How do you determine treasure?

[Kahuna Burger]

A poll obviously only referreing to when and if you DM... a discussion of treasure splitting over on Living EN World had one player assuming that DMs would place treasure "for" a character who needed a power boost, while the DM had said at an earlier time that he never placed treasure based on party makeup or needs, but used the random charts. I tend to place treasure than makes sense for the defeated enemy and what foes they would have faced before defeat...

 

[Garmorn]

None of the above, parts of some to all of the above.


I like to give the party a treasure of set value then let them make their own items.

I aslo like to give Intellgent creatures items that help them do what the want to do.

 

[Nifft]

I like the party poor. It gives them incentive to go out & do stuff, and gives morally ambiguous NPCs some leverage to try to make the PCs do morally ambiguous stuff.

On the other hand, I also like giving out items that are more complex than just a +2 sword, like a Moon Torc (+2 Cha, immunity to lycanthropy, +1 Resistance bonus to all saves).

Basically, I want the PCs to value their stuff. So, I both keep 'em poor (in liquid wealth) and give them powerful, unique magic items (which they could sell, but they have no guarentee they'll ever find the like again).

-- N

 

[Sir Trent]

I agree

I like the party poor.

Basically, I want the PCs to value their stuff. So, I both keep 'em poor (in liquid wealth) and give them powerful, unique magic items (which they could sell, but they have no guarentee they'll ever find the like again).

-- N

I agree with NIfft, I like to keep the party with just barely what they need to get by as far as magic items. I'll usually be a little kinder with the xp though, and I'll try to devise magic items that suit the party, after I make sure they more than earn it. Characters can't carry that much money anyway, so I make sure they appreciate the things that they have. This attitude has always improved the enjoyment of my players.

 

[Desdichado]

Arbitrarily isn't an option?

 

[Matafuego]

I don't roll them, never, it has got me waaaay too much problems when I was younger.

Usually they don't get anything and they have little or no money, but once in a while there's a huge adventure that leads them to a very big treasure.

Magic Items are hard to come by, sometimes I make the mistake an let a +1 ring of protection or a +2 dagger fall in the hands of my players, but it gets blasted sooner or later.
I like my characters to have special magic items, either by making them for themselves (I mix the rules of object making with 2nd edition "power components") or by giving them as a gift from the church. (And sometimes they search for legends and go find if they are true)

Magic Items are scarce and to find one should be a quest and not an everyday "thing".

 

[Arnwyn]

While this poll lacks options and combines others, I chose all except for "exact items party needs". My campaign world doesn't work that way.

 

[shilsen]

All except the first one (no random rolling). I like PCs to have unique magical items rather than the standard ones from the DMG, so I'll often create ones with interesting combinations of powers.

In the current campaign I'm being unusually generous with magical items, so all the 7th lvl PCs are toting what the DMG says they should have a level down the line. That's intentional, so that there's no big loss when they run into places where there's little or no treasure to be had. But some basic cynicism makes me doubt that my players will remember my previous generosity at that point.

 

[Whitey]

Eighty pound sacks of gold for everyone!

That's 4K gold pieces, a light load by itself for anyone with a strength of 16 or less. In assorted gems, it's somewhat lighter but a lot bulkier. Using monetary guidelines for encounters just doesn't jibe, IMO. Where to spend it? And who would part with such precious things just for cash? The best currency for PCs is XP, and the tasty feats & spells & skill ranks that come with it. Can't really buy those otherwise.

I voted for 'treasure that the hostiles would logically have'. In terms of getting solid gear/magic items, it's what they can wrest from the cold, dead hands of opponents - which can get pretty harsh when scrolls & potions & other single use items are figured in.
I figure this keeps them motivated to decisively win their battles , keep good tally of their own supplies, and keeps them immersed in a dynamic, evolving world where what they do makes a difference.

Besides, the best reward for winning a battle is - you ain't dead.

 

[nopantsyet]

i'm a rat-bastard--I hardly give my players anything. Sentient beings carry their gear and monsters carry monster junk. But on real special occasions, they stumble upon something rare and powerful and preferably unique, and that's been pretty fun. I'm not a big fan of magic with a utilitarian feel.