d20 Modern Wealth vs D&D GP

[Acquana]

This here is a question ... I'm the DM of Route 66 and Savannah Knights, and I've decided for my newest campaign to try out wealth stats.

So ... I managed to find a conversion for Star Wars credits into wealth DC, but not for D&D's gp. Is there any way? I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out some way to convert gp to DC ... but nothing. Anyone got any ideas? How hard can it really be to get a scroll in a modern magic setting?

 

[SteelDraco]

There's a chart of cash (modern US dollars) equivalencies in the d20 Modern core book somewhere. It's not with the main Wealth system; I think it's in the DMing section. It's a starting point, anyway. Or you could look at some of the items that are in both books, and see if you can figure out a rough formula from that.

I'd be a bit leery of trying out the Wealth system in a campaign that allows for the purchase of magic items. In my experience, the system is too generous with what you can get a hold of by level. Either that, or raise the given magic item Wealth DCs some, based on how much magic you want people to have. I played in a d20 Modern game where half the group had the equivalent of +4 armor and weapons at 6th level or so. It wasn't good.

 

[VirtualWizard]

As a suggestion, convert all the D&D prices to gold, multiply by 10 and use the Modern d20 pricing chart. This will allow the characters to purchase a lot of low cost items (35gp- = $350-), but high cost items (50gp+ = $500+) will start to take a toll on the PC's wealth. Even with this price inflation, 1st level PCs may still buy a magic item or two.
Also, high level magic items may be impossible to purchase with this pricing scheme. +4 Full Plate costs 17,800gp=$178,000 which would be a purchase DC 36. This would require a PC to take 20 and have a wealth score of 16+!

 

[Terraism]

Also, high level magic items may be impossible to purchase with this pricing scheme. +4 Full Plate costs 17,800gp=$178,000 which would be a purchase DC 36. This would require a PC to take 20 and have a wealth score of 16+!

I'd argue differently. It's possible - it'd take work, but possible - for a 1st level d20 Modern NPC to have a wealth score of +18. Easier still is to have a +15 bonus. Meaning that they could actually buy +4 Full Plate at 1st level. In addition to all sorts of other neat things. (A +3 weapon is roughly 16,000 gp, right? Which would be a DC 32 purchase DC by this scheme. Sure, this individual may've had to sacrifice quite a bit of combat or roleplaying ability to to start with such a high wealth bonus, but all those magical bonuses will take care of it, I'll wager.)