How're we supposed to divvy the loot?

[malcolm_n]

The day I get a campaign group that does that, I am stopping playing D&D forever.

That is insane. I'm not trying to criticize, but you're kidding, right?

Holy cow.

Clark

I actually played in a game like that once in Ca. When i read the post, I double and triple checked the OP's board name because I could have sworn I know him for this very reason.

In his defense, the OP's (and my friend's) idea actually wasn't that bad in practice. It just seems like a lot to read. In game it was simply, "Who wants this? It's worth 300 GP to the vendor" We'd start by offering 300 gp and go up.

It actually created a great roleplaying opp for one of my characters. He wasn't very good at the concept of bidding, so the others would always raise his bids because they knew if he bid on it he wouldn't stop even if (on occasion) he paid more than reasonable prices. Heh, ignorance is bliss.

RIP Chan of Kara-tur

 

[Family]

Back off get your own loot. (This is where the kick comes in.)

 

[Pickles JG]

Conclusions: At the end of level 1, things will likely be a little unbalanced for a five-man party. However, later levels are going to have a smoothing effect on the magical gear selections. If the loot is useful to party members randomly, then things look like they'll work out more or less evenly over long periods of time. Even if the loot is heavily weighted to one character, the characters getting the lower level magic items aquire more purchasing power faster, meaning that(if the GM permits them to purchase the items they want) they will still be competitive in terms of gear(by virtue of getting exactly the gear they want rather than something that's pretty close to the gear they want).

This is pretty much the same as in 3 ed as typically there will be a +1 weapon that is worth more than any individuals share of the treasure.

We use this method in 3.5, in fact I am sure it is the method the DMG recommends. In practice it does not differ much from the "pick the item you need most" type methods but people are compensated for the picks they do not get. Of course in most parties a lot of the items are only any use to one person while stuff like amulets of natural armour are competed for.