I am the opposite of Monte Haul - give me your advice inside please!

[pawsplay]

Your players do not waste money on ale and whores?

Which is rather remarkable, if you compare this to the dot com situation here in Dallas a few years back. Many an adventuring Network Operator or DNS Administrator spent their hard-won treasure on such things and now find themselves penniless.

Anyway, back to the OP... I don't like lots of magic items rattling around, and while the occasional glittering hoard is cool, I don't like ridiculous amounts of coin, either. So I tend to run the PCs a bit "skinny," then every once in a while throw them a really valuable magic item. I often use rare gems or works of art as treasure. One of the adventures centered around acquiring a nearly priceless diamond as a bargaining chip (naturally, the wizard succeeded in destroying it, earning him the permanent emnity of the party and leading to a very determined effort to avoid becoming famous for that little episode).

If you do run an encounter with under-equipped PCs, just look at the opponents and ask yourself, "Would this be a lot easier with standard magical gear?" If the answer is yes, bump the CR by one or two. Or just assign the monster a penalty of -1 to AC, saves, to hit, and skill checks per 5 levels of the PCs.

Or settle for a slower advancement rate. It's not a bad thing.

 

[Dracorat]

hi rat

have a trapdoor in the ceiling above them open, dumping a fortune in coins on their heads, crushing and killing them.

messy

MESSY!!


and btw folks ... thanks to everyone who responded - shortly I'll send back some replies. I ended up going afk shortly after I posted (sorry, I wouldn't usually go afk right after starting a thread).

 

[MichaelSomething]

Yet another way to ensure PCs get the stuff they need is for them to rescue a rich person.

"Oh thank you for saving me from those evil cultist! How can I ever repay you? Gold and/or magical items, you say! I can do that!"

Are your PCs famous in your world? Perhaps celebrity endorsements are the way to go!

“When ever I adventure in a dangerous location, I always bring a six pack of Sola Temple healing potions! When your hit points are low, Sola Temple is the way to go!”

 

[Dracorat]

We are in Ptolus, so access to NPCs is a given. =)

 

[Dracorat]

Your PCs have gotten so good that each has one item become a Legacy Item. Have each player choose a signature item (sword, shield, wand) and then you level the item up. Distinctive PCs who earned their magic rather than stumbling upon it or looting it.

It works marvelously in game.

This is a very interesting idea.

One thing that I *do* in my games is I allow people to straight-up exchange magic items at the local adventurer's guild.

Sir, I found this +2 bastard sword on my adventures. Do you have a +2 mace I can use instead? You do?? Great!!

 

[genshou]

In the sewers, your team finds the abandoned lair of a small group of thieves, the entrance of which is still trapped. However, the poison gas cloud trap that protected the secondary chamber was already tripped...by the small group of thieves (maybe include a journal, with entries about "Joe-bob the New Guy" who, "I swear, is going to kill us all one of these days if he doesn't watch where he's stepping!"...for a little comedic effect and explanation).

Brilliant! You, my friend, have just earned experience points!

 

[S'mon]

BTW having had experience of both high-level low-items 3e, and low-level high-items 3e, I much prefer the latter. With decent items the Fighters can compare well to the Wizards, for once.

 

[Dracorat]

BTW having had experience of both high-level low-items 3e, and low-level high-items 3e, I much prefer the latter. With decent items the Fighters can compare well to the Wizards, for once.

Oh shoot, I should have mentioned I'm in 4E (even though I'm using Ptolus which would have hinted otherwise).

Still, some of the basic same principles apply. =)

 

[S'mon]

Oh shoot, I should have mentioned I'm in 4E (even though I'm using Ptolus which would have hinted otherwise).

Still, some of the basic same principles apply. =)

Well, I think spellcasters are much more carefully balanced vs casters in 4e, and items seem much less important.

When 3e tried to codify 1e/2e's unspoken paradigms, they made levelling up the power gradient too fast, but they were also too stingy with magic items IMO, at least in the 2-10 level range.

 

[Ravellion]

You've managed to give them two +1 magic items. Don't give away simple +1s! If you hardly ever give magical treasure away, always go for something with a bit more abilities. It adds to the flavour of the item and your campaign, and it is easier to stay close to the guidelines.