D&D (2024) Equipment for Sale Guideline

[Ashrym]

The DMG gas a guideline that has equipment for sale by gp value. DM's can deliberately place such equipment, but we might want to keep in mind that items worth more than 20gp aren't normally available in villages. This includes the following items typically unavailable...

Simple Weapons

• light crossbow
• shortbow

Martial Weapons

• greataxe
• greatsword
• rapier
• scimitar
• hand crossbow
• heavy crossbow
• longbow
• musket
• pistol

Light Armor

• studded leather armor

Medium Armor

• chain shirt
• scale mail
• breast plate
• half plate armor

Heavy Armor

• Ring Mail
• Chain Mail
• Splint Armor
• Plate Armor

IE The only armor typically for sale is padded armor, leather armor, hide armor, and shields. Given that a lot of campaigns take place starting around a small village the items available in starting gear might be important for a while until the PC travels to a town or city, finds appropriate gear, or crafts some.

This also includes things like healing potions and basic spell scrolls, or any mount other than a mule.

That type of setting with that guideline seems like it could have a large impact at lower levels.

 

[Peter BOSCO'S]

There is nothing to say that starting equipment is actually purchased, much less purchased where you start. You could be wearing grandpa's armor, wielding the Greatsword your mother bought for you when she went to the big city, and carrying the 50 year old Healing Potion that Old Man Wilkins paid you for rescuing his grandson from those Kobolds.

 

[Ashrym]

There is nothing to say that starting equipment is actually purchased, much less purchased where you start. You could be wearing grandpa's armor, wielding the Greatsword your mother bought for you when she went to the big city, and carrying the 50 year old Healing Potion that Old Man Wilkins paid you for rescuing his grandson from those Kobolds.

Exactly. That might be the best armor or equipment available for a while. ;-)

 

[GMMichael]

That type of setting with that guideline seems like it could have a large impact at lower levels.

Wait . . . now I see why they gave all the classes more stuff to do!

If you're trying to do realism with 6e, then I commend your bravery.

 

[Ashrym]

Wait . . . now I see why they gave all the classes more stuff to do!

If you're trying to do realism with 6e, then I commend your bravery.

It wasn't my guideline, lol. I read it and thought, "look at all the stuff I can't buy in a village".

 

[Oofta]

Starting equipment is almost always inherited, a gift from someone that crafted it, perhaps found. It just depends on the backstory. If someone is a fighter, who did they train with? Perhaps that person gifted them the equipment and had the PC promise to fulfill a lifelong goal the mentor had failed at. Sounds like and interesting plot line to follow!

But realistically? Padded armor should be pretty ubiquitous and should replace leather armors that likely never existed or were extremely rare. Longbows were frequently used by the person that made them, a spear or maybe a battle axe should be starting equipment. Swords were generally not a primary weapon and so on. But this is D&D.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I quite like this idea. Some stuff just shouldn't be available in the boondocks.

 

[Oofta]

I quite like this idea. Some stuff just shouldn't be available in the boondocks.

Having grown up in the boondocks, I totally agree.

 

[el-remmen]

I didn’t know there was another way to do it!

I’ve never had a specific guideline like that but frequently there are many things PCs can’t buy in small towns or typical villages.

Example, our party halfling ranger wanted to upgrade to studded leather but the town they were in was mostly humans. The local armorer said he could make it but it’d be a custom job and take a week. The PC paid half up front but guess what? The party made choices that drove them further and further away from that town and toward ls smaller Thorpe and vast wilderness. Months and a couple of levels later and the party still hasn’t gotten back there so he still makes do with leather. (But recently found a halfling sized chain shirt on a adventure, so grabbed that)

 

[GMMichael]

Starting equipment is almost always inherited, a gift from someone that crafted it, perhaps found.

Yup! When I woke up that morning, I opened the House Treasure Chest. Guess what I found!?