Entitlement and "standard equipment"

[Greenfield]

We've just had a fairly serious PC turnover in our game, and it brought a certain mind set to light.

We lost our Barbarian/Wizard who could craft arms and armor. The character died and can't be brought back. (Long story).

Our other melee type died from being a melee type.

Our major healer almost died, and the character has decided to retire from the field. The player wants to run a Paladin combo.

Our house rule is that the gear of a fallen PC is buried with him or left to family. In other words, it's taken out of the game.

The Barb/Wiz' player, however has said that he wants his character's Healing Belt (MIC item) to be given to the melee-type's replacement, since the character who can make these is leaving.

He apparently thinks that this item is/should be standard equipment, and that one way or another the new PCs should all have one.

Do you have that problem in your games, that players/PCs seem to think they should be able to have anything in budget, whenever they have the money?

(Note: There's absolutely no reason the character can't buy such an item as part of their starting package, since they're starting at 8th level or so. I'm just commenting on the mind set, not the specific situation).

 

[xigbar]

So, he's asking to have the belt as a freebie, or to be deducted from his starting gold? If it's the latter, I don't see why not.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

PCs SHOULD have access to anything within their budget for starting equipment*, and at all points after that, barring the town/city legitimately being too small to yield such an item.

Magical Walmart is pretty much mandatory for noncasters to not fall completely and hopelessly behind the casters.

And specifically, yes. Healing Belt, if they're in your game, are a very basic item that just about everyone should have. As long as your player's not trying to mooch extra loot for free out of his starting wealth.

*There's either a rule or houserule about no more than half the wealth on one item that I suggest adhering to, though.

 

[Greenfield]

The player is asking that a piece of his dead character's gear be given, free, to a new PC (someone else's new PC, to be precise) that his old character never met. So many things wrong with that, in game, that it isn't funny.

But the player doesn't see anything wrong with it.

Our characters are currently escorting his body back to his family for funeral rites. (Shrink Item works so well for transport. The corpse is perfectly preserved and ready for final preparations.)

 

[xigbar]

Your players wants a freebie? No.

 

[Greenfield]

PCs SHOULD have access to anything within their budget for starting equipment*, and at all points after that, barring the town/city legitimately being too small to yield such an item...

Depends on your game world. Not everyone runs such high-magic campaigns.

We generally don't. Our specific campaign is set in a time not long after a protracted series of wars that tore apart the old empire, and we are (among other things) trying to help the empire salvage the pieces.

But most high level casters got caught up in those wars, drafted by one side or the other, or in some cases assassinated to prevent them from joining an opposing side. The few left are the ones who went into hiding. So, in short, there aren't a lot of high level types around who can craft higher powered items.

Similarly, anything resembling a stockpile of magical items or gear got "diverted" to military purposes. Some ended up in various lootings, some got lost or destroyed, some are now held by the enemy.

So, while high end spells exist in the game world, and items can be made, they aren't just sitting around waiting for someone to wander into Wizmart and pick them off a shelf.

And everybody knew this when we started.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

Depends on your game world. Not everyone runs such high-magic campaigns.

We generally don't. Our specific campaign is set in a time not long after a protracted series of wars that tore apart the old empire, and we are (among other things) trying to help the empire salvage the pieces.

But most high level casters got caught up in those wars, drafted by one side or the other, or in some cases assassinated to prevent them from joining an opposing side. The few left are the ones who went into hiding. So, in short, there aren't a lot of high level types around who can craft higher powered items.

Similarly, anything resembling a stockpile of magical items or gear got "diverted" to military purposes. Some ended up in various lootings, some got lost or destroyed, some are now held by the enemy.

So, while high end spells exist in the game world, and items can be made, they aren't just sitting around waiting for someone to wander into Wizmart and pick them off a shelf.

And everybody knew this when we started.

So do you have some alternate rules or guidelines for determining what sort of equipment a higher level character can start with?

I would have no problem allowing a character to start with any equipment that falls within those guidelines, but regardless of where / how he came across the equipment, it should still count as a part of that wealth by level guideline number...

 

[airwalkrr]

This seems rather cut-and-dry to me. If the player thinks a new PC ought to have the item gratis (regardless of who is playing the PC), then the player should be told he can allow that when would like to run the game. It doesn't seem like this makes any sense in-character and I wouldn't allow it. I also have a house rule that when your character dies (or leaves the campaign for whatever reason), all your character's equipment and wealth goes with him one way or another. That rule is enough to disallow this.

As for the healing belt, allowing that item into the game is opening a real can of worms.

 

[Dandu]

About as much as letting the cleric have access to the Craft: Wand feat.

 

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Hmmm. I don't know. Perhaps I'm an old school fossil, but I'd simply say to the player that wants to start up an 8th level paladin character the following:

"Well, paladin, after you spend several days praying and training in the local temple, Father Bruno came to you, and gave you a wondrous gift from the temple armoury--a +2 Bastard sword, and a suit of mithril full plate. Father Bruno explained that the temple smiths work long and hard to supply the temple with good arms and weapons, though such items as these are rare, and only a few are made every few years. Father Bruno has heard of your exploits and your great faith to the temple, and desires that such a champion of the faith as you should have the best they can provide as you go forth to fight against the forces of darkness. Father Bruno furthermore explained to you that the temple can provide such a great champion of the faith as you with other masterwork quality armour and weapons, and assist you with gaining other mundane gear for your expeditions as deemed necessary. Father Bruno blessed you, and prayed over you before you left the courtyard of the temple to join your companions for the great journey."

Having said that, I'd then say, simply, dude, this is what you have for now, along with about 5,000 gp. You already have your magic horse. Don't worry about it. Just deal with it. Fight the good fight with what you got. It's a harsh, brutal world, and things will no doubt get much worse before they ever get better. But, with honour and courage, and you kicking ass and taking names, you should be doing fine eventually.

There you go. No walmart necessary.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK