A question to the players

[Dagger75]

Okay I have seen this myself and another DM brought it up not to long ago.

How come at lower levels, PC's have no problems throwing out 5 platnum for drinks at the Village tavern. You hate keeping track of arrows, bolts, torches and what not

BUT.....

The moment you own castle you NEED to know how much the staff makes down to the cooper. Exactly how much food, beer, wine and what not in the kitchen. How many changes of bedding you have for your small keep, how many arrows are in the guard room, what the titles of the books are in the library.

This happened to me and I was just wondering.

 

[Arrgh! Mark!]

Because adventurers know in their hearts that money is transient; until they get the "big payoff." Thats when things start to get serious.

With the big payoff, the characters have something they care about. They want to know all about their big payoff - they want to make it even better.

Money gained from lairs and such is going to be spent quickly at best and pointlessly at worst. Adventurers know that life is short. They feel generous with money that in the end they are merely holding onto until something better comes along.

A castle on the other hand makes things important. They feel responsible for the people under their lead, they feel responsible for keeping their house clean. They need to know about it to do it.

I think a castle or stronghold is a great way for a 12th levelish character to begin their long and ardurous progression from two-bit adventurer to person of importance.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

Adventurers throw money around (unless they're skinflints; it happens, especially with dwarves). All part of the full-blooded spirit of adventure, what! If a few platinum here and there buy you a smile and a wink from that pretty barmaid, by the gods it's platinum well spent! Even if it adds up to thousands over the character's lifetime.

When they become landed lords, things are different. Because when you have a castle, deep down, you're not (or not just) an adventurer anymore. A feudal lord is equal parts country sherrif, middle manager, governor, bureaucrat, army lieutenant, accountant, judge, jury and executioner.

How much spare cash did Conan blow in his adventuring days? Enough to have bought himself a kingdom, if he'd wanted it! Yet, when he took the crown of Aquilonia, he wore it on a troubled brow not least because the finances of his realm drug upon him. When Conan the adventurer became King Conan, he stopped thinking of himself (what need had Conan for wealth?) and started thinking about his subjects, and they, now, they needed cash in the royal coffers. And tax breaks, which Conan apparently favored.

 

[Storyteller01]

Same reason teenager spent money and parents don't (generally anyway)...