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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WizarDru" data-source="post: 5358687" data-attributes="member: 151">First off: Hi!  Welcome to the boards!Now then:  a few varied thoughts and then some specific points.1) Punishing the players, IMHO, is never a winning strategy.  You are not their opponent, so there's no reason to treat them as the enemy.  Several good suggestions have appeared to this point and I'll just say that my general opinion follows the guideline: don't arbitrarily take the money away or otherwise obviously deprive them of it just because you think they have too much.  Clearly, they don't or they wouldn't be clamoring for magic items. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />  That said, there have been several decent suggestions above for ways that make sense in-game and out-game to adjust things without making it seem like you're yanking their victory away unceremoniously.Personally, I poll players periodically on what they want and depending on the situation, I either grant them what they want or tell them (as I have done several times) something like "Grandmother Squirrel is pleased that you have saved her people from the Cruel Wizards and rewards you with several boons...this results in three items Level 4, 5 and 6; these items cannot feature death magic (as she would not grant such) or anything extraplanar except the FeyWild.  Let me know what you choose and assuming I don't disapprove, it's yours."  This helps them plan better.  I also often have some characters (particularly clerics and paladins) have their magic items upgraded by their deity:  ("As you worship at the altar, you are blinded by a bright light.  You find your sword in your hand, glowing with divine providence.  Amaleena has smiled upon you: your weapon's bonus is now +2."I see what the player is driving at, but I think your interpretation is reasonable.  OK, the first one is a classic problem.  The real question, though, is not 'how do you keep him alive', but 'why is he even bothering to fight them?'.  If he's a BBEG, then he should be way out of their league...and should treat them accordingly.  If he's NOT out of their league, then he's just a bad guy, not a BBEG (TM).  The Great Goblin can get killed...The Witch King probably doesn't even acknowledge so weak a threat.Alternately, he may not be the REAL bad guy.  If he's sufficiently powerful, he may be using a proxy.  Sure, you've killed this puppet of mine, but really, did you think me fool enough to show myself to the likes of YOU?  Now I know what you look like, but you'll never see me until it's too late.  Sleep well, heroes. As for your player....you can't MAKE someone roleplay, even assuming he enjoys it...which he may not.  I'd see if you can figure what motivates him and try to engage him that way.</blockquote>

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