If you were king, how would equip your kids?

[Bardsandsages]

I would think loading up a first level prince with that sort of gear would have the same effect as loading up any first level PC with that sort of gear: it would create a false sense of security and end up sending the overconfident fool to his doom.

A vorpal sword in the hands of a character with no more than a +1 bonus to attack is not that much of a risk to an experienced fighter. The kid barely knows how to handle the thing without cutting himself, after all.

And as others have said, what kind of monarch lets his kids go off adventuring? The notion of supporting their career choices is a modern notion that has no place in a feudal society. Daughters get married off, the eldest son (and maybe second in line) get trained in politics and matters of government, and any excess sons get handed over to the Church to become priests or monks (so they are out of the way politically but still alive just in case something happens to the other heirs).

If you give them anything, they get a periapt of proof against poisons, since that is the biggest threat if you have political enemies.

 

[Darklone]

The kings in my games give their heirs one thing: Cohorts. Lots of them. Strong ones.

 

[Nifft]

I would think loading up a first level prince with that sort of gear would have the same effect as loading up any first level PC with that sort of gear: it would create a false sense of security and end up sending the overconfident fool to his doom.

Possibly worse -- now that I think about it, lumping loot on your kids may make them targets of loot-seekers: dragons, or worse, high-level adventurers!

Cheers, -- N

 

[Evilhalfling]

I floated a campaign idea that was similar, a group of young nobles outfitted with the best equipment, and a hired commoner cleric to keep them alive.
They were trained until 2nd level, and given 5.6k in equipment (+2 levels), their parents hoping that it would be enough to keep them alive and not enough to make them targets.
wands, armor and cloaks of resistance were popular. most carried potions of healing and antitoxin.

Each was promised a raise from the dead, but if the party could not pay for it, (or most of it) the parents would call it a bad investment and take away the gear, assuming that their kid was not cut out for adventuring.

I do like the one-use or contingency teleport, perhaps just to one or two of the characters.
The hat of disguise would be important for a princely heir.

There was also a hired retainer, who was supposed to help provide non-leathal challenges, but not travel directly with the party. (although certainly the chance of him going rogue and trying for a ransom, or just getting them killed and taking their stuff was high)

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instead of this we went with an age of exploration campaign, this Saturday they discovered a (formerly) extict species elven flower! 5k if they can get clippings to the RGS society botonist. ya its a different kinda game.