D&D 5E Starting Equipment/Gold Question

Tigit

Explorer
I have a question about starting Gold and Equipment. I you take the option of rolling your gold instead of the starting Class Equipment does that mean you lose the starting equipment from the background or is that separate?
 

log in or register to remove this ad


Hriston

Dungeon Master of Middle-earth
Under "Backgrounds" on page 60 of the SRD 5.1:
Equipment
Each background provides a package of starting​
equipment. If you use the optional rule to spend coin​
on gear, you do not receive the starting equipment​
from your background.​
 

Tigit

Explorer
Under "Backgrounds" on page 60 of the SRD 5.1:
Equipment
Each background provides a package of starting​
equipment. If you use the optional rule to spend coin​
on gear, you do not receive the starting equipment​
from your background.​
Okay. Was just unsure because the back ground gives items with no real value such as poorly wrought maps from your homeland. Thank you.
 

Hriston

Dungeon Master of Middle-earth
Okay. Was just unsure because the back ground gives items with no real value such as poorly wrought maps from your homeland. Thank you.
It isn't necessarily a replacement because you can get one anyway, but similar items can be found on the Trinkets table.
 

DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin
I will add that for many classes, taking the starting equipment and background packages is "worth more" than if you roll and try to buy all the same things--often you just can't.

If you find this is an issue, simply allow maximum starting gold instead of rolling.
 

Tigit

Explorer
I will add that for many classes, taking the starting equipment and background packages is "worth more" than if you roll and try to buy all the same things--often you just can't.

If you find this is an issue, simply allow maximum starting gold instead of rolling.
In my case it was mainly the character needed a heavy crossbow instead of the longbow that was given and he had a choice of taking scalemail but studded leather made better sense. In terms of gold, the longbow and the crossbow both cost 50 gp and the studded leather costs 5 gp less than the scalemail. At first level 1 extra point of damage or 1 extra point of ac can make a big difference.
 
Last edited:


DND_Reborn

The High Aldwin
In my case it was mainly the character needed a heavy crossbow instead of the longbow that was given and he had a choice of taking scalemail but studded leather made better sense. In terms of gold, the longbow and the crossbow both cost 50 gp and the studded leather costs 5 gp less than the scalemail. At first level 1 extra point of damage or 1 extra point of ac can make a big difference.
As others have mentioned, just swapping out items like that is simple enough IME.

But I am more curious, why was a heavy crossbow "needed"? Why did studded leather "make more sense" than scale mail?

(FYI, "studded leather" was never even a real armor... Ringed leather was and would be better if you want "realism" in the game...).
 

Tigit

Explorer
As others have mentioned, just swapping out items like that is simple enough IME.

But I am more curious, why was a heavy crossbow "needed"? Why did studded leather "make more sense" than scale mail?

(FYI, "studded leather" was never even a real armor... Ringed leather was and would be better if you want "realism" in the game...).
Playing a Dwarf Ranger and the Heavy Crossbow just seemed to fit better with the character. As far as the Studded leather, No dex cap and no stealth disadvantage. The other option was leather armor which is 1 points less than studded.
 

Remove ads

Top