]

If you're not careful and are used to the OMFG levels of gold 3e & 4e throws at you at low levels, then yes.
And hoards at mid-levels have a pretty ridiculous amount of gold granted. At that point, even if you're awarding treasure based on the book, you're giving away too much gold.

For me this just indicates that there isn't enough valid uses for gold in 5e. Any suggestions that I've heard to remedy this (that doesn't take this issue head-on) are anecdotal at best.

 

[delericho]

For me this just indicates that there isn't enough valid uses for gold in 5e.

Alternately, it highlights an absurdity of the 3e/4e model where the PCs risked life and limb to get treasure in order to buy magic items in order to risk life and limb to get treasure. It's madness - even someone desperate enough to go on one adventure should never go on another, since their haul would give them enough money to live the rest of their days in luxury.

 

[hejtmane]

For me this just indicates that there isn't enough valid uses for gold in 5e. Any suggestions that I've heard to remedy this (that doesn't take this issue head-on) are anecdotal at best.

Potions, room and board, horses replace dead horses new armor. Training; bribes. There are a ton of things you can do depending on the quest and party.

This last session one guy failed both his saving throws against the two Gorgons I through at them even though they where 8th level. The team was on the way to a city that thy heard about so the group decided to build a cart and take him there and we subed in an alternate character for the other person to play until they get him to the city and have to pay someone for greater restoration (Know we do not have a cleric with that spell level) anyways it is not going to be cheap

 

[nswanson27]

Potions, room and board, horses replace dead horses new armor. Training; bribes. There are a ton of things you can do depending on the quest and party.

This last session one guy failed both his saving throws against the two Gorgons I through at them even though they where 8th level. The team was on the way to a city that thy heard about so the group decided to build a cart and take him there and we subed in an alternate character for the other person to play until they get him to the city and have to pay someone for greater restoration (Know we do not have a cleric with that spell level) anyways it is not going to be cheap

Sorry, but my observation is that all these things doesn't add up to much compared to what you get. Also none of these things gets me excited about getting gold. There's nothing for me to "save for" that has any tangible effect on adventuring. So what if I own a whole city? When does that actually matter in gameplay?

 

[Kite474]

It depends really. From my experience, if you are not after the whole land and title's kabash their isn't really much reason for gold at all. So really their isn't really a point to hoarding gold outside of token bribes and favors.

If you are after empire building gold does become more important. But it only really works with the right kind of players

 

[Kite474]

Alternately, it highlights an absurdity of the 3e/4e model where the PCs risked life and limb to get treasure in order to buy magic items in order to risk life and limb to get treasure. It's madness - even someone desperate enough to go on one adventure should never go on another, since their haul would give them enough money to live the rest of their days in luxury.

True. But it was really great for the whole "V-RPG + JRPG" feel of just being a band of nobodies off to save the world. Anit nobody got time to worry about castles and keeps! Kefkas gonna blow our ass to kingdom come in a month!!

 

[Nickolaidas]

I *love* the treasure system in 5E. I love the fact that there is no 'obligatory' gold amount a PC must have at level X (as in Pathfinder), forcing me to either have an NPC reward the PCs with 1000 gold pieces for killing a pack of wolves, or have the wolves themselves somehow have access to this loot. Not to mention that PF didn't have a treasure reward random table of any kind and the rewards for individual monsters are vague at best, and moronic at worst.

In 5E, things are simpler. You kill a gnoll? Great, here's 5d6 copper coins in its pouch for your trouble. You want money? Great, go find a monster lair - that's the only place you'll find real money.

It made the treasure rewards in my 5E campaign much more realistic and enjoyable.