How closely do you track daily expenses for your players?

[Angel Tarragon]

I keep track of 1st to 4th level. Then I just take a percentage (less than 1% at higher levels) out of the treasure I hand out to reflect their life styles.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I tell them how much to take off of their character sheet whenever they buy something. However none of the characters are poor or even lacking in funds so the characters are generally pretty generous with their money. Anything that costs X silver normally just gets paid in gold and they tell them to keep the change. We are currently playing in Freeport. The players are staying at the same in so they just gave the owner a few platinum to cover the cost of the room, meals and drinks and said to let them know when it runs out.

Of course, having done all this I don't keep too tight a check on the players character sheets. Whenever I tell them to take of 5 gold or whatever they couls be adding 5 gold for all I know. However, I do have enough trust in my players to think that they won't do something like that.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I trust them to handle minor expenses, but if it's getting abusive, I step in.

 

[arwink]

I tried, once, long ago. The best response the players gave me: "You know all those copper and silver peices we can never be bothered recording? That's what's paying for our dinner."

 

[Chupacabra]

I don't even give out copper in my own campaign. It's silver on up. Maybe I can just assume that there is some copper in each find and thats what covering the "invisible" incidentals of everyday life.

 

[Lanefan]

I always start out the game having them track each copper, but as the game goes by and they become more wealthy, it goes by the wayside. If they want to spend a significant amount, for example by buying a banquet, then they always have to mark it off. But otherwise, I'll say something like "if you decide to stay at the Copper Cup Inn, you'll spend about 3 silvers a day for food, stabling, etc... but if you decide to go to the Gold Dragon, it'll cost you 10 silvers a day, and you can easily spend another 5 or more for extras."

It's up to them to keep track of it - if they "cheat" and don't mark it off, it won't really affect the game in the long run. At higher levels they almost always establish some kind of residence and blow through their cash furbishing it up and maintaining it.

Sounds exactly like what I do. By high level, pocket change is measured in hundreds anyway; why sweat the picky details. But at 1st-level, when a rusty shortsword is a significant find, then yes - every copper counts.

Lanefan

 

[Aaron L]

I expect them to handle it themselves. I do it when I play. I account for every last gold piece (I give silver and copper as tips to keep accounting easier.)


However, I'll admit to being a bit obsessive-compulsive

Once past 3 or 4th level I dont see it as a big issue, but Id prefer that they keep track of what they spend. Just like the classic computer back robbery scheme of rounding off every odd fraction of a cent from every transaction, it all adds up.

 

[shilsen]

Not at all.

I've even ruled that I'm not tracking their purchase of healing wands, and assume that they're always picking up a couple when they get an opportunity.

 

[FireLance]

This is another of the things my group handwaves to keep the game simple. The fun to work ratio is too low for us to bother.

 

[Umbran]

Do you require your PC's to account for every last meal and mug of ale? Do you simply charge them a weekly or monthly "upkeep" fee? Or do you just let it ride?

I'm a "monthly upkeep" kind of DM these days. It keeps the PC's expenditures sane, while minimizing the drudge of detailed accounting.